Political Quotes

“Madam President, this morning, the Supreme Court concluded its work for the term and, accordingly, it was Justice John Paul Stevens' last day on the Court. This afternoon, the Senate Judiciary Committee began the hearing on the nomination of Elena Kagan to succeed Justice Stevens on the Supreme Court of the United States. Solicitor General Kagan appropriately included a tribute to Justice Stevens in her opening remarks. The Nation is indebted to Justice Stevens for his decades of service to this country, from his days as a Navy intelligence officer during World War II for which he was awarded a Bronze Star, to his contributions as a circuit judge, to his 35 years on our highest Court and his leadership there. When I visited with Justice Stevens earlier this year he shared with me the note President Ford had written a year before his death in which the President said: ``I am prepared to allow history's judgment of my term in office to rest (if necessary, exclusively) on my nomination 30 years ago of John Paul Stevens to the U.S. Supreme Court.'' President Ford was justifiably proud of his nomination. Despite those on the far right who have ranted against Justice Stevens' refusal to be bound by narrow, conservative ideology and who have criticized his good judgment--just as they have Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Justice David Souter--his was principled jurisprudence founded on adherence to the rule of law and an appreciation for the effects of decisions.…”