Rehnquist remembered for his humor, humility

The Washington Times ^ | 9 September 2005 | Stephanie Mansfield

[Aussie Dasher]

President Bush was among the crowd of friends and family who gathered yesterday at St. Matthew's Cathedral in the District to pay tribute to the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.

By all accounts, the man who had served on the Supreme Court for more than 33 years was a character.

Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, archbishop of Washington, drew laughter at the funeral when he recalled that in January 2001, Chief Justice Rehnquist was scheduled to speak at a Mass.

"He said he was going to speak on the disputed presidential election."

Cardinal McCarrick said he privately worried that it would be too touchy of a subject with the Rehnquist court recently having awarded the election to George W. Bush rather than Vice President Al Gore. When Chief Justice Rehnquist took the podium, he addressed the congregation and said his topic was the "disputed presidential election of 1876: Hayes versus Tilden."

[Aussie Dasher]

God Rest and keep his dear soul.

[Dashing Dasher]

Rehnquist remembered for his humor...

I always thought of him as a comedian!

/sarc

[SoDak]

I saw an interview with him the other night, I believe with Charlie Rose, and I was struck by how personable he seemed, which is usually a rarity in someone with his intellect. Best answer of the night was when Rose asked him why he decided on law as a career. He said that he took an aptitude test, paid for by the GI Bill upon his discharge, and it told him to be a lawyer.

[msnimje]

Justice O'Connor spoke of the time Chief Justice Rehnquist was taken to a hospital emergency room, where the attending physician asked who his primary caregiver was.

"My dentist," he answered.

That is pretty funny

[Theresawithanh]

Rest in peace, Justice Rehnquist.

Thanks for posting this Aussie Dasher, more background on a great man.

[petitfour]

Thanks for posting this. What a guy!

[firewalk]

.