Mr. Nixon Selects

‘WHO the hell is that clown?” President Richard M. Nixon asked an aide after a White House meeting on July 1, 1971. He was referring to an assistant attorney general wearing Hush Puppies and a pink shirt that clashed with a psychedelic tie. “Is he Jewish?” Nixon went on. “He looks it. That’s a hell of a costume he’s wearing, just like a clown.” The president was told the man was William H. Rehnquist.

The name didn’t stick. On July 24, Nixon referred to him as “Renchburg.” On October 5, Sen. Barry Goldwater, in a telephone conversation with Nixon, brought up a “young fellow in the Justice Department. You know I can’t think of his name. Oh, God, his name slips me.” Then it came to him: “Ah, Bill Rensler.” “Oh,” responded Nixon, “I know Rensler well, an excellent man.” At that moment, the president had no idea that 16 days later he would be naming “Renchburg” or “Rensler” to the U.S. Supreme Court.

RD

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Robert D. Novak

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‘WHO the hell is that clown?” President Richard M. Nixon asked an aide after a White House meeting on July 1, 1971. He was referring to an assistant attorney general wearing Hush Puppies and a pink shirt that clashed with a psychedelic tie. “Is he Jewish?” Nixon went on. “He looks it. That’s a hell of a costume he’s wearing, just like a clown.” The president was told the man was William H. Rehnquist.

The name didn’t stick. On July 24, Nixon referred to him as “Renchburg.” On October 5, Sen. Barry Goldwater, in a telephone conversation with Nixon, brought up a “young fellow in the Justice Department. You know I can’t think of his name. Oh, God, his name slips me.” Then it came to him: “Ah, Bill Rensler.” “Oh,” responded Nixon, “I know Rensler well, an excellent man.” At that moment, the president had no idea that 16 days later he would be naming “Renchburg” or “Rensler” to the U.S. Supreme Court.