 After Fortas's nomination was withdrawn in the face of Senate opposition, Johnson briefly considered naming Goldberg as Chief Justice as a recess appointment before rejecting the idea.The next president, Republican Richard Nixon, appointed Warren Burger the next Chief Justice.David Leonhardt of "The New York Times" called Johnson's nomination of Fortas "one of the most consequential blunders in modern American politics" as the chair has been held by conservatives appointed by Republican presidents ever since.