Nixon Tapes Record Rehnquist Remarks

A batch of secretly taped Nixon administration tapes released last week by the National Archives record President Nixon and his aides exulting over good press given to his nomination of William H. Rehnquist for the Supreme Court. On Oct. 27, 1971, Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman marveled at the timing, coming after two other nominees had been voted down by the Senate’s Democratic majority after a hard fight. “You’ve got the one guy, Rehnquist, who wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance of getting on that court if you had just walked up and nominated him” earlier, Haldeman told Nixon. “He [Rehnquist] is pretty far right, isn’t he?” asked National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger. Responded Haldeman: “He’s way to the right of [then-White House aide Pat] Buchanan.” Rehnquist was confirmed quickly and is now chief justice. Buchanan is now the Reform Party’s presidential candidate.