[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 45 (Monday, November 14, 2005)]
[Pages 1659-1660]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

November 5, 2005

    Good morning. This week I was proud to nominate Judge Sam Alito to 
be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. Judge 
Alito is one of America's most accomplished and respected judges. During 
his long career in public service, he has demonstrated all the qualities 
that the American people expect in a Supreme Court Justice, mastery of 
the law, a deep commitment to justice, and great personal character. He 
is scholarly, fair-minded, and principled, and these traits will serve 
our Nation well on our highest Court.
    Judge Alito now serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third 
Circuit. When he was nominated to his current seat in 1990, Judge Alito 
received strong bipartisan support, and the United States Senate 
confirmed him by unanimous consent. He has served on that court with 
distinction for 15 years and now has more prior judicial experience than 
any Supreme Court nominee in more than 70 years.
    During his career on the bench, Judge Alito has participated in 
thousands of appeals and authored hundreds of opinions. He has 
demonstrated that he understands the proper role of a judge, to 
interpret the Constitution and laws, not to impose the judge's own 
preferences or priorities on the people. And in the performance of his 
duties, Judge Alito's brilliance, his modesty, and his even demeanor 
have gained him the respect of his colleagues and of the attorneys 
appearing before him.
    Prior to becoming a judge, Sam Alito served for 3 years as the 
United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey. When President 
Reagan nominated him to this position in 1987, the Senate confirmed him 
by unanimous consent. As the top prosecutor in one of the Nation's 
largest Federal districts, Sam Alito moved aggressively against white-
collar and environmental crimes, drug trafficking, organized crime, and 
violations of civil rights. He showed a passionate commitment to the 
rule of law, and he gained a reputation for being both tough and fair.
    Before becoming U.S. Attorney, Sam Alito served in other critical 
positions in the Department of Justice. In the Office of Legal Counsel, 
he provided constitutional advice for the President and the executive 
branch. As Assistant to the Solicitor General, he argued 12 cases before 
the Supreme Court. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he argued dozens of 
cases before the Federal courts of appeals.
    The son of an Italian immigrant who came to America in 1914, Sam 
Alito is a product of New Jersey public schools. He was valedictorian 
and student council president at Hamilton East-Steinert High School in 
Hamilton, New Jersey. He went on to become a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of 
Princeton University. He attended Yale Law School and was editor of the 
Yale Law Journal. After graduating from law school, he was a law clerk 
for a Federal court of appeals judge. He has served in the Army 
Reserves, where he achieved the rank of captain. Sam Alito's life has 
been marked by consistent excellence and achievement, combined with 
personal decency and a commitment to public service.
    The United States Senate will now exercise its constitutional 
responsibility to advise and consent on Judge Alito's nomination. The 
process is off to a good start. Since I announced his nomination, Judge 
Alito has met with many Senators, and they are learning more about his 
great character, accomplishments, and ability.
    Our Nation is fortunate to have a man of Judge Alito's intellect and 
integrity willing to serve. I look forward to the Senate voting to 
confirm Judge Alito as the 110th Justice of the Supreme Court of the 
United States.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 10:45 a.m. on November 2 in the 
Cabinet Room at the White

[[Page 1660]]

House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on November 5. The transcript was made 
available by the Office of the Press Secretary on November 4 but was 
embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of the Press 
Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this address.