Sandra Day O'Connor
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,
Sandra Day O'Connor
Mrs. Parker, Mary, Dell prints law, Justice Powell, councillors, directors, members and friends of Stratford Hall. What a treat it is for john and for me to visit this beautiful place. We wanted to for 13 years ever since we got to this area. But this was the first time we'd had a request we just couldn't refuse. That is to give a little tribute to Lewis Powell. And how can I say no to that? So here we are. And we're, of course, enchanted with this beautiful farm, its surroundings and and all that it has to offer. It's my job tonight to tell you a little bit about Lewis Powell. And you know, a lot of it already, 'cause it's in your programs, and it's in the background. And I hope a lot of you have already read the biography of Lewis Powell, but I'll say more about that later. You know, Justice Powell, was the 99th justice on the Supreme Court.
Perhaps he was the most reluctant justice. It's reported that on the day in January 1972, when Lewis Powell was sworn in, together with William Rehnquist, my law school classmate that Nan Rehnquist asked Justice Powell's wife, Jo, if it wasn't the most exciting day in her life. And Jo reportedly said, "No, it's the worst day of my life. I'm about to cry."
Lewis Powell had turned down an appointment to the Supreme Court in 1969. He was prepared to turn it down again in 1972. Luckily for the Court, and for the nation, Lewis Powell reluctantly agreed to accept the nomination when President Nixon convinced him that it was his duty to his country to accept. Now, John O'Connor and I met the Powells some years before that in New York City, at the time that Lewis Powell was president-elect of the American Bar Association. And John and I were at the Supreme Court in January of 1972 to witness the investiture of Lewis Powell and William Rehnquist. We were able to greet Lewis and Jo Powell at the reception following now investor. But little did either of us dream at that time that I would get to know Lewis pal as a colleague, nine years later. Now, the directors of Stratford Hall and the counselors and their guests, the ancestral home here of the leaf family. You don't need an introduction to Lewis Powell and to Jo, who know a great deal about Virginia history. And my comments tonight can only reinforce what you already know about Lewis Powell about his family, his Virginia heritage, his remarkable career, and his contributions as a member of the Supreme Court. Lewis pals family dates back to Thomas Powell who came to the James River area Virginia from England in 1635. Lewis Powell was born and Suffolk, Virginia but lived most of his life and Richmond. He was an able student and also a very good athlete. He played basketball and he played baseball. He also learned as a youngster that demanding life and nature of life on a farm. Much as the residents of this this place David Lewis, his father bought a milk cow named Molly, and directed Lewis to feed or take care of her and milk. Now, I don't know how many of you have had to do that. I've had a little taste about my life. But anyone who's had to take care of cattle knows there is never a day off. Never. Lewis said that one of his happiest days, was some years later when he went out to the barn and found that damn cow, Dan
Lewis also learned to shoot two humps, small birds and small game. And of course, he also excelled at that. He attended college and law school at Washington and Lee University and Lexington, Virginia. He does he demonstrated his leadership qualities there early on. He became president of his fraternity. He became managing editor of the student newspaper, he became student body president. He graduated first in his class and law school. And then he did a postgraduate year at Harvard just satisfy his father's hope that he would have a Harvard education as well. Lewis Powell returned to Richmond to practice law. And after a couple of years, he joined the distinguish law firm of Huntington Williams, it was already a fine firm with good clients. Not long after that he married Joe Rucker, a beautiful and talented graduate of sweet Briar. And it was a marriage made in heaven, as they say, one that remains joyous and loving to this day, some 58 years later, they're really a nice couple to be around because they do enjoy each other so much. And they have four wonderful children. Young Joe or Jody has her father calls or who's becoming associated here as the director of Stratford Hall, panning, Lewis, the third and Molly name, I think, not for the cow. Now, Lewis Powell, with this wonderful family, or most of it, was leading a very busy life in Richmond as a lawyer and a father and a civic leader, and along came World War Two. He wasn't required to go on the service because he had certain vision problems or other problems that would not have enabled him to be drafted. So what did he do, he knew his duty and he volunteered. And he served in the Army Air Force, beginning in 1941. He served in North Africa, in Sicily and an England. Eventually he was assigned a military intelligence and he served as a representative in the most sensitive and top secret intelligence gems agency of that bore, it was known as ultra. Now, I won't tell the story of his life in the military service, because I want you to read it. But it was one in which he made a very important indeed vital contribution to the victory of the allies. And it was a very significant part of his life.
He returned to Huntington Williams in Richmond after the war, he represented some important clients, including Colonial Williamsburg. And those qualities of leadership, which had only been strengthened by his military service, once again emerged within his law firm in the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association, and as chairman of the Richmond school board. In that capacity, he served on the board during the years immediately following the support court's decision and Brown versus Board of Education. Later, he served on the Virginia State Board of Education. He supported reform of the curriculum, and he strongly oppose those who were proposing massive resistance to the desegregation of the public schools. Lewis Pelle became president of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and a 1964 he became president of the American Bar Association. He served on the Supreme Court of the United States from 1972. until June of 1987. He wrote more than 500 opinions for the court and many very significant ones. It was an enormous privilege for me to serve on that court with him. For some years, no one did more than Lewis pal of the end, help this young cowgirl from Arizona get settled as a new justice. He found First of all, a place where john and i might live temporarily when we first came to Washington. And then I started my work the court and was in total disarray. I didn't have any one on my chambers who had ever worked at the court before. Until Lewis did a wonderful thing. He let me hire his second secretary, he had two secretaries. Both were very skilled and able, and he let me hire one of them who was an absolute gem. He said it was like cutting off his right arm. But he willingly did that. And she quickly got my chambers organized. But more important than that. Lewis pal for me, was someone who was always willing to talk about the cases and the issues. His door was always open. And I missed those visits. I missed those discussions still today. It was wonderful to have that relationship with him. Now he likes to tell a story that he's going to be remembered for something quite different. He says he's going to be remembered as the first supreme court justice to dance with another justice.
I think he's going to be remembered for a lot of other things. But it's absolutely true. He was not only that he is a wonderful dancer. But Louis pal was very hard working. He went over every detail of every case. He had a concern in every case about the equity at the bottom line. Not just the bare legal issue. But what's the right thing to do? What's the equity here, in this case, he wanted to reach a fair and adjust result. He brought a lifetime of experience to the court, as a lawyer. And as a leader. He was enormously kind and thoughtful to everyone, not just to me, to everyone with whom he came in contact. But he would hold his ground when he decided on a course of action. As sweet and kind as he is he was tough as could be when he made up his mind, and knew that was what he had to do. Now there is an absolutely wonderful biography of Lewis pal, written by john Jeffries, who was one of his former law clerks. And if you haven't already gotten that, run to your local bookstore and get it because it's very lively and so interesting. And I normally all kinds of things about Lewis pal that I didn't know and I thought I know him well. But as I read that biography, I was struck by how lewis powell in his life has followed General Robert De Lee's precept, do your duty and all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less. Now one observers said of justice pal on his retirement, for those who seek a perspective, grounded and realism, and leavened by decency, conscientious and detail and magnanimous and spirit, solicitous of personal dignity, and protective of the public trust, there will never be a better justice. I would change that just a little bit, or add to it. And say that for those who seek a model of human kindness, decency, exemplary behavior and integrity, you will never find a better man. lewis powell, Jr. is a most appropriate recipient of the Lee integrity award. Thank you,.