[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15288]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR

  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise briefly to say thank you, 
congratulations, and best wishes to an outstanding person, a truly 
remarkable jurist. That is, of course, Sandra Day O'Connor, who 
announced her retirement today.
  A lot of people can say many good things about her service on the 
Court, her interpretation of the Constitution. We have heard many 
discussions about the wise judgment she has made.
  I reflect a little bit as a personal acquaintance. Going back over 30 
years when I visited my parents in Arizona, I had the opportunity to 
get to know John and Sandra Day O'Connor. We played a lot of tennis 
together. Incidentally, they are both very good tennis players. John 
has a great, somewhat wacky sense of humor. Sandra Day O'Connor is a 
truly wonderful, remarkable, warm human being.
  She wouldn't tell the stories publicly, but there are a number of 
stories her friends know about the extra measure of kindness she showed 
to people in need, people who are very ill, people who were suffering. 
She went out of her way quietly and demonstrated a human kindness and 
compassion that was significant.
  As has already been outlined, she had a great record, great 
educational record, a record of great service. When I met her, she was 
majority leader of the Arizona State Senate. I was Governor of 
Missouri. We were recruiting people to run for Governor of Arizona. I 
thought Sandra Day O'Connor would make a great Governor of Arizona. I 
made it my cause to recruit her on behalf of the Republican Governors 
Association to run for Governor. Then one day she told me, I have 
decided I am going to take a seat on the bench. I am going to become a 
judge. In one of those famous comments that lives with you forever, I 
said: Sandra Day O'Connor, it is a dead-end job being a judge in 
Phoenix, AZ.
  I was dead flat wrong. When I welcomed her to Missouri to address the 
bar association as Madam Justice of the Supreme Court, needless to say 
she took great delight in relating that wonderful advice I had given 
her to run for the Governor of Arizona. We have been very pleased to 
have her back several times, and as far as I can tell she has never 
failed to mention that story.
  I mention that story only to say she was right, once again, and she 
has contributed honorably and significantly to the judicial service of 
this Nation.
  I can only say on behalf of those who were her constituents, as 
Americans, and those who know her as a friend, we wish you the very 
best. We go forward with our deep gratitude for all you have 
contributed and our very best wishes for health, happiness, and a long 
life.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Virginia is recognized.

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