1991. he was confirmed by the senate in a 52-48 vote. next, the white house swearing in ceremony held 25 years ago this month. this is 20 minutes. ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states and mrs. bush accompanied by justice byron white and justice and mrs. clarence thomas. ♪

>> the chief invocation will be given by john c. danforth. >> i ask you please to observe a moment of silence in memory -- this is natalie rehnquist. holy and loving god, who has , and us this great nation

it's called gifted men and women to bear the burdens and assume .he duties of public service we give you thanks and praise originsing from humble clarence thomas to the highest court in our land. we thank you for his strength, his courage, and for the kindness and devotion of his heart. heecially we thank you that has persevered through adversity . she has fought the good fight and that with your guidance, he has grown in love of you and in charity to others. blessing onspecial he takes this high

office. make him always mindful that he's walking in your sight, that he may apply himself faithfully to the work you have given him. but in the years to come, he may do justice and love mercy and walk humbly with his god. amen. ♪

>> please be seated. the white house. mr. vice president and mrs. quayle, warm welcome, and of course to the members of the supreme court, and may i simply

say that barbara and i joined nationu and with all the in mourning the loss of you and rehnquist, the wife of the chief justice. let me also welcome the many members of the united states today,s that are with us singled out but a few, minority leader dole and chairman biden, and ranking member thurman of the committee, and so many others, the members of our cabinet over here, and so many friends of parents thomas who work with him here in washington , and of course, i should especially single out senator jack danforth, a man every american would be proud to call friends. [applause] and of course, those special

guests and the many members of clarence thomas' family here here in the front row, and clarence's mother, his sister, his brother, his sisters, aunts. that's the way it ought to be. all of you, some of whom drove all the way up. i see a little advertisement here from pinpoint georgia to be here this afternoon. sisters, aunts. that's the way it ought to be. that is 600 long miles that i got a feeling they might have driven 6000 miles to be here today. people from far and wide, from all walks of life, all levels of education and income, have come here today in testament to the character of clarence thomas.

what brought you here is also something more. the power of the american ideal, the values of faith and family, hard work, an opportunity. these are the values that unite us all, that give america meaning. america is the first nation in history founded on an idea, on the unshakable certainty that all men are created equal. when we ask our justices to uphold the constitution, we entrust to them the laws that give life to our principles. clarence thomas now joins the distinguished ranks of juris to whom we entrust this sacred task, who in the start and simple phrase of chief justice marshall tells us, what the law is. i said when i nominated clarence thomas that this man is a

fiercely independent thinker, with an excellent legal mind, who believes passionately in equal opportunity for all americans. nationce then, the whole has learned that the passionate intellect and independence all spring from a single source, and inner strength, steps on his character long ago when he walked the dirt roads of pinpoint. clarence thomas comes to the supreme court having worked in the private sector, having served in state government, and in 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 sting of segregation. he knows 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 if there were not more to this story -- he's known his share of the joys of life, the love of family, the devotion of friends, he kind gestures from people committed to decency and fairness, the justice, and to the american dream. clarence thomas endured america at its worst. he's answered with america at its best. he brings that hard-won experience to the higher court, and america will be the better for it.

let me say to everyone here, don't be overawed by the solemnity of this moment. celebrate this day, see what this son of pinpoint has made for himself, see how he makes us proud of america, proud of 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. a personally say on level, america is blessed to have a man of his character serve on his highest court. clarence thomas, mr. justice thomas, congratulations, and now i like to ask justice brown white to administer the oath. [applause]

>> mr. president, judge thomas, ladies and gentlemen, the swearing-in of a supreme court justice is undoubtedly a serious affair. but it's also a very exciting one. i'm quite glad to be here to send in for the chief justice, unfortunately could not be here wifese of the death of his , natalie cornell rehnquist. we called her nan, we dearly loved her and shall miss her very much.

on november 1 you take the judicial oath that is required by statute. you will become the 106 justice to sit on the supreme court and we look forward to that day. i will administer this oath. repeat after me. i, clarence thomas -- >> i, clarence thomas -- >> do solemnly swear -- >> do solemnly swear -- >> that i will support and defend -- >> that i will support and defend -- >> the constitution of the united states -- >> the constitution of the united states -- >> against all enemies -- >> against all enemies -- >> foreign and domestic -- >> foreign and domestic -- >> that i will bear -- that i will bear -- >> true faith and allegiance to the same -- >> that i take this obligation

freely -- >> without any mental reservation -- >> that i will bear -- >> true faith and allegiance to the without any mental reservation -- >> or purpose of evasion -- >> or purpose of evasion -- >> that i will well and faithfully perform -- >> that i will well and faithfully perform -- >> the duties of the office upon which i am about to enter -- >> the duties of the office upon which i am about to enter -- >> so help you god. >> so help me god. [applause] >> wow.

thank you all so much. this is wonderful. mr. president, mrs. bush, the vice president, mrs. quayle. andtor dole, all my friends all the members of congress, justice white and my future , and all your wonderful family members, friends, supporters, and those who helped, even as i am joyful at this event, i am deeply saddened by the death of mrs.

rehnquist and i join in the heartfelt condolences to the chief justice and his family. since that bright, sunny day in kennebunkport, july 1, it have been many difficult days. as we all went through the confirmation battle. and i mean we all. but on this sunny day in october, at the white house. there is joy. mourning. [applause] i think all mighty god. i think those who stood along the road of 43 years of my life, from pinpoint to the supreme court, from 1948 to 1991. father,my mother and my

my wonderful grandparents, the nuns, my relatives, my neighbors, my friends. all who insisted that i make something of myself. stood ready to help me do just that. the ideals,ica for the opportunity, and the reaffirmation of so much that is good about our great country. i think my wonderful wife and my funny son. my wife is my best friend, and over the past 110 days, we have been brought closer together. our love has been strengthened, and we have become better people.

today, now, it is a time to move .orward a time to look for what is good in others, what is good in our country. the time to see what we have in we share as human beings and as citizens. there is a time to look for solutions rather than exploit problems. in the words of sir winston churchill, let us go forward together. i close this process, this long and enduring process, as i began incapable or. only in america could this day possible. i think you all and may god bless you. c-span.org possible. [applause]

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

>> visit us online at c-span.org /history to learn more about the clarence thomas confirmation. search our video library for the confirmation hearings, news conferences, and the full senate debate. this is american history tv on c-span3. >> this weekend a speech marking the 150th anniversary of ex milligan, a supreme court decision that ruled it unconstitutional to try civilians in military courts while civilian courts are operating. here's a preview from ohio state university's michael benedict. devastated at the

tidal wave of invectives that greeted his opinion. the conservative republican "the new york times" blasted the court for throwing its influence into the scale of those who impugned the constitutionality of everything that was done to uphold it. the editor of "independent" called it the most dangerous opinion ever produced by the supreme court. it -- not call called only they but legal commentators criticized davis and the majority for having gone beyond the fact in the case. eager to go beyond the record, to lay down principles on which they would decide other questions not now before them, including the highest powers. that is from the american law

reviewreview, which at that timd just been established. davis did not understand that in the time between the announcement of the decision of and themilligan, delivery of the opinion on december 17, 1866, the context of the case had entirely changed . it was no longer a civil liberties case. case. become a federalism >> what's the entire lecture at m. eastern time tonight here on american history tv. about david held talks civil war era military theory, battle tactics, and formation. he describes which military manuals for used and what changes were adopted over the course of the war. this half hour long talk with part of a symposium by the emerging civil war blog. >> i am pleased to begin this

another-- there is expert. he's putting on the finishing touches of his three volume magnum opus. these definitive works on the ballot. are those of you who have read the books, you know the first two volumes are exhaustive. they are a must for every single civil war library. twiceave not once, but has the recipients of their book of the year award. the only author to be selected for that word, twice. he is a graduate of the virginia military institute.