Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer

Audience

The Supreme Court's ruling in the Youngstown case enjoyed a nationwide audience. In fact, few cases in American constitutional history have captured the attention of citizens from all walks of life that Youngstown garnered. The tremendous media attention paid to President Truman's seizure of the steel mills and the subsequent legal proceedings in the lower courts had a riveting effect on the public. As a result, many in the nation anxiously awaited the Supreme Court's decision.

The immediate audience in the Steel Seizure Case included, of course, the government and the entire steel industry, both management and workers. Thus, the size of the audience that possessed a direct interest in the outcome of the case numbered in the millions, certainly a rare occurrence in America. Beyond the intense interest of the two sides, lawyers, politicians, and scholars evinced a sharp interest in the case as well, given the great legal questions at stake and the enormous implications that they held for the nation. Indeed, Youngstown will hold the rapt attention of students and citizens alike for as long as the United States retains its Constitution.