One Man's Unwavering Constitution

And he was an avid tennis player.

There was a standing doubles match every Thursday, just before lunch, at Hains Point. "For a man of 76, he was amazing," as a player. "You were encouraged not to hold back," says Stancil, who says he and his partner won only one set the entire year.

Richard Garnett, another clerk, even hit the chief justice on the head with the ball a couple of times during matches. Rehnquist, he said, was good-natured about the mistakes. He was always conscious of making sure the clerking experience was a good one for his staff, Garnett said.

He invited Rehnquist to speak to his law students at Notre Dame a couple of years ago and remembers the passion with which he spoke about the importance of balancing the law and life.

"He was open in saying he hoped young lawyers would be happy in their professions," Garnett recalls.

That balance of law and life came through one other news release from the chief justice's chambers. When the speculation this summer about his retiring was too much to bear, Rehnquist set the record straight in July.

"I'm not about to announce my retirement," he said. "I will continue to perform my duties as chief justice as long as my health permits."

His was a stubborn passion.