Ailing chief justice administers oath of office to Bush

AP ^ | 1/20/5 | GINA HOLLAND

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON -- Looking frail but determined, his voice strained from thyroid cancer, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist emerged from months of seclusion to swear in President Bush.

The 80-year-old Rehnquist managed a weak smile as he walked with a cane and took his place on the podium. A scarf around his neck appeared to slip, exposing a tracheotomy tube that helps him breathe.

Rehnquist has been shrouded in mystery since October, when he issued a statement saying he had cancer and dropped out of sight as he underwent treatment.

Many were skeptical that he would be well enough to administer the oath, but after Bush and other leaders took their place on the Capitol stage, the chief justice emerged and walked gingerly down a flight of stairs to join them.

His first public appearance in three months was brief. He administered the oath in a clear but raspy voice -- very different from his usual deep-pitched speech. It was the fifth and very likely last time he will swear in a president.

[SmithL]

God Bless!

[Max Combined]

The old boy did a pretty good job, for a dying man. Tough old bird!

[KiloLima]

Supremely heroic . . .

[firewalk]

bttt

[ladyinred]

It was just so heartbreaking watching him come down those stairs with that cane. He is obviously weak of body, but strong in spirit! What a magnificent man he is to put aside his own pain to do his duty to this country. The mark of excellence is all over this man.

[Mad Mammoth]

The old boy did a pretty good job, for a dying man. Tough old bird!

Indeed he did do a good job, in fact they should have had the Chief Justice administer the Oath of Office to Vice President Cheney, as it was painfully obvious that House Speaker Denny Hastert had his tongue wrapped around his eye-tooth and couldn't even see what he was saying. Totally mangled the Oath of Office, and I thought I saw a brief flash of irritation in the VP, and rightly so. Something like "Good God Denny, what are you DOING?!?"

Don't misunderstand, I like Denny Hastert and think he's a good SOTH, but don't they rehearse any of these procedures beforehand, even in a private study somewhere?!?

On the subject of Chief Justice Rehnquist, I'd love to think he might beat the odds and hang in there for a few more years, but I expect he will soon step down for the obvious health reasons.

God Bless him.

[Max Combined]

I agree with you. I happened to be able to work at home for a couple hours and I got home just before the Vice President was sworn in. I thought that the President had already been sworn in and I had missed it, but I was happy to at least get to hear and see the VP sworn in. Hastert did make a hash of it, big time.

I was really happy when I realized that I was going to get to see the President sworn in as well. It went off without a hitch and I was very proud of both the Chief Justice and Dubya. It made me proud to be an American. Of course I was also happy that it was not Kerry up there.

[Soul Seeker]

I wish Rehnquiet confort, peace and healing through his illness. I thank him for the strength it took to arrive to administer the Oath of Office. God Bless him.

[AnAmericanMother]

God bless that good man indeed!

What grit and determination he showed!

[homemom]

I thought it was very touching, and also very sad that he left immediately after he administered the oath. I predict this is one of the last things he does; he looked so very ill. I've read he really, really wanted to be able to do this and I'm glad he did. I'm also very thankful that Pres. Bush will choose his replacement on the SC when he steps down.

[mountainfolk]

A profile in courage if ever there was one. God bless you Chief Justice Rehnquist.

[newzjunkey]

VP is always sworn in first.

[newzjunkey]

...he looked so very ill.

I thought he looked great... more alive than when presiding during the impeachment trial.

Make no mistake, I expect his cancer to be fatal but, today, he rose to the occasion.

As for "D'oh" Hastert, he needs to be taken behind the woodshed by "Big Time" for fumbling the words. Give me a break!

[homemom]

Yes, he did do a great job. I thought it looked like quite an effort, and he rose to the occasion.

Isn't it intersting how our perceptions of his health differ so much?

As for Hastert, I'd sure expect them to go over the words before they actually got out there to administer the oath! I'm sure he was very nervous and I don't blame him, but a few quick readings of it, slowing down, and just doing short phrases at a time, would have make it a lot better. Oh, well, it's official anyway. :-)

[Max Combined]

"VP is always sworn in first."

As I learned to my delight.