♪ >> we are pleased to be joined on the set by former justice of the supreme court sandra day o'connor. this is her fifth book.

out of order. when did you discover you enjoyed writing? >> i have always liked to write. i figure i have a lot of things to write about. >> whether you doing at the festival today? you are not talking about your book. >> i note the guy who runs the library of congress in my brother has written a book so he said i had to bring my brother and i said i would. >> you are brother of al lin day. what is the book about? >> he had to ridges and north dakota.

and the federal government had the responsibility but he did that for quite awhile >> host: let's talk about some of the stories that former chief justice john marshall and the madison did not like each other. >> isn't that amazing? >> it was amazing that they didn't. >> host: marbury vs. is madison case what did that case established? >> i don't know today we would say much of anything.

>> host: butted establish the supreme court as the equal branch. >> it was treated as an equal branch with the other two and given a lot of credibility which was needed. the court was still young. and needed credibility. >> host: another thing that you write is that marbury in madison both hang in the private dining area. >> is that something? >> some of the traditions of the court that you talk about like you enter three by three. why do you enter that way? into the court itself? >> we actually don't.

the fact is the justices said it behind the curtain as they get ready to enter. it is an equal division so they end up three, six, nine. >> host: a handshake before you go in and? what happens? >> that is very important to let me sheik your hand to feel the warmth of someone's hand. you have a momentary bond but it is one that matters if you go up against them if you have their hand in your ears. at matters the way to have that will amount of justices.

>> you said you quit shaking the hand of one justice? >> because he would grab my hand and i thought i would lose my hand. [laughter] it was byron white and he was so strong he did not realize how he was hurting my hand with that squeeze. so i had to do something to grab his thumb instead to save my hand from his powerful squeeze. >> host: you don't write much about yourself but the first female justice on the supreme court what to remember about september 25, 1981? to make not that special they're all special days. the day -- it was my first day on the court.

to make that solid and significant contribution and i did not know if i could or not. you don't know how you will get along. you don't know when you start the case is that will come up to the court that my hope is like to do well enough nobody would be unhappy they had no woman on the court. that was very important and it would make us valuable lasting contribution. >> host: i will test your memory a little bit. conservative supreme court chief justice 1888 is not a

name that comes readily. >> but he is not particularly remembered for a significant case. but he was not there at a time to sign on to an incredibly important conceptual case said he is not remembered. >> lied to reno taney so well? >> if you remember all the things that he worked on. >> and their relationship with president lincoln? >> not the best spinach is important for the president and chief justice to get along? >> in basic ways.

i think certainly you would want to be in a good relationship with the man who will fill that vacancy. because you may ask in opinion. what you think about someone so? it is so important. >> what about congress? >> it is so big and diverse it probably does not matter. that they will not do anything in particular to caused unhappiness among congress are members of congress it is a diver's body. >> talk about the friendship there is only nine of you. >> you don't expect any

particular relationships. it means if you don't develop animosity with one particular judge it could affect a decision and you don't want that to happen in. . .