Did Not Harass Minority Voters, Rehnquist Says

William H. Rehnquist, nominated as the nation’s 16th chief justice, told his confirmation hearing today that he did not harass minority voters in Phoenix two decades ago.

After waiting a day and a half to answer questions, Rehnquist told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he has “no reason to doubt” the accuracy of his statement at his confirmation hearing in 1971, when the jurist denied the accusation.

Rehnquist was asked about his role in the Republican “ballot security” program by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), a strong supporter of the nominee. He was certain to face more hostile questions on the subject from liberal Democrats.

Statement Contradicted

Several people have been quoted in news accounts as contradicting Rehnquist’s 1971 statement that he never harassed voters at heavily minority and Democratic polling places by challenging their literacy and qualifications to vote.

Thurmond said he has reviewed a new FBI report on the incident and “found no new information to support these charges.”

“I think . . . I have reread very carefully the statement I made to the committee in 1971 and have no reason to doubt its correctness now,” Rehnquist said.

Before Rehnquist testified, two American Bar Assn. witnesses said the ABA gave Rehnquist its highest rating.

Leadership Praised

New Orleans lawyer Gene W. Lafitte told the Senate Judiciary Committee, beginning its second day of confirmation hearings on Rehnquist’s nomination, that the ABA’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary “heard strong praise for his leadership qualities, his intellect and his ability.”

“Based on our investigation, the (ABA) committee is unanimously of the opinion that Justice Rehnquist is entitled to the highest evaluation of the committee--well qualified,” Lafitte said.

Allegations about Rehnquist’s role in a Republican effort to “harass” black and Latino voters by challenging their literacy and credentials surfaced before his confirmation in 1971.

Senate Democrats say they have located 12 people who say they saw Rehnquist working as a GOP challenger.

At the request of those Democrats, the FBI interviewed the purported witnesses, and an FBI report was submitted to the committee Tuesday afternoon. It was not made public.