conference. [laughter] >> thank you for a great presentation. [applause] we will present you with her great gift what led nixon to come up. [laughter] we expect you to use that on fox and the mclaughlin group. thank you for coming this is your home away from home. please come back. now the books are on sale in the museum store. if you would like to order

go to the nixon foundation .org. god bless america. [applause] >> we are pleased to be joined by former justice of the supreme court sandra day o'connor this is her fifth book stories from the history of the supreme court out of order, justice o'connor when did you discover you enjoyed writing? >> nothing changed there were lots of things to write about and tell about. >> host: what are you doing at the book festival today? you are not talking about your book? >> i know the guy she was

ahead of the library of congress and my brother has a new book so jim said i had to bring my brother. i said i was. that is why we are here. >> host: you are in a conversation with alan day what is his book about? >> for a long time he had most wild horses in the country and the two branches in north dakota the federal government had the responsibility he did that for a while. >> host: but seven of the stories in here one of the first you tell is former chuffed -- chief justice

marshall was related and did not like each other? >> guest: isn't that amazing? >> host: what was their relationship? >> i know specifically but it is amazing they didn't like each other. >> host: marbury vs. madison that was during jefferson wanted that case established? >> i don't know but today we would save much of anything. >> host: it established the court as the supreme court indicated a lot of credibility that it needed. the court was still young and trying to be accepted in the country. as an equal branch.

and marbury and madison. >> host: with the traditions of the court you also talk about but three by three why do justices enter that way? >> where? been taken to the courtroom itself. >> we actually don't. the fact of the matter is that the justices are behind the curtains as they get ready to enter i guess it means 369 and there they are and they march. >> host: that he and shake before the court rand?

what happens? >> guest: that is very important to feel let me shake your hand to feel someone's hand, you will not be cost tyler somebody's team and is in your ears. it matters. and a wonderful way and the justices have very tough decisions to make sometimes. >> host: you wrote to the you quit shaking the hand of one justice and wittily grab his thumb? been the key would grabbed my hand and i thought i would lose my he and. [laughter] it was byron white and he was so strong that i know he did not realize he was

hurting my hand as i had to do something to grab his son instead to save my hand. >> host: you don't talk much about yourself in the book but the first female justice on the court. what do you remember september 25, 1981. >> nothing special. they're all special days. >> host: that was your first day on the court. >> yes. and i hoped that my service could be worthwhile to make a solid and significant contribution i did not know if i could or not. you don't know if you will get along with your colleagues, excuse me you don't know what case is well, before the court, or

how he will be challenged. no one would be happy there was a woman on the court in that was important. in to make a valuable lasting contribution. >> host: i will test your memory. milk sylph who served as the chief justice 1988. >> but he is not protected and be remembered for a significant case. i think he did all right but not at a time where he had to sign onto some incredibly important conceptual case so he is not particularly

remembered. >> host: why do we know richard so well? >> guest: and his relationship with president lincoln was not the best. >> host: is it important they get along? >> after all the president tells the vacancy if there is one. anodizing certainly he would want to be in good relationships with the man who would fill that vacancy because what do you think about so and so? it is very important i think

>> host: what about congress and? ltd. is so diverse it probably does not matter. you except that they will not do anything in particular that would causes unhappiness among congress and members of congress. but that is not likely.

that was on c-span's booknotes program. can watch it on line at booktv.org or at c-span.org. justice o'connor thanks for being with us on booktv. >> thank you. up next on booktv "after words" with guest host niger innis executive director of the tea party.net. this week mike gonzalez had his first book "a race for the future" how conservatives can break the liberal monopoly on hispanic americans. and at the cuban born former journalist explains that the hispanic american