I could be wrong, but I'm not aware of other personal presidential and top WH legal counsels being in the hearing room, ready to advise/coach the nominee, in the past.
He wasn't seated so prominently yesterday, and per his past documented hardball MO, he might be there in the front row as a not so subtle reminder to some of the questioners. 
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/page/2/?fbid=EOYMqoT5VFa
Solicitor General Kagan’s White House support team at the hearing includes White House Counsel Bob Bauer, Susan Davies (Bauer’s deputy who has been running day-to-day of the confirmation process) and Phil Schiliro, Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs.
If they tried to bring out her feminine side, they failed miserably.
Nothing like a real bastard of a big brother breathing down the back of your neck.
I can’t stand this “woman”. She is not only UNQUALIFIED, but she is an Ideologue.
I hope Dems remember THAT the next time we get a SCOTUS nominee, and we nominate an evangelical Christian who is a life long opponent of abortion and more than willing to uphold anything supporting religion and God.
Remember Kagan then you liberal slimes.