John B. Wefing

I am a Professor at Seton Hall University School of Law. I have taught thousands of students. While teaching I served for many years as the Richard J. Hughes Professor of Constitutional and Public Law. That gave me a great interest in Hughes. I taught a number of courses which included cases which he had decided as Chief Justice of the New Jesey Supreme Court. I became very interested in him as a person and eventually decided to write a book about this fascinating figure. The only person to serve as both Governon and subsequently Chief Justice of New Jersey he carried out both positions very well. As Governor he brought New Jersey into the modern era by dramatically incresing the role of state government. But he also played an intersting role on the national stage. Friendly with all the national leaders of his time, John F. Kennedy campaigned for Hughes the first time he ran for Governor and Robert F. Kennedy campaigned for him during his second campaign. He was a close friend and confidant of Lyndon Johnson and spent time with him and Lady Bird Johnson at both their Texas ranch and at the White House. He played important roles by hosting the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City and by serving in the pivotal role of Credentials Chairman at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. He was seriously considered for the nomination for vice-president when Hubert Humphrey ran for president. He hosted the summit meeting between President Johnson and Premier Kosygin of the U.S.S.R. in Glassboro, N.J. He monitored the elections in Vietnam. Additionally he was a devoted family man. His first wife died young leaving him with four children. He remarried a widow with three children and they had three more together. One was born after he became Governor. His second wife became a clebrity in her own right hosting a telvision talk show which appeared over 500 times and she also wrote a regular column for a number of newspapers. As I interviewed numerous people who had know Hughes I realized what an extraordinary personality he was. With a remarkable memory for names he was able to make a good impression on all he met. He was a sought-after dinner speaker and always willing to help others. In this era of incivility it is good to look back on a politician who was able to govern with civility towards all.