bill rehnquist was by all measures a historic figure. in addition to his 33 years on the supreme court, he played a central role in two of the most important event of the past decade -- the impeachment of president bill clinton and the election of president george w. bush. my book explains why bill was more than a figure head when he presided at the clinton trial. without a doubt, he was better prepared and more knowledgeable about impeachment than any other single person who participated in those proceedings. and much of my impeachment chapter contains new information which the mainstream media, for whatever reason, did not cover in 1999. i also disclosed previously unknown but not confidential facts about bill rehnquist and the presidential election of 2000. on the monday evening before election, he sent me a fax with his take on the election. he said he and i and my wife bet on every election, primary or otherwise, local or otherwise, and we always bet by fax. on the afternoon -- monday afternoon, we exchanged faxes through his secret

i have a couple chief justice rehnquist moments you reminded me of. he was so wonderful at this. an advocate said to him, i am sure the justices all know, do not overestimate us. another, an advocate was arguing, and the red light went on, it was time to end. the line and on and the advocate did not know what to do, whether to stop or not, and rehnquist noticed that life had come on. -- like -- light had come on. and he said, even homer nodded. other questions? yes, right over here. >> it will be a long time before we have a justice raise the court of the heft of a story, cardozo, or brand desk, -- brandeis, because the confirmation process has been taken to where a president says, can i get this person confirmed, purses, is this the best mind on the bench. is that true, or something else? >> i think the minds on the bench are as good as they can get. i think " it is bench -- i would be surprised if there was any history where there was that much brainpower across the spectrum. >> i think the difference is in the nature of the legal problems the current court is solving purses so

again, the book, "rehnquist" is available and we'll make it easy. if you want to sign them t we'll do it here, books are for sale outside and we'll continue our conversation with him afterwar afterwards. to you again for your attention. >> herman obermayer was editor of two newspapers. he's also a board member of the jewish policy center. to find out more visit jewish policy center.org. >> 14-year-old carla and 15-year-old terrance stood on the steps of little rock host in 1957. the two members of the little rock nine recall their participation in the integration of the arkansas high school and the years that follow. >> i have to tell you, it is such an honor to be sitting here signing my book at the table with carlotta walls and terrance roberts. when i started my journey as a professional writer in 1984, i could never imagine that i'd be signing books with two recipients of the congressional gold medal, the highest civilian on horin the united states, and i am humbled to be here. but i'm also proud to be here, to be with them. this book, it's an i

actually, chief justice rehnquist, a wisconsin native, did not want to cancel any thing. he actually did not cancel court, but some of the council was not able to get in. >> i've argued that day. >> you were there, and he was probably happy. >> the whole federal government was closed. everything was closed. fortunately, i was staying in a hotel on capitol hill, so was able to walk and get there. >> was very hard for the justices to get there. it is very unusual for it court to postpone any thing. the other matter that david was talking about, the church-state argument, they really were much more procedural, having to do with is a right to have this cross on a federal parcel of land in the mojave desert? it was much more procedural. also a procedural issue related to remedy that congress had tried to assert into the middle of this dispute, saying we will get rid of this parcel of land. for advocates, they get into all of these procedural issues and love it. for me as a writer, it is hard to say, sorry we get you excited about that, it will wash out. >> you reminded me of t