Final answer:
Presidents failing to appoint their nominees to the Supreme Court less than half of the time is false; while there have been notable failed nominations, most are ultimately confirmed by the Senate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Presidents have failed less than half of the time to appoint the nominees of their choice to the Supreme Court is false. While there have been notable instances where nominations have gone awry, such as the failed nominations of Robert Bork, Douglas Ginsburg, and Harriet Miers, these do not constitute the majority of presidential attempts to fill seats on the Supreme Court.
Presidents nominate candidates for the Supreme Court, but their nominations require confirmation by the Senate. The process can be contentious and politically charged, with some nominees being subjected to rigorous scrutiny or, in some cases, not being given hearings at all, as with the case of Merrick Garland. However, historically, the Senate has closely guarded its duty to consent to presidential nominees and nearly always confirms them, despite occasional hold-ups.