Warren Vs. Rehnquist: A Personal Portrait

Life in America is shaped by the decisions of the Supreme Court. Those tasked with deciding on the cases brought to the highest court in the land are some of the most intelligent legal minds our nation can offer. Even more so, those few men who have been given the task of guiding the court are some of history’s prominent figures. Two men in particular, Earl Warren and William Rehnquist ruled the American legal and political scene for nearly 35 years. Warren, serving from 1953-1969, presided over landmark cases of segregation (Brown v. Board of Education) and criminal rights (Miranda v. Arizona); Rehnquist, who is the fourth-longest serving chief justice in court history (1986-2005), steered the Court to a more conservative approach and presided over the nation’s second presidential impeachment trial. The two men alike made their mark on the lives of Americans and the stories of their reign over the court are as …show more content…
Obermayer does not simply analyze the meticulous choices and ideas of Rehnquist; he tells of Rehnquist as a human and as a friend. Obermayer understands the impact of Rehnquist and his role in the lives of 21st Century Americans, yet he only hints at the legacy aspect in order to give the reader a more personal connection to Rehnquist, creating greater interest and mystery around the Justice. At times Rehnquist comes off as a conceited and brutally-concise man, Obermayer even saying that, “Bill’s matter-of-fact demeanor and terse statements could not hide his disappointment,” (Obermeyer, 227); still, at other times he is soft and easy going man. Such descriptions draw on the emotional thoughts of the reader and in turn allow the reader to understand some of the reasonings behind many of the decisions of Rehnquist and his Court. Obermayer also shows Rehnquist’s conservative philosophy and this policy’s effect on the Justice’s life and