The politicization of the Supreme Court has been in existence since nearly the beginning, but really only came into its own with the "Marshall Court" of the first few decades of the 1800s. During that time, chief justice John Marshall greatly expanded the power of the federal government over the states, much to the chagrin of the southern presidents (Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Jackson) during that time. From then on in, presidents picked justices who they hoped would reflect theirs (or their party's) political views.
Sometimes the appointments backfire. For example, Eisenhower made former Republican governor Earl Warren Chief Justice in 1953, believing that he would lead the court in a more conservative direction. Warren did just the opposite, presiding over some of the most important decisions that overturned centuries old laws allowing racial discrimination.