[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 112 (Friday, September 9, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9874-S9875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM H. REHNQUIST

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, on behalf of the people of Minnesota I 
have taken the floor today to express our condolences to Rehnquist 
family for their loss and gratitude and admiration for his 
extraordinary life of service.
  The Midwest, where William Rehnquist was born, does not have the high 
mountains or the pounding ocean surf of other parts of the country. We 
learn from our geography the value of moderation and dependability. 
William Rehnquist was a solid human being whose consistency and resolve 
as a member of the Supreme Court benefited the whole country in 
turbulent times.
  The historian Whitehead has written that the essence of leadership is 
maintaining order in the midst of change, and change in the midst of 
order. William Rehnquist lived out the principle that both change and 
order are necessary in the law and he knew when we needed each.
  Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist served America with great 
distinction on the Supreme Court for 33 years. His profound respect for 
the Constitution and his collegial relationships throughout the 
judiciary will be a standard for future justices. He knew that his role 
was more than deciding cases: it was to raise the knowledge of and 
respect for the rule of law.
  Mr. Rehnquist took his seat as an associate Supreme Court justice in 
1972 after being appointed by President Richard Nixon, and became Chief 
Justice in 1986, during the Reagan administration.
  His opinions reflected a staunch adherence to the constitutional 
principle of State's rights. He also displayed an untiring willingness 
to work with his colleagues to find a compromise without minimizing his 
position. Chief Justice Rehnquist will be remembered as one of our most 
influential chief justices in history.
  As the Court's most junior justice, Rehnquist made state sovereignty 
his central principle of American constitutional law. At times, 
especially in those early years in 1973, he stood alone in his support 
of State sovereignty but continued this fight to the end of his time on 
the bench.
  Chief Justice Rehnquist succeeded in shifting the balance of power 
between States and the Federal government. The control and limitation 
of Federal control will always be a legacy of Chief Justice Rehnquist. 
He protected the Constitution in his application of the law and took 
great pride in his protection of civil liberties and the importance of 
freedom and the democratic spirit in our Constitution.
  As Chief Justice, Mr. Rehnquist made his mark on the Court with grace 
in an environment where justices of varying opinions could express 
themselves free from personal attacks and or ideological stalemates. 
His was a Court of strong personalities who operated in profound 
respect for each other and the country gained from their wisdom and 
discourse. He was a great leader and effective administrator of the 
Supreme Court.

[[Page S9875]]

  I was personally touched by Chief Justice Rehnquist's determination 
and heroic passion to serve while battling cancer. As we often hear, we 
are a government of law and not men and women, and that is true. But 
our constitutional principles are not self enforcing. We depend on men 
and women of good hearts and sharp minds to steer us through difficult 
moments when the issues of the day collide with our Constitution of 
over 200 years of age.
  He was to the end a midwesterner: strong, reliable and devoted to the 
idea of leaving things better than he found them. The whole Nation, and 
future generations of Americans should be deeply grateful for the 
legacy he has left.

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