On this date in 1991 President Bush nominated Clarence Thomas to replace Thurgood Marshall , who had recently announced his retirement. Organizations including the NAACP, the Urban League and the National Organization for Women opposed the appointment based on Thomas's criticism of affirmative action and suspicions that Thomas might not be a supporter of the Supreme Court judgment in Roe v. Wade. Thomas would however go on to accept and Assumed office October 19, 1991.