talk to the author the most recent book of the politics of for -- more. the book is called the second act after that we will have the chat with sandra day o'connor this is booktv on c-span2. >> host: we are joined to be have are set former justice of the supreme court scienter day o'connor this is the fifth book with the history of the supreme court

out of order. when did you discover you enjoyed writing? >> guest: nothing changed but there were lots of things to write about and tell about. >> host: what you doing at the book festival today? you are not talking about your book. >> guest: i know who is the head of the library of congress. so jim said i had to bring my brother and i said i would and we are here. >> host: and what is your brother spoke about? >> for a long time he had most of them in the country to ranches in north dakota. the federal government had

the responsibility to pay something and he did that for quite awhile. >> host: some of the stories in here one of the first that you tell is the former chief justice and thomas jefferson were related id did not like each other. what was their relationship? >> that was amazing that they did not it and it was so difficult to manage. >> host: marbury vs. madison that helped to establish what? >> guest: to date not much of anything but.

>> host: butted established with the supreme court. >> it was given a lot of credibility which it needed. the court was still young and trying to be accepted as the other two branches. >> host: and it you right and marbury and madison's portraits -- portraits hang in the justices citing room. >> they do. >> you also talk about how they enter three by three why do they enter that way? >> guest: we actually don't. the fact of the matter is

the justices weight behind the curtains as they are getting ready to enter and as an equal division we stand up 3/6 nine and there they are in favor march in. >> host: those handshakes. what happens? >> guest: that is very important to let me shake your hand to feel the warmth of someone's hand to have that momentary bond but it matters. it matters if you just had somebody's hand in your ears but to find a of a goodwill of monza justices. >> host: you write you quit shaking a hand of one

justice and would only grab his some? >> guest: he would grab my hand in i thought i would lose it. it was byron white and he was so strong that i know he did not realize he was hurting my hand. so i had to do something and i would grab his thumb instead to save my hand from his powerful squeeze. >> host: you don't talk about yourself much but what do you remember about september 25, 1989? >> nothing special they are all special days. >> host: your first day of the court. >> guest: i helped that my service to be a significant

contribution and i did not know that day. you don't know how you are going to get along with your colleagues. you don't know the case is that will come before the court. but i helped i could do well enough that they would not think it is a defect to have a woman on the court. and then to make a lasting contribution. >> host: i will testy or memory. served as supreme court chief justice 1888 he was

therefore quite a while. >> he is not remembered for a significant case. he did a lot but not there a time to sign on an ethane incredibly important conceptual case. >> host: why do we know this justice so well? >> he was there. you remember. all the things that he worked on. >> host: with his relationship with president lincoln? it is important to achieve justice and the president get along? >> those to fill a vacancy on the court.

with the good relationships with the man who will fill that vacancy and is very important i think. >> host: what about congress? >> guest: and probably does not matter. and then to try and happiness. but that is not likely. but that is okay. >> host: what strikes people is that there are only nine of you? >> i don't expect any

particular relationships but to keep things working well that is better if you don't develop animosity with one justice. i think every justice wants thing this to be smooth enough to reach an agreement on the issues that come to the court. >> host: justice sandra day o'connor this is her fifth book if you want to go back in history she wrote a book about being raised on the ranch on one of our book programs you can watch it on line. justice o'connor thanks for being with us on booktv.

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