[applause] the indication will be given by senator john c danforth. Invocation will be given by senator john c danforth. Senator danforth i ask you to observe a moment of silence in memory of mrs. Natalie rehnquist. Holy and loving god, who has given us this great nation, and has called it good men and women to bear the burdens and assume the duties of public service, we give you thanks and praise for raising from humble origins, Clarence Thomas, to the highest court in our land. We thank you for his strength, his courage, and for the kindness and devotion of his. Eart especially we thank you that he has persevered through adversity , that he has fought the good fight, and that with your guidance, he has grown in love. F you and in charity to others we ask your special blessing on him, as he takes this high office. Make him always mindful that he is walking in your site sight, that he may apply himself faithfully to the work you have given him, and that in the years to come, he may do justice, and love mercy, and walk humbly with his god, amen. [applause] president h. W. Bush please be seated. Well, welcome all to the white house. Mr. Vice president and mrs. Quayle, a warm welcome. And, of course, to the members of the Supreme Court. And may i simply say that barbara and i join with you and with all the nation in mourning the loss of nan rehnquist, the wife of the chief justice. Let me also welcome the many members of the United States congress that are with us today. Single out but a few minority leader dole and chairman biden, and Ranking Member thurmond of the committee, and so many others. And members of our cabinet over here, and so many friends of Clarence Thomas who have worked , with him here in washington. And, of course, i should especially single out senator jack danforth, a man every american would be proud to call friend. [applause] and, of course, those special guests, the many members of Clarence Thomass family here today. His wife ginni, his son jamal here in the front row. And clarences mother, mrs. Leola williams, his sister, emma maye martin, his brother, myers, his cousins this reminds me of pinafores cousins, sisters, aunts. [laughter] but thats the way it ought to be. And all of you, some of whom drove all the way up. I see a little advertisement over here from pin point, georgia to be here this afternoon. And [applause] president h w bush and thats 600 long miles, but ive got a feeling they might have driven 6,000 miles to be here today. Well, people from far and wide, from all walks of life, all levels of education and income , have come here today in testament to the character of Clarence Thomas. But what brought you here is also something more, the power of the american ideal, the values of faith and family, of hard work, and opportunity. And these are the values that unite us all, that give america meaning. America is the first nation in history founded on an idea, on the unshakeable certainty that all men are created equal. And when we ask our justices to uphold the constitution, we entrust to them the laws that give life to our principles. Clarence thomas now joins the distinguished ranks of jurists to whom we entrust this sacred task, who, in the stark and simple phrase of chief justice marshall, tells us what the law is. I said when i nominated Clarence Thomas that this man is a fiercely independent thinker with an excellent legal mind who believes passionately in equal opportunity for all americans. And since then, the whole nation has learned that the passion and the intellect and the independence of mind all spring from a single source, an inner strength stamped on his character long ago when he walked the dirt roads of pin point. Clarence thomas comes to the Supreme Court having worked in the private sector, having served in state government, and in every branch of federal government. Each position will serve him well on the court, sharpening his Vantage Point on the many questions that come before him. These are the mans qualifications. They are not the same as his experience. Clarence thomas knows firsthand the searing hate and sting of segregation. He knows the cold face of indifference, the unthinking cruelty that tells some men and women that society expects little of them and offers even less. But Clarence Thomas would not be here today if there were not more to this story. Hes known his share of the joys of life the love of family, the devotion of friends, the kind gestures from people committed to decency and fairness, to justice and to the american dream. Clarence thomas has endured america at its worst, and hes answered with america at its best. He brings that hardwon experience to the high court and america will be the better for it. So let me say to everyone here , dont be overawed by the solemnity of this moment. Celebrate this day. See what this son of pin point has made of himself. See how he makes us proud of america, proud of all that is best in us. And in just a few moments, we will bear witness as the oath of office is administered to our nations newest Supreme Court justice. And before we do, let me simply say on a personal level america , is blessed to have a man of this character serve on its highest court. Clarence thomas, mr. Justice thomas, congratulations and now id like to ask Justice Byron white to administer the oath. [applause] Justice White mr. President , judge thomas, ladies and gentlemen, the swearingin of a Supreme Court justice is undoubtedly a very serious affair. But its also a very exciting one, and im quite glad to be here to stand in for the chief justice, who, unfortunately, could not be here because of the death of his wife, Natalie Cornell rehnquist. We called her nan. We dearly we dearly loved her and we shall miss her very much. Judge thomas, this will not be the first time youve taken an oath that is ordinarily given to federal officers. And when at 10 00 on november 1st, you take the judicial oath that is required by statute, you will become the 106th justice to sit on the Supreme Court, and we look forward to that day. And now, if youll do the honors there, i will administer this oath. Repeat after me repeat after me i, Clarence ThomasClarence Thomas i Clarence Thomas byron r. White do solemnly swear Clarence Thomas do solemnly swear byron r. White that i will support and defend Clarence Thomas that i will support and defend byron r. White the constitution of the United StatesClarence Thomas the against all enemies byron r. White foreign and domestic Clarence Thomas foreign and domestic byron r. White that i will bear Clarence Thomas that i will bear byron r. White true faith and allegiance to the same Clarence Thomas true faith and allegiance to the same byron r. White that i take this obligation freely Clarence Thomas that i take this obligation freely byron r. White without any mental reservation Clarence Thomas without any mental reservation byron r. White or purpose of evasion. That i will well and faithfully perform Clarence Thomas that i will well and faithfully perform byron r. White the duties of the office on which i am about to enter Clarence Thomas the duties of the office upon which i am about to enter byron r. White so help you, god. Clarence thomas so help me, god. [applause] [applause] Clarence Thomas wow. [applause] Clarence Thomas thank you all so much. This is wonderful. Mr. President , mrs. Bush, mr. Vice president and mrs. Quayle, senator dole, and all my friends and all the members of congress, Justice White and my future colleagues, and all my wonderful family members, friends, supporters, and those who helped. Even as i am joyful at this event, i am deeply saddened by the death of mrs. Rehnquist, and i join in the heartfelt condolences to the chief justice and his family. Since that bright sunny day in kennebunkport, july 1, there have been many difficult days as we all went through the confirmation battle, and i mean we all. But on this sunny day in october, at the white house, there is joy. Joy in the morning. [applause] Clarence Thomas i thank almighty god, i thank those who stood along the road of 43 years of my life from pin point to the Supreme Court, from 1948 to 1991. I thank my mother and my father, my wonderful, wonderful grandparents, the nuns, my relatives, my neighbors, my friends, all who insisted that i make something of myself and all who stood ready to help me do just that. I thank america for the ideal, the opportunity and the reaffirmation of so much that is good about our great country. I thank my wonderful wife and my funny son. [laughter] wife is my best friend, and over the past 110 days we have been brought closer together, our love has been strengthened , and we have become better people. Today, now, it is a time to move forward, a time to look for what is good in others, what is good in our country. Its a time to see what we have in common, what we share as human beings and as citizens. It is a time to look for Solutions Rather than exploit problems. In the words of sir winston churchill, let us go forward together. I close this process, this long and enduring process, as i began in kennebunkport. Only in america could this day have been possible. I thank you all and may god bless you. [applause] [applause] [applause] that concludes the ceremony. Thank you all very much for coming. Thank you. Visit us online at cspan. Org history, to learn more about the Clarence Town fits Clarence Thomas confirmation. You can search our Video Library conferences,ng, and full senate debates. This is American History tb on cspan3 tv jan cspan3. Americaweek, reel brings you archival films that bring context to todays Public Affairs issues. The ballot is right at the boaters eye level, easily read. At the samees are eye level. No candidate suffers by being placed in an unfavorable position. Overommissioner won Service Clubs all over the county when he addressed them, by reminding them of the large number of voters who are disenfranchised every year at the paper ballot type polls by making mistakes. Busy people often, by habit, make checkmarks on the ballot in spaces where ex marks are required. They my has might as well have stayed home. That vote is a no vote, doesnt count, illegal. Other voters find at the last minute they have accidentally voted for the wrong man, or they have changed their mind. It doesnt count. Or, you know election pencils. Good try, sir. But this ballot will be thrown out. Or, in the multiplechoice offices, errors are frequent. He is entitled to choose five state representatives. , this is aarked six no vote. Simple mistake, yes. But out of every thousand people, some hurried, some nervous, some uninformed, how many do you think do it perfectly . The commissioner figured there is some excuse for being disenfranchised by tyranny, or war, or fear. Yes, it can happen here. But not for wellintentioned mistakes. Not in this age of the voting machine. Which cannot make a checkmark x, whichf in an does let you change your mind by pointing it back up, which has no pencil to break or paper to tear, which will not let you vote for more than you are allowed. And when you are satisfied with your vote, a new privilege awaits you. You will register and count your own vote by returning this handle. Walk away, knowing your ballot cannot be disqualified, thrown out, nor miscounted. It is already counted, the moment you leave. As the commissioner likes to say, we have really become one counties. Edom curtain each week, American History tv brings you archival films that provide context for todays Public Affairs issues. On november 8, the nation decides the next president and one Party Controls the house and senate. Stay with us for coverage of the president ial race, including Campaign Stops with of candidates, and follow key house and senate rates with races with our coverage. Cspan, where history unfolds daily. Each week until the election, wrote to the white house rewind brings you archival coverage of president ial races. The second1960, debate between John F Kennedy and richard nixon. The candidates answered questions on cuba, the social the soviet union, civil rights in america. Senator kennedy defeated Vice President nixon in the election, with less than 1 of the popular vote separating them. Tookate took piece place in washington dc. Frank mcgee this is frank mcgee, nbc news in washington. This is the second in a series of programs unmatched in history. Never have so many people seen the major candidates for id