Chief Justice William Rehnquist

Sept. 7, 2005



REHNQUIST FUNERAL

Chief justice praised for his duty, devotion to integrity and humor

By GINA HOLLAND
COPYRIGHT Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Chief Justice William Rehnquist was buried Wednesday as President Bush led the nation in bidding farewell to the man who orchestrated a dramatic states rights power shift in a third of a century on the Supreme Court and settled the acrimonious 2000 election in Bush's favor.

With more laughs than tears, family and friends spoke poignantly of Rehnquist's final days — when he cracked jokes in the face of death — and proudly of the imprint of his 33 years on the high court.

"We remember the integrity and the sense of duty that he brought to every task before him," Bush said during a two-hour service at St. Matthew's Cathedral. Rehnquist was a steady, guiding presence on the court, Bush said of the nation's 16th chief justice who died Saturday at 80.

michael mccafferty comments:

Chief Justice William Rehnquist of the United States Supreme Court was truly a great American -- a genuine patriot and statesman. Rehnquist brought great honor and integrity to all that he did in serving his nation.

God bless William Rehnquist for he was a very remarkable and outstanding man.