[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 30 (Monday, August 1, 2005)]
[Pages 1223-1224]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

July 23, 2005

    Good morning. Under the Constitution, one of the most consequential 
decisions a President makes is an appointment to the Supreme Court. This 
week I was proud to announce my nomination of Judge John Roberts to be 
the Supreme Court's next Associate Justice.
    Judge Roberts has a stellar record of achievement. He is a man of 
sound judgment and the highest integrity. He has the qualities Americans 
expect in a judge, experience, wisdom, fairness, and civility. He has 
profound respect for the rule of law and for the liberties guaranteed to 
every citizen. He will strictly apply the Constitution and laws, not 
legislate from the bench.
    Judge Roberts currently serves on the United States Court of Appeals 
for the District of Columbia Circuit, which is often considered 
America's second highest court. He has also served as a top lawyer at 
the Department of Justice, an attorney in the White House for President 
Ronald Reagan, and a distinguished advocate in private practice. He 
gained early experience at the Supreme Court as a law clerk to Justice 
William Rehnquist. He graduated with high honors from both Harvard 
College and Harvard Law School. And as a young man growing up in 
Indiana, he captained his high school football team and worked summers 
in a steel mill to earn money for college.
     One of the highest honors for any lawyer is to argue a case before 
the Supreme Court. In his extraordinary career, Judge Roberts has argued 
a remarkable 39 cases before the Nation's highest court. He is known by 
Democrats and Republicans alike as a brilliant thinker, a fair-minded 
judge, and a decent man. After I nominated Judge Roberts to the Court of 
Appeals in 2001, a bipartisan group of more than 150 lawyers sent a 
letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and here is what they wrote: 
``Although as individuals we reflect a wide spectrum of political party 
affiliation and ideology, we are united in our belief that John Roberts 
will be an outstanding Federal appeals court judge and should be 
confirmed by the United States Senate. He is one of the very best and 
most highly respected appellate lawyers in the Nation.''
    The next step for Judge Roberts is the Senate confirmation process. 
The process is off to a good start. Since I announced his nomination, 
Judge Roberts has met with a number of Senators from both parties. 
Democrats and Republicans have expressed their respect for Judge 
Roberts' qualifications and intellect, just as they did 2 years ago when 
they confirmed him to be a Federal appeals court judge by unanimous 
consent.
    In the weeks ahead, the Senate will have an opportunity to rise 
above partisanship. I've spoken to Senate Majority Leader Frist and 
Minority Leader Reid as well as chairman and ranking member of the 
Judiciary Committee, Senators Specter and Leahy. These Senators share my 
goal of an orderly and dignified confirmation process, and it is 
important that Judge Roberts be confirmed before the Court reconvenes on 
October the 3d.
    President Clinton's two appointments to the Supreme Court proved 
that the Senate can conduct a thorough review and vote on a nominee 
within a reasonable timetable. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was confirmed 
42 days after the President submitted her nomination, and Justice 
Stephen Breyer was confirmed 73 days after his nomination was submitted. 
In both cases, Democrats and Republicans helped move the process forward 
promptly and voted to confirm the justices, despite significant 
philosophical differences.
    America is fortunate to have a man of such wisdom and intellectual 
strength willing to serve our country. I'm grateful to Judge Roberts' 
wife, Jane, and their two children, Jack

[[Page 1224]]

and Josie, and I look forward to the Senate voting to confirm Judge John 
Roberts as 109th justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:49 a.m. on July 22 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on July 23. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
July 22 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of 
the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this 
address.