That’s interesting! Did Nixon believe that “strict constructionist” meant something other than a justice who would interpret the Constitution strictly on what it clearly says, based on what we know of the Founders’ intents? Or did Blackmun stray from what Nixon thought he would do?
From what I read, Nixon gave him the “strict constructionist” label to match his campaign pledge, but Blakmun rejected it. Blackmun definitely evolved.... moving more and more away from originalist type thinking. Roe v. Wade, the death penalty, the environment. He did a heck of a lot of damage during his comparatively short stint on the bench. (IMO, being a Harvard Law graduate and student of Felix Frankfurter should have been a clue).
Correction to my prior post: Harry, not Henry.