Final answer:
Presidents Nixon, Reagan, and Bush attempted to produce a less activist court by nominating conservative justices to the Supreme Court. These justices were known for their conservative views and were expected to interpret the law in a more restrained manner.
Step-by-step explanation:
The attempts by Presidents Nixon, Reagan, and Bush to produce a less activist court can be seen in their nominations of conservative judges to the Supreme Court. These presidents sought to shift the Court's ideology towards a more conservative interpretation of the Constitution.
For example, President Nixon nominated justices such as Warren E. Burger and William Rehnquist, who were seen as more conservative in their approach to constitutional issues. President Reagan appointed Justices such as Sandra Day O'Connor and Antonin Scalia, who were known for their conservative views.
President George H. W. Bush appointed Justice Clarence Thomas, who also aligned with conservative perspectives. These presidents believed that a less activist court would be more restrained in its interpretation of the law and less likely to make far-reaching decisions that they viewed as overstepping the boundaries of judicial power.