[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 125 (Friday, September 30, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S10793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM H. REHNQUIST
Mr. ALLEN. On September 3, 2005, America lost one of its greatest
public servants when, following a year-long battle with cancer, William
Hubbs Rehnquist passed away at the age of 80. At the time of his death,
he had been a member of the U.S. Supreme Court for 33 distinguished
years, having served as Chief Justice since 1986 and previously as an
associate justice, appointed in 1972.
Much of William Rehnquist's professional career was dedicated to
public service. He served his country honorably in the U.S. Army Air
Corps during World War II from 1943-1946. After his military service,
he earned an undergraduate, a masters' and a law degree from Stanford
University. Even further demonstrating his intellectual acumen,
Rehnquist also graduated with a master's degree from Harvard University
and was first in his class at Stanford University Law School. After law
school, he became a Supreme Court clerk for Associate Justice Robert
Jackson before leaving for private practice in Arizona. In 1969,
Justice Rehnquist joined the Nixon administration as an Assistant
Attorney General where he served until 1971. That year, President Nixon
nominated William H. Rehnquist to be on the Supreme Court; the
following year, he was confirmed to be an associate justice by the U.S.
Senate.
It was on the Supreme Court that William Rehnquist built his
reputation as one of the great legal minds of our time. His tenure on
the high court of the land, both as an associate justice and as the
Chief Justice, was an extraordinary achievement. I was particularly
impressed with his leadership as the head of the entire Federal
judiciary, as well as his affable personal demeanor on the bench and
off, both of which were important traits in his role as Chief.
I respect immensely the way in which Chief Justice Rehnquist served
on the Court with honor and restraint. As a justice, he fairly and
properly interpreted the words of the Constitution without usurping the
rights of the American people and those of the States to make laws as
they deem appropriate rather than allowing un-
elected judges who are appointed for life to substitute their personal
political views for the popular will of the people.
Chief Justice Rehnquist clearly understood that judges ought to apply
the law and Constitution, not invent the law or amend the Constitution
by judicial decree. And I believe that he perfectly embodied what I
consider to be the proper role of a justice and that America should be
grateful for his long and distinguished public service on the bench.
Our Nation was so fortunate to have a man of William Rehnquist's
intelligence and legal experience in public service for so many years.
As a Supreme Court Justice, he was a decent, dedicated, steady, and
principled jurist whose legal brilliance and knowledge will be
difficult to replace. Chief Justice Rehnquist deserves America's
gratitude for his over three decades of dedicated service on the
Supreme Court and a life devoted to the service of this great Nation
and its citizens.
My condolences go out to his family, in particular his three
children, James, Janet, and Nancy, during this difficult time.
May he rest in peace.
Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I as deeply saddened to learn of the
passing of Chief Justice William Rehnquist. He will most certainly be
remembered as one of this Nation's greatest Chief Justices.
During his 33 years of distinguished service on the High Court, Chief
Justice Rehnquist served with tremendous wisdom, skill, and intellect.
His legacy will be defined by his calm and steady leadership, his
staunch defense of the constitution, and his support of an independent
judiciary.
Born into a modest home in the Midwest, Rehnquist enlisted in the
Army at age 19 during World War II. He went on to have a very
impressive academic career, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in
political science from Stanford University. In 1950, Rehnquist received
a master's degree in government from Harvard University. He later
returned to Stanford Law School, where he graduated first in his class
and served as the editor of the law review.
After law school, Rehnquist served as a law clerk to Associate
Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson. He then settled in Phoenix, AZ,
with his wife Nancy, where he spent 20 years in successful private
practice. In 1968, Rehnquist returned to Washington, DC, to serve as
President Nixon's Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal
Counsel. In 1972, William Rehnquist became the 100th Justice of the
U.S. Supreme Court.
I expect we will hear much discussion in the coming years about the
legacy of Chief Justice Rehnquist. But I am confident that a
significant part of his legacy, his strong leadership of the Court,
will be unquestionable. President Bush said at Rehnquist's memorial
service, ``He built consensus through openness and collegiality.''
Likewise, praise from so many of his colleagues and friends serve as a
true testament to William Rehnquist's ability to treat people
graciously and fairly, both from the bench and in his personal life.
The praise for his professional life is certainly plentiful, but we
know that most important to William Rehnquist was his family. He was
greatly loved as a husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. His
daughters Nancy and Janet joked that dating your father was completely
underrated, after they had the pleasure of accompanying their father
around Washington and on foreign trips after the death of their mother.
He was a family man, first and foremost.
Chief Justice Rehnquist deserves our praise and our tremendous
gratitude for his dedicated service to this country. Our Nation mourns
the passing of this great man. The significant contributions he made,
personally and professionally, will certainly be remembered always.
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