William H. Rehnquist turned 80 Friday, a milestone reached by only one other chief justice of the United States. Though slowed by back and knee problems, he remains invigorated by the job and appears in no hurry to give up his title. His steady discipline is the mark of a chief justice who has defied retirement rumors even as observers wonder whether his conservative legacy -- empowering states, limiting abortion and preserving the death penalty -- may finally have run its course.
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As Rehnquist Reaches Milestone, Observers Weigh His Legacy
The Associated Press
October 4, 2004
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