Who Is William Rehnquist? Age, Biography and Wiki
William Rehnquist was born on October 1, 1924, and served as the Chief Justice of the United States from 1986 until his passing in 2005. During his tenure, he left a substantial mark on the American legal landscape, known for his conservative rulings and strong stances on various national issues. Rehnquist was a pivotal figure in shaping modern constitutional law and was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Nixon in 1972, later elevated to Chief Justice by President Reagan. His impact endures through his numerous opinions and court decisions.
| Occupation | Republicans |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | October 1, 1924 |
| Age | 80 Years |
| Birth Place | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Libra |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 3 September, 2005 |
| Died Place | Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
Popularity
William Rehnquist's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about his height and weight are not widely publicized, William Rehnquist was known for his commanding presence on the bench. The focus in his public life was less on physical attributes and more on his intellectual prowess and judicial philosophy, which may have contributed to his legacy rather than any physical characteristics.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
William Rehnquist was married to Natalie C. Rehnquist from 1953 until his death in 2005. The couple had three children together. His family life was generally kept private, reflecting a traditional approach to the often public scrutiny faced by those in positions of power. Following his passing, details about his family dynamics and relationships remain of interest to those studying his life and career.
His father, William Benjamin Rehnquist, was a sales manager at various times for printing equipment, paper, and medical supplies and devices; his mother, Margery (née Peck)—the daughter of a local hardware store owner who also served as an officer and director of a small insurance company—was a local civic activist, as well as a translator and
homemaker.
His paternal grandparents immigrated from Sweden.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, William Rehnquist's net worth was estimated to be in the range of several million dollars, largely attributable to his career as a highly influential Supreme Court Justice and various other legal roles. As one of the highest-paid judicial figures in the country, his salary was supplemented by a lifetime pension that members of the Supreme Court earn after serving.
For years, Rehnquist was determined to keep cases involving individual rights in state courts out of federal reach. In National League of Cities v. Usery (1977), his majority opinion invalidated a federal law extending minimum wage and maximum hours provisions to state and local government employees.
Rehnquist wrote, "this exercise of congressional authority does not comport with the federal system of government embodied in the Constitution."
Career, Business and Investments
Rehnquist's career in law began as a clerk for Justice Robert H. Jackson. He moved through various judicial roles before his Supreme Court appointment, demonstrating a strong commitment to public service. His career was characterized by numerous landmark cases, and he was known for advocating a strict interpretation of the Constitution. Although not known for business investments, his wealth was predominantly from his professional legal career rather than business ventures.
Rehnquist grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from 1943 to 1946. Afterward, he studied political science at Stanford University and Harvard University, then attended Stanford Law School, where he was an editor of the Stanford Law Review and graduated first in his class. Rehnquist clerked for Justice Robert H.
Jackson during the Supreme Court's 1952–1953 term, then entered private practice in Phoenix, Arizona. Rehnquist served as a legal adviser for Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater in the 1964 U.S. presidential election, and President Richard Nixon appointed him U.S. Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Legal Counsel in 1969.
In that capacity, he played a role in forcing Justice Abe Fortas to resign for accepting $20,000 from financier Louis Wolfson before Wolfson was convicted of selling unregistered shares.
Social Network
After his passing in 2005, William Rehnquist's influence continued to resonate within legal and political circles. His legacy is celebrated by various legal institutions and conservative organizations. However, he did not have an active presence on social media; thus, his interactions were primarily held through institutional channels or in memory discussions posthumously.
"The Constitution does not prevent the majority from banding together, nor does it attain success in the effort. It is about time the Court faced the fact that the white people of the south do not like the colored people.
The Constitution restrains them from effecting this dislike through state action, but it most assuredly did not appoint the Court as a sociological watchdog to rear up every time private discrimination raises its admittedly ugly head."
Education
William Rehnquist attended Stanford University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in political science before serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He later attended Harvard Law School, obtaining his law degree in 1950. His scholarly background laid a strong foundation for his influential legal career and contributed to his esteemed reputation within the American judicial system.
In 1971, Nixon nominated Rehnquist to succeed Associate Justice John Marshall Harlan II, and the U.S. Senate confirmed him that year. During his confirmation hearings, Rehnquist was criticized for allegedly opposing the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v.
Board of Education (1954) and allegedly taking part in voter suppression efforts targeting minorities as a lawyer in the early 1960s.
Historians debate whether he committed perjury during the hearings by denying his suppression efforts despite at least ten witnesses to the acts, but it is known that at the very least he had defended segregation by private businesses in the early 1960s on the grounds of freedom of association.
Rehnquist quickly established himself as the Burger Court's most conservative member. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan nominated Rehnquist to succeed retiring Chief Justice Warren Burger, and the Senate confirmed him.
