Rehnquist: A Personal Portrait of the Distinguished Chief Justice of the United States.

• Author: Cullen, Steven P.

Rehnquist: A Personal Portrait of the Distinguished Chief Justice of the United States

By Herman J. Obermayer

A judgmental reader, quick to make an assessment of this book from the jacket and preface, could easily conclude that it has the markers of a "kiss and tell" special. The author, a writer and editor, professes a responsibility to write a revealing personal account of Chief Justice William Rehnquist based upon impressions drawn from a 19-year personal friendship with the highest ranking American judicial officer. Methodically, Rehnquist's personal life from a meteoric rise to power through more than three decades on the high court is dissected through the lens of his friend.

Rather than a salacious account, what develops is a curious mix of factual information about Rehnquist juxtaposed against accounts of his intelligence, quirks, utter frugality, personality traits, reverence for history, love of literature, movie viewing habits, cigarette consumption, and betting. Throughout the logically organized chapters, the author fastidiously defends his friend against any assaults whatsoever. Although no attempt is made to chronicle the many legal minutiae of his career, the author--whether through ideological symmetry or simple devout friendship--marches in lockstep with Rehnquist's jurisprudence.

If previous accounts of William Rehnquist's personal qualities primarily leaked through chatty law clerks scratched the surface of this complex man, Obermayer seals the deal. Clearly not lacking in intelligence and armed with an ivy league education, an apparently otherwise introverted young Rehnquist made key political contacts sufficient to land him on the nation's highest court. Although always a bastion of conservatism, the chief justice showed his skepticism over congressional impeachment powers through a book written on the subject as well as...