In brown vs. The board of education. In that case the Supreme Court outlawed racial segregation of schools. Good evening and welcome to everybody. Im a Vice President of the Supreme Court Historical Society and delighted to see everybody here tonight in our second lecture of the leon silverman series on dissents in the Supreme Court. Were very privileged tonight to have as our host Justice Kagan. She will be introducing our distinguished speaker very shortly. Let me just tell you a few things about Justice Kagan. You may or may not know. Born in new york, raised in new york, educated at princeton, oxford, and Harvard Law School. Then became a clerk to judge abner mikva on the d. C. Circuit followed by a clerkship with justi Justice Thurgood marshall here at the Supreme Court. Then a law practice and in 1991 entering academia teaching at the university of Chicago Law School where she met professor barack obama. Two years later invited back to washington to work for the Senate Judiciary
May or may not know already. Born in new york. Raised in new york. Educated at princeton, oxford and Harvard Law School. Then became a clerk to judge abner mickva on the d. C. Circuit, followed by a clerkship with Justice Thurgood marshall here at the Supreme Court. Then a couple of years of law practice, and then in 1991, entering academia teaching at the university of Chicago Law School where she met professor barack obama. Two years later, invited back to washington to work for the Senate Judiciary committee as special counsel at the request of the chairman, then senator joe biden. Two years later, judge mickva becomes white House Counsel for president clinton. Justice kagan is asked to come to the white house. Serve as associate white House Counsel. Stays there for a couple of years in that role and then two more years in domestic policy roles on behalf of the clinton administration. In the white house. And then president clinton nominates Justice Kagan to be a judge on the d. C. C
The House Judiciary Committee had already undertaken that and had established that the inquiry could really run very widely. It was not going to be limited to just a certain number of witnesses or certain number of days or even just to the monocle to the Monica Lewinsky question. Democrats fought to keep that from happening. But the rules were established. And the committee you know, because our memory is that in 2116 party line vote, the republicans were in control of the committee and they were the ones guiding it and moved pretty swiftly. And the house floor was ready to take it up under the Republican Leadership of the house at the time. Us, we remember so much drama. We literally went through three speakers within a couple of days. First the resignation of speaker Newt Gingrich. Bob livingston became the next in line. Then what happened . There was a scramble to figure out. One of Bob Livingstons allies try to talk him out of it. It was interesting because he had made the decision
Upfront and been out there aggressive or anything of that sort. That is not my style. I believe in building on a consensus and recognizing that that kind of leadership is going to have its effect. However, were those, who wanted to create, at the ade, or to have created an Hoc Committee and have a speaker committeethe ad hoc to conduct the inquiry. Me onr albert talked with a number of occasions. He had great confidence in me. He placed this confidence in me. Fact, thereing that are those who even after i became the chairman who were intent on taking another course of action. Remember the attempt on the part of some to delay the ford, toion of jerry be Vice President , thinking that theibly we might delay confirmation of jerry ford to be Vice President since we were implementing the 25th amendment, and that maybe we would proceed with the impeachment of Richard Nixon, impeach Richard Nixon, and then there would be a vacancy in the last presidency since spira agnew had been compelled to
Rep. Rodino there were those who were a little concerned that speaker albert, who had not made up his mind, but who realize that impeachment was in the offing, certainly was considering, thinking about it, and there were those who felt, my god, if it goes to congressman rodino, congressman rodino is one who has been working in the background, has never got out front, you know and then out there. I believe in building on a consensus and recognizing that that kind of leadership is going to have its effect. There were those who wanted to create an Ad Hoc Committee and have the speaker designate at that time the Ad Hoc Committee to conduct the inquiry. Speaker albert talked to me on a number of occasions. He had great confidence in me and he placed his confidence in me. And notwithstanding that fact, there were those who, even after i became the chairman who were intent on taking another course of action. I remember the attempt on the part of some to delay the confirmation of jerry ford to