>> when will you be sworn in, sir? think ams: i don't going to answer any questions, but i will and soul -- i will answer that one. i have not thought about that. we have just thought about bringing this process to a conclusion and i was not presumptuous enough to plan that far ahead. thank you so much. [applause] >> we love you! [applause] >> clarence thomas was nominated to the u.s. supreme court by president george h.w. bush in 1991. the senateirmed by

in a 52-48 vote. next, the white house swearing-in ceremony held 25 years ago this month. this is 20 minutes. >> visit us online at c-span.org/history to learn more about the clarence thomas confirmation. you can search our video library for confirmation hearings in the full senate debate. this is american history tv on c-span3. when i was trying to come up with my documentary for studentcam, i was a little bit haunted because there were so many elements i was trying to put into it. a lot of information to communicate in seven minutes, but i took a step back and realized it's a visual essay and i have been writing essays all throughout high school. so it became a little less

daunting as i look at it from that perspective of just gathering information and, instead of writing that information, i'm filming it. isould encourage anyone who thinking about making a piece for studentcam to reach out to as many different people as they could and get as many different perspectives as they can. there are experts out there that are so much more knowledgeable about the suspect -- about the subject than you are. those that you can get in, the more credibility will have ended not just going to be a high school student trying to solve this massive problem. you are contributing helpful information. >> this year's theme -- your message to washington dc. what's the most urgent issue to address in 2016. our competition is open to all middle and high school students

with $100,000 awarded in cash prizes. students can work alone or in a group of up to three to produce a five to seven minute documentary on the issues. include -- the $100,000 in cash prizes will be awarded and shared between 150 student and 53 teachers. the grand prize of $5,000 will go to the student or team with west overall entry. this year's deadline is january 20, 2017 thomas so mark your calendars and help us spread the word to student filmmakers. for more information, go to our website, studentcam.org. >>, on american artifacts, we visit the cannon house office building to see artifacts that tell the story of african-americans in congress in the 21st -- in the 20 century. >> on the curator at the u.s. house of representatives.

>> and i'm the historian at the u.s. house of representatives. quickly wanted to talk about african-american representation in the 20th century. >> there's a long time after george henry white leaves congress where there are no african-american to serve in either the house or senate. that has everything to do with the jim crow laws that go on the books in the south and the way that changes over time during those decades is that there's a critical thing going on in the south, where african-americans begin to leave the south and move northward as part of a multi-decade movement that would later be called the great migration. that begins, depending on which historian you talk to, 1890's and runs through world war ii. it picks at momentum around world war i as there is a need in the north to fill industrial jobs that have been

occupied by men who have gone off to fight in the war. you see tens of thousands african-american -- tens of thousands of african americans moving out of the rural south, additive agricultural jobs, to industrial jobs in chicago, st. york, andtsburgh, new the african american population in the city's increases and the african-americans in those cities are gradually recruited by the political parties. depriest is a perfect example of that process. he is born in the south. he and his family are part of a group that move to the midwest to kansas. he goes to grade school and high but he findssas,

his way to chicago in the 1890's and moves up through the political system and becomes a chicago city councilman in the his career hasd some peaks and valleys. but by the 19 -- by the 1920's, he's part of the republican political machine in chicago as an alderman. 1928, when the sitting congressman from chicago, a very powerful republican on the appropriations committee passes away mid-congress in the fall elections, he runs for the seat and wins. in 1929, he comes to the house of representatives. >> one of my favorite things about his career is this little tiny button that we have in the

collection that is from his career. it is really small. it has a picture of him. one of the things i love most is that they are very rare. not thate probably many of them around and very few survived. i think i've seen maybe one other or to others in existence. but think about this tiny button worn on someone's lapel, looking for all the world like any other button, this actually represents a revolution. to elect an african-american to congress for the first time in decades. quarter diameter piece of metal would have been a real statement on the part of whoever was wearing it and i love that it has survived and come back to the place that whoever won -- whoever worn it wanted him to end up, which was

the u.s. congress. >> to see more artwork and photographs of african-americans in congress, visit history. health.gov. it's a collaborative project between historians office of ande clerks office archives. >> clarence thomas was nominated to the u.s. green court by insident george h.w. bush 1991. he was confirmed by the senate in a 52-48 vote. next, the swearing in ceremony held by five years ago this month. this is 20 minutes. ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, they president of the united states and mrs. bush, accompanied by justice and mrs. clarence thomas. ♪

[applause] >> the invitation will be given by senator john c danforth. senator danforth: i ask you please to observe a moment of

silence in memory of mrs. natalie rehnquist. holy and loving god, who has given us this great nation and has called gifted men and women to bear the burdens and assume , weduties of public service give you thanks and praise for raising from humble origins clarence thomas to the highest court in our land. we thank you for his strength, and for the kindness and devotion of his

heart. you thaty, we thank someone has persevered through adversity, that he has fought the good fight, and that with inr guidance, he has grown love of you and in charity to others. we ask your special blessing on office.e takes his high make him always mindful that he is walking in your site and he may apply himself faithfully to the work you have given him and that in the years to come, he may do justice and love mercy and walk humbly with his god, amen. ♪

♪

president bush: please be seated. welcome, all, to the white house. quayle, president, mrs. a warm welcome, and of course, to the members of this stream court, may i simply say barbara and i join with you and all the the loss ofurning the chief justice. let me also welcome the many members of the united states congress with us today. out but a few -- minority leader dole and chairman biden and ranking member thurman of the committee and so many others, members of our cabinet over here and so

many friends of clarence thomas who worked with him in washington and i should out senatoringle jack danforth, a man every american would be proud to call friend. [applause] and of course, those special guests and many members of clarence thomas's family here today, his wife and his son here in the front row and clarence's brother,is sister, his of cousins -- it reminds me penna fours. cousins, sisters, and ska but that is the way out to be. all of you, some of whom drove all the way up. icn see an advertisement from pinpoint, georgia.

[applause] that's 600 long miles, but i have a feeling they may have driven 6000 miles to be here today. far and wide, from all walks of life and all levels of education and income have come here in testament to the character of clarence thomas. but what got you here is something more. the power of the american ideal, the values of faith and family, hard work and opportunity. these are the values that unite us all and give america meeting -- give america meaning. america is the first nation in history founded on an idea, the unshakable certainty that all men are created equal. justices toour uphold the constitution, we

entrust to them the laws that give life to our principles. clarence thomas now joins the distinguished ranks of jurist to whom we entrust this sacred task. praise of chief justice marshall tells us, what the law is. i said when i nominated clarence, step this man is a fiercely independent anchor -- independent thinker with an excellent legal mind who believes in equal opportunity for all americans. since then, the whole nation has learned the passion, intellect and independence of mind all spring from a single source, and inner strength stamped on his character long ago when he walked the dirt roads at pinpoint. to thee thomas comes

supreme court having worked in the private sector, having served in a state government and every branch of federal government. each position will serve him well on the court, sharpening his vantage point on the many questions that come before him. these are the man's qualifications. they are not the same as his experience. clarence thomas knows firsthand the searing hate and staying of segregation. the cold face of indifference, the unthinking cruelty that tells some men and women that society expects little of them and offers even less. that clarence thomas would not be here today if there were not more to this story. known the joys of life,

love of family, the devotion of friends, the kind gestures from people committed to decency and fairness, to justice, and to the american dream. clarence thomas has endured america at its worse and has answered with america at its best. he brings that hard-won experience to the court and america will be the better for it. here, doy to everyone not be overawed by the solemnity of this moment. celebrate this day, see what this son of pinpoint has made himself. see how he makes us proud of america, proud that is all that is best in us. and in just a few moments, we will bear witness as the oath of office is administered to our nation's newest supreme court justice. before we do, let me simply say

on a personal level, america is less to have a man of this character serve on its highest court. clarence thomas, mr. justice thomas, congratulations and now, i would like to ask justice white to administer the oath. [applause] justice white: mr. president, judge thomas, ladies and gentlemen, the swearing in of a isreme court justice undoubtedly a very serious affair, but it's also a very exciting one and i'm quite glad to be here to stand in for the who, justice

unfortunately, could not be here because of the death of his wife. natalie cornell rehnquist. we called her man and we dearly loved her and we shall miss her. very much. judge thomas, this will not be the first time you have taken nano's ordinarily given to federal officers. on november 1, you requiredjudicial oath by statute, you will become the 106th justice to sit on the supreme court and we look forward to that day. and now, if you will do the honors, i will administer this oath. repeat after me -- i clarence thomas do solemnly swear that i the support and defend

constitution of the united enemiesgainst all , that iand the mastec will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that i take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, that i will well and faithfully perform the duties of the all -- duties of the office of which i'm about to enter, so help you god. [applause]

justice thomas: wow. thank you also much. this is wonderful. president, mrs. bush, vice president and mrs. quayle, senator dole and all of my

friends and all members of congress, justice white and my future colleagues and all my wonderful family members, friends, supporters and those who help, even as i am joyful at this event, i am deeply, deeply saddened by the death of mrs. rehnquist and i join in the heartfelt condolences to the .hief justice and his family since that bright sunny day in kennebunkport, there have been many difficult days as we all went through the confirmation battle and i mean we all. on this sunny day in october at the white house, there is joy, joy in the morning.

[applause] i thank almighty god. i thank those who stood along the road of 43 years of my life from pinpoint to the supreme 1948 to 1991. i thank my mother and father, my wonderful, wonderful grandparents, the nuns, my relatives, my neighbors, my friends. insisted that i make something of myself and all who stood ready to help me do just america for the ideal, the opportunity and the reaffirmation of so much that is

good about our great country. and my my wonderful wife .unny son my wife is my best friend and over the past 110 days, we have brought closer together, our love has been strengthened, and we have become better people. today, now is the time to move forward. goode to look for what is in others, what is good in our country. the time to see what we have in common, what we share as human beings and citizens. there's a time to look for solutions rather than exploit problems. in the words of sir winton churchill, lettuce go forward together. this long and enduring

process as i began in kennebunk word, only in america could this day have an possible. i thank you all and may god bless you. [applause] ♪

that concludes the ceremony. thank you very much for coming. ♪

♪ >> each week, america and history's tvs railamerica brings you archival films that provide context for today's issues. from 1959, "germany today" a half-hour film detailing germany's dutch west germany's recovery following world war ii.