Bad Blaine History: SCOTUS Guts Church-State Separation

James G. Blaine is largely unknown today. For two decades of the late nineteenth century, however, Blaine was possibly the most recognized and powerful political figure in the United States, serving as Speaker of the House, U.S. Senator, Secretary of State (twice), and three-time candidate for President. Although history has generally been unkind to Blaine, he’s best remembered for proposing a relatively insignificant measure (at least for Blaine): an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to prohibit the appropriation of any federal or state funds to religious institutions, including religious schools.