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https://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/files/original/f744ba6f6452611e036bdf2006df395e.pdf
825644080631b9904e284d252f0ca050
PDF Text
Text
FOIA Number:
2006-0469-F (2)
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting
Series/Staff Member:
Michael Waldman
Subseries:
OA/ID Number:
14455
FolderlD:
Folder Title:
Brennan Eulogy: Brennan [Folder 2]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
S
92
4
4
1
�PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
�Draft 7/27/97 11pm
PRESIDENT WELLIAM J. CLINTON
EULOGY FOR JUSTICE WILLIAM J. BRENNAN
July 29, 1997
Throughout American history, there are few ideals so singularly powerful that they can
transform the lives of our people There were few men so devoted to those ideas that they could
hammer them on the anvil of history to reshape our land There have been few times that have
demanded such extraordinary leadership, when a nation that could havefracturedinstead has been
brought together. But in our nation's history, there have been few men like William Joseph
Brennan, Jr
America at its best is his America Today we recall his shining decency and grace that
made ideological foes some of his closest personal friends. We recall his humility: his warm smile,
his devotion to his family, his pride in his heritage, the stunning and almost inexplicable empathy
that let him walk in the shoes of those whose lives were so differentfromhis.
We recall the legal giant, the "balance wheel" whose brilliance, leadership and civility
molded the Supreme Court into an instrument of liberty and equality during difficult times.
The man who Justice Brennan was, and the work that Justice Brennan did, were one and
the same. It was his deep love of humanity, of his fellow men and women, that impelled his love
of the Constitution For Justice Brennan, the phrases of that document were not archaic
abstractions, they were living, vibrant guarantees of thefreedomthat God gave us And because
of him, those faded words came alive in our lives as well.
Today, all Americans have the right to elect their own leaders - because of him The press
can freely and robustly debate the great issues of the day - because of Justice Brennan Women
have the fundamental right to go to work free of discrimination - because of Justice Brennan
Our basic charter offreedom,the Bill of Rights, applies to all 50 states, and ordinary citizens can
seek redress when theirrightshave been violated by government - because of Justice Brennan and
what he did
Lives were lifted up and America was summoned to live up to its highest ideals - because
of Justice Brennan.
As a young man coming of age in the South, 1 saw the shame of segregation. I know what
it meant when the Supreme Court unanimously spoke and said Little Rock Central High School
must open its doors to all. Thatflashof lightening lit our community and changed it forever. And
1 know now that this transformation was written into our law by Justice Brennan He was then,
as he remains today, one of my heroes - a model for law in service of principle, a reason Hillary
and 1 chose the path we have chosen.
Freedom can be a difficult business, bringing new discomforts and new demands in its
wake. Our understanding of the Constitution will change, as it must change, along with our
�times; that is its genius But this much is clear: the rights for which Justice William Brennan
fought for four decades - his understanding that the framers intended the Constitution to serve
each new generation as a dynamic charter of freedom - the unshakable commitment to the dignity
of every individual - these are a gift to the next generation, they are alive today, and they will live
on in the life of our nation
In a few hours, Justice Brennan will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, the
place where America buries her heroes and patriots. Tonight, the sun will set over those hills, but
the light he left will never go out. No one ever loved his country more fiercely; no one ever gave
himself to it more fully, no one ever left it stronger than Bill Brennan. We will miss him.
�Draft 7/27/97 11pm
PRESIDENT WTLLIAM J. CLINTON
EULOGY FOR JUSTICE WILLIAM J. BRENNAN
July 29, 1997
Throughout American history, there are few ideals so singularly powerfijl that they can
transform the lives of our people There were few men so devoted to those ideas that they could
hammer them on the anvil of history to reshape our land. There have been few times that have
demanded such extraordinary leadership, when a nation that could havefracturedinstead has been
brought together But in our nation's history, there have been few men like William Joseph
Brennan, Jr
America at its best is his America Today we recall his shining decency and grace that
made ideological foes some of his closest personalfriends.We recall his humility: his warm smile,
his devotion to his family, his pride in his heritage, the stunning and almost inexplicable empathy
that let him walk in the shoes of those whose lives were so different from his.
We recall the legal giant, the "balance wheel" whose brilliance, leadership and civility
molded the Supreme Court into an instrument of liberty and equality during difficult times.
The man who Justice Brennan was, and the work that Justice Brennan did, were one and
the same. It was his deep love of humanity, of his fellow men and women, that impelled his love
of the Constitution. For Justice Brennan, the phrases of that document were not archaic
abstractions, they were living, vibrant guarantees of the freedom that God gave us And because
of him, those faded words came alive in our lives as well.
Today, all Americans have the right to elect their own leaders - because of him The press
can freely and robustly debate the great issues of the day - because of Justice Brennan. Women
have the fundamental right to go to work free of discrimination - because of Justice Brennan
Our basic charter of freedom, the Bill of Rights, applies to all 50 states, and ordinary citizens can
seek redress when theirrightshave been violated by government - because of Justice Brennan and
what he did
Lives were lifted up and America was summoned to live up to its highest ideals - because
of Justice Brennan.
As a young man coming of age in the South, I saw the shame of segregation I know what
it meant when the Supreme Court unanimously spoke and said Little Rock Central High School
must open its doors to all That flash of lightening lit our community and changed it forever And
1 know now that this transformation was written into our law by Justice Brennan. He was then,
as he remains today, one of my heroes - a model for law in service of principle, a reason Hillary
and 1 chose the path we have chosen.
Freedom can be a difficult business, bringing new discomforts and new demands in its
wake. Our understanding of the Constitution will change, as it must change, along with our
�times, that is its genius But this much is clear: the rights for which Justice William Brennan
fought for four decades - his understanding that the framers intended the Constitution to serve
each new generation as a dynamic charter of freedom - the unshakable commitment to the dignity
of every individual - these are a gift to the next generation, they are alive today, and they will live
on in the life of our nation.
In a few hours, Justice Brennan will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, the
place where America buries her heroes and patriots. Tonight, the sun will set over those hills, but
the light he left will never go out. No one ever loved his country more fiercely, no one ever gave
himself to it more fully, no one ever left it stronger than Bill Brennan. We will miss him
�REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE FUNERAL SERVICE
FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WILLIAM J BRENNAN
JULY 29,1997
Across the long span of America's life, there are few ideals so singularly powerful that
they transform the lives of all our people. There are few individuals, a singular few so devoted to
those ideals that they can make them hinges of history that open the way to a newer and truer
America. And there have been a few times, a very few in our two centuries and more, that have
demanded such extraordinary leadership, when a nation that could have fractured has instead
been brought together. The ideals were written in our Constitution; the time was our own; and
that rare individual was the man we remember today - Justice William J. Brennan.
America at its best is his America. Today we recall not only his shining decency and
grace that made ideological foes some of his closest personal friends; we recall the stunning and
almost inexplicable empathy that let him walk in the shoes of those whose lives were so different
from his.
We recall the legal giant, the "balance wheel" whose intellect, leadership and civility
molded the Supreme Court into a decisive instrument of liberty at great national turning points.
The man Justice Brennan was and the work Justice Brennan did were one and the same. It
was his deep respect for human dignity, for all his fellow men and women, that impelled his love
of the Constitution. For Justice Brennan the phrases of that document were not archaic
abstractions; they were living, vibrant guarantees of the freedom that God gave us. And in large
part, because of him, those old enduring words became the wisdom by which we marked out the
next stage of America's never ending journey toward "liberty and justice for all."
Today, all Americans have the right to elect their own leaders - "one person, one vote,"
because of Justice Brennan. It should be "one person, one vote," - because of Justice Brennan.
The press can freely and robustly debate the great issues of the day - because of Justice Brennan.
Women have the fundamental right to go to work free of discrimination - because of Justice
Brennan. Our basic charter of freedom, the Bill of Rights, now applies to all fifty states, and
ordinary citizens can seek redress when their rights have been violated by government - because
of Justice Brennan.
Lives were lifted up and America was summoned to live up to its highest ideals - because
of Justice Brennan.
As a young man coming of age in the south, I saw the shame of segregation. I knew what
it meant when the Supreme Court unanimously spoke and said Little Rock Central High School
must open its doors to all. That flash of lightning lit our community and changed it forever. And I
know now that this transformation was written into our law by Justice Brennan. He was then, as
he remains today, one of my heroes - a model for law in the service of principle, a reason Hillary
and I chose the path we have chosen.
�Widening the frontiers of freedom can be a difficult business, bringing new discomforts
and demands. Our understanding of the Constitution will change; that is its genius - as a
compass that guides us through the flows and shifts of time. But this much is clear: the rights for
which William J. Brennan fought for four decades and more - is understanding that the framers
originally intended the Constitution to serve each new generation as a dynamic charter of
freedom - the unshakable commitment to the dignity of every individual - these are the gifts of
history to the America and the world to come. Justice Brennan gave that gift life in our day and
generation - and in it, his life will live on beyond this century and the next one.
In a few hours, he will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, the place where
America buries her heroes and patriots. Tonight the sun will set over those hills, but the light he
left will never go out. An eternal flame will burn above his grave too. It will be the beacon of
freedom which he infused with a brilliant new brightness. He read the Constitution with the
mind of Madison, the vision of Jefferson, and the scholarship of John Marshall. No one was ever
more truly called Mr. Justice.
�JUL-26 97 10:04 FROM:COUNSEL OFFICE
202-456-2632
10:65709
PAGE:02
Michael Your draft looks great. Without getting in too far over my head in the
wordsmithing business, the one paragraph 1 thought might warrant a second look was the
one beginning "Today, all Americans
" Even though this is a eulogy, the "because of
him" language struck me as a little much. Here is a possible alternative:
"Justice Brennan taught us that the votes of all Americans must have equal weight
- - that the press must be able freely and robustly to debate the great issues of the day
that women must be secure in the fundamental right to go to work each day free of
discrimination - and that the protections afforded by the Bill of Rights, the basic charter
of our freedom, must apply to the states, so that ordinary citizens can seek redress if their
government violates their rights."
Chuck
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Michael Waldman
Description
An account of the resource
<p>Michael Waldman was Assistant to the President and Director of Speechwriting from 1995-1999. His responsibilities were writing and editing nearly 2,000 speeches, which included four State of the Union speeches and two Inaugural Addresses. From 1993 -1995 he served as Special Assistant to the President for Policy Coordination.</p>
<p>The collection generally consists of copies of speeches and speech drafts, talking points, memoranda, background material, correspondence, reports, handwritten notes, articles, clippings, and presidential schedules. A large volume of this collection was for the State of the Union speeches. Many of the speech drafts are heavily annotated with additions or deletions. There are a lot of articles and clippings in this collection.</p>
<p>Due to the size of this collection it has been divided into two segments. Use links below for access to the individual segments:<br /><a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=43&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=2006-0469-F+Segment+1">Segment One</a><br /><a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=43&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=2006-0469-F+Segment+2">Segment Two</a></p>
Creator
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Michael Waldman
Office of Speechwriting
Date
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1993-1999
Identifier
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2006-0469-F
Extent
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Segment One contains 1071 folders in 72 boxes.
Segment Two contains 868 folders in 66 boxes.
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
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William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Format
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Adobe Acrobat Document
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Brennan Eulogy: Brennan [Folder 2]
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Office of Speechwriting
Michael Waldman
Is Part Of
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Box 32
<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36404"> Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7763296">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2006-0469-F Segment 2
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
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William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Format
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Adobe Acrobat Document
Medium
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Preservation-Reproduction-Reference
Date Created
Date of creation of the resource.
6/3/2015
Source
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7763296
42-t-7763296-20060469F-Seg2-032-006-2015