NC, News and Observer, Newspaper article, Raleigh, The Kauffman-Henry Collection

Senate confirms O’Connor as Supreme Court justice

NC, News and Observer, Newspaper article, Raleigh, The Kauffman-Henry Collection / By

WASHINGTON (UPI) – In a vote hailed as a turning point in U.S. political history, the Senate voted unanimously Monday to confirm Sandra Day O’Connor as the nation’s first woman justice of the Supreme Court. The vote was 99-0. Sen . Max Baucus, D-Mont., was the only absentee. Cautioned against any demonstration, spectators thronging the Senate gallery kept silent during the 20-minute roll call and the announcement of the outcome . Outside the Capitol, a huge crowd greeted Judge O’Connor with cheers as she arrived with Attorney General William French Smith and posed for pictures with Vice President George Bush and Senate leaders. “I’m absolutely overjoyed with the expression of support from the Senate, and my hope is that 10 years from now, after I’ve been across the street at work for a while, they will feel glad they gave me the wonderful vote they did today,” Judge O’Connor said. “I’ll certainly work hard to make that hl!.ppen.” President Re&gan promptly issued a statement saying, “This is truly a happy and histor~c day fof America,” and expressmg gratitude for the unanimous vote. He called Judge O’Connor “a very warm and brilliant woman” and said he is sure “the court and the nation will benefit both from her lifetime of work, service ~nd experience in the legal profession, …

Corpus Christi Caller, Newspaper article, The Kauffman-Henry Collection

Senate confirms O’Connor 99-0

Corpus Christi Caller, Newspaper article, The Kauffman-Henry Collection / By

All-male tradition on top court ends

WASHINGTON – The Senate , ending an all-male tradition nearly two centuries old. unanimously confirmed Sandra Day O’Connor as an associate justice of the Supreme Court on Monday. Mrs . O’Connor, a 51-year-old Arizona state appeals judge , will be sworn in Friday in time to join the court for the opening of its 1981-82 term on October 5. The vote was 99-0. with only Sen. Max Baucus. D-Mont .. who was attending an economic conference in his home state, missing from the tally. He had supported Mrs. O’Connor in earlier committee action. “Today is truly a historic occa- sion,” said Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, leading off a series of 22 speeches in warm praise of President Reagan’s first high court nominee. Hailing a “happy and historic day,” President Reagan said in a statement the confirmation of his nominee “symbolizes the richness of opportunity that still abides in America – opportunity that permits persons of any sex, — age or race, from every section and walk of life. to aspire and achieve in a manner never before even dreamed about in human history.” As the vote neared. a small knot of conservatives who had questioned Mrs. O’Connor’s views on abortions fell into line behind her nomination. Jesse Helms. R-N.C .. leader of the most conservative bloc of Senate Republicans. voted for Mrs . O’Connor. saying he talked to the president and was assured that Mrs. O’Connor shares Reagan’s opposition to

Arizona Business Gazette, Newspaper article, The Kauffman-Henry Collection

Senate Confirms O’Connor

Arizona Business Gazette, Newspaper article, The Kauffman-Henry Collection / By

WASHINGTON ( AP)-Sandra Day O’Connor, confirmed by a unanimous Senate as the first woman justice on the Supreme Court, promises to be “very busy, very fast” after she is sworn in Friday. There is no clear indication, however, how she will vote on social and constitutional issues that come before the court. The 51-year-old Arizona appeals judge won a 99-0 endorsement in the Senate on Monday as the 102nd justice in the 191-year history of the nation’s highest court. She will be youngest of the nine members. MRS. O’CONNOR WILL be sworn in for her lifetime position in ceremonies Friday afternoon in the Supreme Court but ding. But because the ceremony Related story, A3 will be conducted in the courtroom itself, the recording for posterity will be limited. . “As is the court practice, there will be no TV, no photographs and no tape recordings,” court spokesman Barrett McGurn said in a printed statement released today. Reporters and artists will be admitted to the ceremony, as they are for all court sessions. There will be no public admission, however, except by invitation. CHIEF JUSTICE Warren Burger will administer Mrs. O’Connor’s oath of office. “My hope is that 10 years from now, after I’ve been across the . street and worked for a while, that they’ll all feel glad for the wonderful vote they gave me today ” a smiling Mrs . O’Connor said at a~ appearance on the Capitol steps with Vice President George Bush and Senate leaders. . Once installed on the court, which opens its 1981-82

Newspaper article, NRC Handelsblad - Amsterdam, The Kauffman-Henry Collection

Senaatscommissie gaat akkoord met O’Connor in Hof

Newspaper article, NRC Handelsblad - Amsterdam, The Kauffman-Henry Collection / By

WASHINGTON, 16 sept. De juridische commissie van de Amerikaanse Senaat heeft gisteren vrijwel unaniem de benoeming van Sandra Day O’Connor tot eerste vrouwelijke rechter van het Amerikaanse Hooggerechtshof goedgekeurd. Er bestaat nu geen enkele twijfel meer dat de voltallige Senaat volgende week maandag haar benoeming zal beze- gelen. Vermoedelijk zullen alleen enkele senatoren tegen stemmen die tegen zwangerschapsonderbreking zijn. De 51-jarige Sandra Day O’Connor, een parmantige rechter uit de staat Arizona, is immers de afgelopen weken het mikpunt van anti-abortusgroeperingen geweest. Ook tijdens de hoorzittingen van vorige week, waarin zij door senatoren fors aan de tand werd gevoeld, speelde de abortuskwestie een belangrijke rol. Sandra Day O’Connor heeft namelijk in 1970 als lid van een Senaatscommissie in Arizona voor de legalisering van abortus gestemd. Dat was drie jaar geleden voordat het Hooggerechtshof in Washington zich voor legalisering uitsprak. Verder steunde zij in 1973 een wetsvoorstel waardoor het mogelijk werd meer informatie over geboortebeperking te verstrekken. Ten slotte sprak zij zich een jaar later tegen een resolutie uit waarin werd voorgesteld om een anti-abortus-amendement in de Amerikaanse grondwet op te nemen. Naar de mening van antiabortusgroeperingen kan zij met deze staat van dienst niet in aanmerking komen voor een benoeming in het hoogste rechtscollege. Ten slotte had Reagan vorig jaar beloofd dat hij geen rechter voor het Hooggerechtshof zou

Arizona Business Gazette, Newspaper article, The Kauffman-Henry Collection

Selection is praised; some critics emerge. O’Connor gets high ratings from peers

Arizona Business Gazette, Newspaper article, The Kauffman-Henry Collection / By

Strange, euphoric days have de- ‘ scended upon the Executive Tower at the State Capitol. The halls of the Arizona Court of Appeals buzz with excitement and incredulity. One of theirs is now the center of attention of the nation’s press, Senate, White House, religious groups and judiciary. Sandra Day O’Connor, presiding judge of the Appeals Court’s Department C, is the focal point of the excitement . Two weeks ago, O’Connor’s name suddenly appeared as a leading prospect for the seat on the U.S. Supreme Court after Justice Potter Stewart, a veteran of 23 years on that bench, officially announced his retirement. Then, on July 7, President Reagan announced to the nation in a televised speech that he had selected O’Connor as the first woman nominee for the high court in the 191 years of the court’s existence, thus keeping the promise he made during his campaign last year. The selection process itself is one of interesting perspectives. The White House kept the selection process cloaked in secrecy, right down to the location where candidates were to be interviewed to prevent the press from interrupting proceedings. The Justice Department and administration officials began their search when Stewart informed the White House he was retiring in March, even though those officials were not aware that the vacancy was imminent. Stewart asked the White House not to announce his decision until mid-June. He made the announcement June 18. The secret location, still unrevealed, was used on the

Newspaper article, The Kauffman-Henry Collection, The Times-Picayune

Secrecy shrouded search for nominee

Newspaper article, The Kauffman-Henry Collection, The Times-Picayune / By

President Reagan’s choice of Sandra D. O’Connor as a Supreme Court nominee was surrounded by extraordina ry secrecy, including finding a location to mtcrview candidates that was safe from discovery by reporters. In deference to Justice Potter Stewart’s desire to keep his resignation private until mid-June, top Justice Department and White House officials were told to begin a search for nominees on a contingency basis, without learning that a vacancy was imminent. Justice Department officials who asked not to be named said Tuesday that Stewart met privately with Attor• ney General William French Smith in late March, less than a week before President Reagan was shot March 30. Stewart told Smith he was retiring but did not want to make it public then. As the selection process intensified, in deference to Stewart and later to preserve the announcement for Reagan to make, Smith ordered one of his aides to arrange for a meeting place where top Justice Department officials could interview candidates without being observed by reporters. The aide was not told who was being interviewed. The same secret location was used on the afternoon of June 30 for an interview with O’Connor by Smith, White House chief of staff Jim Baker, his deputy Michael Deaver, presidential counsellor Edwin Meese, and White House counsel Fred Fielding. None of those in the June 30 meeting would say it it was held at a house, government office or hotel room. In an interview, Fielding declined to disclose the location

Arizona Republic, Newspaper mention, The Kauffman-Henry Collection

Scottsdale executive takes oath as envoy

Arizona Republic, Newspaper mention, The Kauffman-Henry Collection / By

WASHINGTON – Broadcast executive Mark Evans Austad of Scottsdale was sworn in Thursday as ambassador to Norway for the Reagan administration. He was administered the oath of office by another Arizonan, Supreme Court Justice Sandra O’Connor, during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. The diplomatic appointment is the second for Austad, 62, vice president of Metromedia Inc., the nation’s largest independent broadcast company. He was ambassador to Finland for two years under the Nixon and Ford administrations. Before moving to Arizona, he was a radio and television personality in Washington, D.C., for nearly 25 years under the professional name of Mark Evans. Austad told The Arizona Republic his post in Norway will be one of considerable responsibility. As a NATO ally, Norway occupies a strategic place in the defense of Europe. It was the first country to open the North Sea oil fields and is located strategically on the North Atlantic, he said. More than 15,000 Americans live there.

Austad said President Reagan notified him in August of his nomination to the ambassadorial post. He said he told the president, “You are a man of destiny, and I am proud to play a little part in your administration.” The president replied, “Mr. Ambassador, Norway is not a little part of my administration,” Austad said. Deputy Secretary of State Walter J. Stoessel Jr., representing Secretary of State Alexander Haig, said Austad is “remarkably well-qualified” for the ambassadorship. Stoessel, former ambassador

Newspaper mention, Scottsdale Daily Progress, The Kauffman-Henry Collection

Scott O’Connor: Justice’s son named to town panel

Newspaper mention, Scottsdale Daily Progress, The Kauffman-Henry Collection / By

At the age of 24, Scott O’Connor will bring both youth and experience to the town of Paradise Valley Planning and Zoning Commission. He was recently appointed to serve on the commission by the Town Council. O’Connor, who grew up in the town, said he knows the community well and believes he can do a good job. He also is “glad to be a part of the group” and does not believe his youth will be a problem. O’Connor said he hopes he does not “come off as seeming like a smart aleck young kid” and added that he appreciates the time the other commission members have put in and their experience. O’Connor will attend his first meeting when the planning commission meets at 7 tonight in the Town Hall, 6401 E. Lincoln Drive. O’Connor noted that he has a “fairly good sense of the town.” He is proud of the town’s preservation of open space and hillsides and the “quality of development” in the community. O’Connor also believes in maintaining the town’s “residential character.” He moved to the area as an infant with his parents John and Sandra Day O’Connor. His mother recently became the first woman to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. O’Connor attended Phoenix Country Day School, Brophy Preparatory …

[Photo caption: SCOTT O’CONNOR, 24, will be the youngest member present at tonight’s meeting of the town of Paradise Valley Planning and Zoning Commission. O’Connor is the son of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra O’Connor. ]