William Rehnquist facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Rehnquist
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Official portrait, 1986
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| 16th Chief Justice of the United States | |
| In office September 26, 1986 – September 3, 2005 |
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| Nominated by | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Warren E. Burger |
| Succeeded by | John Roberts |
| Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States | |
| In office January 7, 1972 – September 26, 1986 |
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| Nominated by | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | John Marshall Harlan II |
| Succeeded by | Antonin Scalia |
| United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel | |
| In office January 29, 1969 – December 1971 |
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| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Frank Wozencraft |
| Succeeded by | Ralph Erickson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Donald Rehnquist
October 1, 1924 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | September 3, 2005 (aged 80) Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Nan Cornell
(m. 1953; died 1991) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Stanford University (AB, AM, LLB) Harvard University (MA) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  U.S. Army Air Force |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 |
| Rank |  Sergeant |
William Hubbs Rehnquist (/ˈrɛnkwɪst/ REN-kwist; October 1, 1924 – September 3, 2005) was an American lawyer and judge. He served on the U.S. Supreme Court for 33 years. First, he was an associate justice from 1972 to 1986. Then, he became the 16th chief justice from 1986 until his death in 2005.
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Early Life and Education
William Rehnquist was born on October 1, 1924, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He grew up in a suburb called Shorewood. His father was a sales manager, and his mother was a community activist and homemaker. His grandparents came to the U.S. from Sweden.
School and Military Service
Rehnquist finished Shorewood High School in 1942. He then went to Kenyon College for a short time. In 1943, he joined the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He served until 1946, mostly in the United States. He trained in different programs, including weather instrument repair. In 1945, he worked as a weather observer in North Africa.
College and Law School
After the military, Rehnquist attended Stanford University. He used money from the G.I. Bill to help pay for his education. He earned degrees in political science in 1948. He also studied at Harvard University, getting another master's degree in 1950.
He returned to Stanford for Stanford Law School. He was a top student and an editor for the Stanford Law Review. He graduated first in his class in 1952. Interestingly, Sandra Day O'Connor, who would later serve with him on the Supreme Court, was in the same law school class. Rehnquist married Nan Cornell in 1953.
Career as a Judge
After law school, Rehnquist worked for Justice Robert H. Jackson at the Supreme Court. This job is called a law clerk. After that, he became a private lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona.
Joining the Supreme Court
In 1969, President Richard Nixon appointed Rehnquist to a role in the U.S. Justice Department. In 1971, President Nixon nominated him to become an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. The U.S. Senate approved his appointment.
In 1986, President Ronald Reagan chose Rehnquist to become the new Chief Justice. He replaced Chief Justice Warren Burger, who was retiring. The Senate confirmed him again.
Chief Justice of the United States
Rehnquist served as Chief Justice for almost 19 years. This made him one of the longest-serving chief justices in history. He became a very important leader on the Supreme Court. Even judges who disagreed with him often respected his ideas.
As Chief Justice, Rehnquist oversaw the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. He also wrote important decisions for the Court. For example, in cases like United States v. Lopez (1995) and United States v. Morrison (2000), he wrote that Congress had gone beyond its powers. In Bush v. Gore, he agreed with the Court's decision to stop the vote recount in Florida during the 2000 presidential election.
Later Life and Death
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William Rehnquist died at his home in Arlington, Virginia, on September 3, 2005. He was almost 81 years old. He was the first Supreme Court justice to die while in office since 1954.
His funeral was held at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. President George W. Bush and Justice O'Connor spoke at the service. Rehnquist was buried next to his wife, Nan, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Family Life
William Rehnquist married Natalie "Nan" Cornell on August 29, 1953. She had worked as an analyst for the CIA before they married. They had three children: James, Janet, and Nancy. Nan Rehnquist passed away in 1991 from cancer. William Rehnquist was survived by his children and nine grandchildren.
The Rehnquist family often spent vacations at their home in Greensboro, Vermont.
Books Written by Rehnquist
William Rehnquist also wrote several books about history and the Supreme Court:
- The Centennial Crisis: The Disputed Election of 1876 (2004)
- All the Laws but One: Civil Liberties in Wartime (1998)
- Grand Inquests: The Historic Impeachments of Justice Samuel Chase and President Andrew Johnson (1992)
- The Supreme Court: How It Was, How It Is (1987, revised 2001)
Images for kids
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Portrait of Rehnquist as an associate justice in 1972
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William Rehnquist (left) takes the oath as Chief Justice from retiring Warren Burger in 1986.
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Rehnquist at the National Archives Rotunda in 2003.
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Rehnquist serving as presiding officer of the Clinton impeachment trial.
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See also
In Spanish: William Rehnquist para niños
