Posted on 01/21/2005 7:08:44 AM PST by gopwinsin04
Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, out of the public eye since undergoing medical procedures in October for thyroid cancer, made a dramatic appearance nearly at the last minute yesterday at President Bush's inauguration, firmly reciting the oath of office that Bush repeated to begin his second term.
Minutes before the oath was to be administered, Rehnquist emerged from the Capitol as the last dignitary to arrive for the ceremony.
Clasping a cane in his right hand, he gingerly decended the Capitol steps to take his place on the inaugural platform. A scarf hid the tracheotomy tube that the 80 year old Rehnquist uses to assist his breathing.
While sounding hoarse, he did not stumble on any of the words of the oath of office that he read to Bush. The message was clear: While looking frail, Rehnquist was still in charge. It was the fifth and most likely final time that he would administer the oath of office for the presidency.
'I want you to know how touched I was that the chief justice came to administer the oath,' Bush said afterwords at a congressional luncheon. 'That was an incredibly moving part of the ceremony.'
Stephen Gillers, professor of law at New York University School of Law, as Rehnquist may be best remembered for presiding over the impeachment trial of President Clinton. Rehnquist has served on the Supreme Court since 1972 and has been chief justice since 1985.
Court observers watched for signs of Rehnquist's health and speculated about his- and the court's future. If Rehnquist does step down soon, Gillers said he hoped it would be after the current session ends in June, so that the court would not have a vacancy at a time when it is deciding cases.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
I think he is great but I don't understand why some people want to hang on when clearly it is time to step aside. Politician, athletes and judges hang around too long. His cancer and immune system are not gonna be helped by the added stresses of being Chief Justice......but I admire the man anyway
Kudos to the Chief Justice - I for one was glad to see him administer the oath. He'll be long remembered for his decades of service, and his insight.
It's important that Rhenquist resigned after Daschle was gone. Maybe, just maybe, we won't have a filibuster, the Democrats will just be reduced to smears and lies.
He decended the stairs with support from his cane, the railing and a military presence in case it was needed. It was not. He decended the stairs with dignity. He took his seat with dignity. He administered the oath to President Bush with the same dignity. He looked well and for that I was happy. President Bush will no doubt be Justice Rhenquist's last swearing in. God bless him.
Ridiculous! Is your lesson that should people just submit to illness and end their useful lives just because of abnormal cell division which can be treated? God bless Rehnquist. May the Lord give him the strength to "hang on" as long as he is able.
no.......I"m going off many of the pundits who have known him thru out the years and what they said on TV yesterday. They all said he was coherent and seemingly could handle it cognitively but they all said he was a shadow of the man they knew. I have to go by what they said and from my line of knowledge, added stress in a weakened condition could kill him faster due to his immunne system being taxed so there is some medical points to it.....why do you think he left right after....cause his doctor told him to scram
You have my pity.
Supposedly Chief Justice Rehnquist would like to last long enough to break Chief Justice John Marshall's term on the bench. Marshall was on the court for almost 34 years and a half years while Rehnquist has been there for just over 33 years. Hopefully he won't go for the overall record of 36 years held by Justice Douglas.
I don't need your pity. I feel more sorry for you that you have to throw that crap around like a Dem would and insult me cause you don't like what I said. If you knew my story of being disabled and it took three years for me to recover and become better than before you wouldn't even go there with your childish BS......giving up is not the same as leaving for health reasons.....
I heard that yesterday........seems like a mute point if your health is in question.......he is not out of the woods yet
Oh, really????????????
And not inappropriate "Laz" inappropriate, trying for a gag or a joke. Inappropriate as in, you read it and just shake your head.
Step aside? His brain doesn't have the problem, his tyroid does.
For one thing, until Jan. 3 when the 109th Congress was sworn in, Republicans only had a bare majority of 51-48-1 in the Senate. The new Senate has a 55-44-1 Republican majority.
haha.........i'm very relaxed but thanks anyway.....I usually will restate my point in this case he/she just us narrowed minded and actually doesn't have the capacity to understand the jist of my opinion and just wants to argue.......have a good day
see earlier posts.....I said he was coherent but at that age, fighting cancer and your immune system can be many times harder with added stresses....
As a person who has had surgery recently and am still recovering I don't believe he should consider retiring at this point. He should be given the time to recover. If at that time if he is unable to perform his duties then it will be time to step aside. Right now the man needs to recover.
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