1 00:00:15,316 --> 00:00:21,676 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Hello Bad Women listeners, it's me Hallie. I'm back. 2 00:00:22,356 --> 00:00:24,876 Speaker 1: We have a brand new season of Bad Women debuting 3 00:00:24,876 --> 00:00:28,156 Speaker 1: on October eleventh, But in the meantime, we wanted to 4 00:00:28,156 --> 00:00:30,996 Speaker 1: give you a taste of another history podcast we enjoy 5 00:00:31,356 --> 00:00:35,556 Speaker 1: and think you will too. It's aptly named History Daily. 6 00:00:36,436 --> 00:00:39,476 Speaker 1: Every weekday host Lindsey Graham, who you might know from 7 00:00:39,476 --> 00:00:43,036 Speaker 1: American Scandal. In American History Tellers, takes you back in 8 00:00:43,156 --> 00:00:47,716 Speaker 1: time to explore an incredible, momentous event that happened on 9 00:00:47,756 --> 00:00:52,156 Speaker 1: this day in history. In twenty minute episodes, Lindsay covers 10 00:00:52,236 --> 00:00:57,036 Speaker 1: everything from historical battles to scientific breakthroughs to fashion firsts. 11 00:00:57,756 --> 00:01:01,236 Speaker 1: In this episode, we go back in time to August tenth, 12 00:01:01,516 --> 00:01:06,436 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety three, Ruth Bader Ginsburg is sworn in as 13 00:01:06,516 --> 00:01:10,676 Speaker 1: the US Supreme Courts one hundred and seven justice, becoming 14 00:01:10,756 --> 00:01:13,916 Speaker 1: only the second woman in history to serve on the 15 00:01:13,916 --> 00:01:17,836 Speaker 1: country's highest court. I hope you enjoy this story about 16 00:01:17,916 --> 00:01:21,276 Speaker 1: Ruth and the groundbreaking ways she broke barriers for women. 17 00:01:21,916 --> 00:01:25,116 Speaker 1: If you do, check out History Daily for more true 18 00:01:25,156 --> 00:01:29,316 Speaker 1: stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Okay, 19 00:01:29,756 --> 00:01:33,956 Speaker 1: here's the episode. Find History Daily wherever you get your podcasts, 20 00:01:34,316 --> 00:01:37,436 Speaker 1: hit Follow or subscribe for daily episodes, as well as 21 00:01:37,436 --> 00:01:51,476 Speaker 1: access to the History Daily Back catalog. It's July twentieth, 22 00:01:51,596 --> 00:01:56,036 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety three in Washington, DC. Inside the Senate Judiciary 23 00:01:56,036 --> 00:01:59,836 Speaker 1: Committee Hearing room, Supreme Court nominee Ruth Bader Ginsburg sits 24 00:01:59,876 --> 00:02:02,596 Speaker 1: before the Committee for the first day of her confirmation hearings. 25 00:02:03,356 --> 00:02:06,716 Speaker 1: First to kick off the questioning is Committee Chairman Joe Biden. 26 00:02:07,236 --> 00:02:10,316 Speaker 1: Let me begin now with the questioned. I like to 27 00:02:10,356 --> 00:02:13,676 Speaker 1: begin by asking you about how you will go about 28 00:02:13,876 --> 00:02:18,196 Speaker 1: interpreting our constitution. Judge. For two hours, Ruth answers questions 29 00:02:18,196 --> 00:02:21,876 Speaker 1: from the committee about her judicial philosophy and methodology, but 30 00:02:21,996 --> 00:02:24,596 Speaker 1: throughout the hearing she was reluctant to answer questions about 31 00:02:24,596 --> 00:02:27,836 Speaker 1: her personal views on certain issues. But there's one topic 32 00:02:27,956 --> 00:02:31,116 Speaker 1: Ruth has no qualms about addressing, and this issue is 33 00:02:31,116 --> 00:02:32,996 Speaker 1: going to be before the Court for a long time 34 00:02:33,196 --> 00:02:37,356 Speaker 1: in the future. But today, having opened the door on 35 00:02:37,476 --> 00:02:41,596 Speaker 1: specific issues such as abortion, in my view, it's impossible 36 00:02:41,636 --> 00:02:45,316 Speaker 1: as a matter of principle to distinguish dread Scott Vay, 37 00:02:45,356 --> 00:02:48,716 Speaker 1: Sanford and the locker cases from the court substance to 38 00:02:48,796 --> 00:02:53,356 Speaker 1: due process privacy cases. A licro versus Wade. The methodology 39 00:02:53,436 --> 00:02:56,156 Speaker 1: is the same, the differences only and the results which 40 00:02:56,476 --> 00:02:59,716 Speaker 1: hinge on the personal subjective values of the judge deciding 41 00:02:59,756 --> 00:03:03,596 Speaker 1: the case. At this Ruth's response is immediate. One case, 42 00:03:03,756 --> 00:03:07,556 Speaker 1: the quote was affirming the right of one man to 43 00:03:07,636 --> 00:03:10,356 Speaker 1: whold another man in bond, and the other and the 44 00:03:10,476 --> 00:03:13,996 Speaker 1: other line of cases the court is affirming the right 45 00:03:14,036 --> 00:03:17,356 Speaker 1: of the individual to be free. So I do see 46 00:03:17,356 --> 00:03:21,036 Speaker 1: that there's a sharp distinction between the two lines. I 47 00:03:21,876 --> 00:03:24,716 Speaker 1: think substantively there may be. But the fact of the 48 00:03:24,756 --> 00:03:28,276 Speaker 1: matter is it's the same type of judicial reasoning without 49 00:03:28,476 --> 00:03:32,036 Speaker 1: the constitutional underpinnings. The position I have given you. If 50 00:03:32,076 --> 00:03:37,396 Speaker 1: you ask me, how do I justify saying that Roe 51 00:03:37,396 --> 00:03:41,996 Speaker 1: has two underpendings the equal dignity of the woman, the personhood, 52 00:03:42,036 --> 00:03:46,556 Speaker 1: the idea of individual autonomy and decision making. I point 53 00:03:46,556 --> 00:03:50,516 Speaker 1: to those two decisions and say that I think that 54 00:03:50,636 --> 00:03:55,396 Speaker 1: they supply the underpinning. I understand that at least I 55 00:03:55,476 --> 00:03:57,996 Speaker 1: differ with you. I'm using the Fourteenth Amendment to justus. 56 00:03:58,316 --> 00:04:01,036 Speaker 1: At least you've found some constitutional underpinning, and I had 57 00:04:01,076 --> 00:04:06,316 Speaker 1: you know that one. I feel that it's wonderful for 58 00:04:06,796 --> 00:04:09,956 Speaker 1: an academic or judge to be exposed to criticism. I've 59 00:04:09,996 --> 00:04:14,036 Speaker 1: been criticized with saying that legislators have any role in this. 60 00:04:14,636 --> 00:04:17,356 Speaker 1: I've been criticized with saying that the Court should not 61 00:04:17,436 --> 00:04:22,956 Speaker 1: have solved at all, and one fell swoot. So I 62 00:04:22,996 --> 00:04:26,396 Speaker 1: appreciate that I am never going to please all of 63 00:04:26,396 --> 00:04:29,076 Speaker 1: the people all of the time on this issue. I 64 00:04:29,076 --> 00:04:31,316 Speaker 1: can only try to say what is my position in 65 00:04:32,436 --> 00:04:35,636 Speaker 1: Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be the first Supreme Court nominee 66 00:04:35,676 --> 00:04:38,996 Speaker 1: to offer such unflinching support about the constitutional right to 67 00:04:39,036 --> 00:04:43,276 Speaker 1: abortion during a confirmation hearing. Twenty nine years later, video 68 00:04:43,276 --> 00:04:45,836 Speaker 1: clips of her defense of abortion rights will go viral. 69 00:04:45,916 --> 00:04:49,236 Speaker 1: On the day the Supreme Court overturns Rove Wade in 70 00:04:49,356 --> 00:04:52,436 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety three, Ruth's remarks on abortion will cause some 71 00:04:52,516 --> 00:04:55,676 Speaker 1: senators to bristle, but in the end, Ruth will easily 72 00:04:55,676 --> 00:04:58,156 Speaker 1: win her spot on the Supreme Court with a vote 73 00:04:58,156 --> 00:05:00,796 Speaker 1: of ninety six to three in favor of her confirmation. 74 00:05:01,596 --> 00:05:04,716 Speaker 1: Three weeks later, Ruth will become the first Jewish female 75 00:05:04,756 --> 00:05:07,476 Speaker 1: justice and only the second woman in history to serve 76 00:05:07,476 --> 00:05:10,716 Speaker 1: on the United States Supreme Court. From the bench, Ruth 77 00:05:10,756 --> 00:05:13,916 Speaker 1: will advance her pursuit for gender equality, becoming known as 78 00:05:13,956 --> 00:05:16,596 Speaker 1: one of the Court's most ardent protectors of women's rights 79 00:05:16,836 --> 00:05:19,876 Speaker 1: after she has sworn in on August tenth, nineteen ninety three. 80 00:05:27,076 --> 00:05:31,116 Speaker 1: From Neuser and Airship, I'm Lindsay Graham, and this is History. 81 00:05:31,196 --> 00:05:50,196 Speaker 1: Daily History is made every day on this podcast. Every 82 00:05:50,276 --> 00:05:52,676 Speaker 1: day we tell the true stories of the people and 83 00:05:52,716 --> 00:05:56,596 Speaker 1: events that shaped our world. Today is August tenth, nineteen 84 00:05:56,676 --> 00:06:00,276 Speaker 1: ninety three, Ruth Bader Ginsburg is sworn in as Associate 85 00:06:00,316 --> 00:06:07,996 Speaker 1: Justice of the United States Supreme Court. It's the fall 86 00:06:08,076 --> 00:06:11,956 Speaker 1: of nineteen fifty six in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the home 87 00:06:12,036 --> 00:06:14,836 Speaker 1: of the Harvard Law School's dean. Ruth sits at a 88 00:06:14,876 --> 00:06:18,956 Speaker 1: dinner table alongside eight other female students. Together, Ruth and 89 00:06:19,036 --> 00:06:21,476 Speaker 1: her peers comprised the only women in the class of 90 00:06:21,476 --> 00:06:25,156 Speaker 1: over five hundred, but Ruth isn't surprised by their small number. 91 00:06:25,876 --> 00:06:28,556 Speaker 1: It was only six years ago that Harvard Law School 92 00:06:28,596 --> 00:06:32,036 Speaker 1: even began admitting women at all. On campus. The dorms 93 00:06:32,076 --> 00:06:34,236 Speaker 1: and the restrooms and many of the buildings are only 94 00:06:34,276 --> 00:06:37,276 Speaker 1: for men, and by and large, female students like Ruth 95 00:06:37,436 --> 00:06:41,476 Speaker 1: remain an anomaly. But Ruth doesn't mind. For her, attending 96 00:06:41,476 --> 00:06:45,436 Speaker 1: Harvard is a dream opportunity. Two years ago, Ruth graduated 97 00:06:45,436 --> 00:06:48,636 Speaker 1: from Cornell University as the highest ranking female student in 98 00:06:48,676 --> 00:06:52,436 Speaker 1: her class. A month later, she married her college boyfriend, Marty, 99 00:06:52,676 --> 00:06:55,276 Speaker 1: and followed him to Oklahoma, where he served as an 100 00:06:55,276 --> 00:06:58,316 Speaker 1: officer in the Army Reserve. There, Ruth worked for the 101 00:06:58,356 --> 00:07:02,276 Speaker 1: Social Security Administration, but was demoted after becoming pregnant with 102 00:07:02,316 --> 00:07:05,596 Speaker 1: her first child. Though there was little expectation for Ruth 103 00:07:05,676 --> 00:07:08,276 Speaker 1: to be anything other than a mother, Ruth knew she 104 00:07:08,396 --> 00:07:11,436 Speaker 1: wanted more so. When Marty decided to return to law 105 00:07:11,436 --> 00:07:14,196 Speaker 1: school at Harvard, Ruth saw her chance to pursue a 106 00:07:14,236 --> 00:07:17,516 Speaker 1: career and law herself while still caring for their fourteen 107 00:07:17,516 --> 00:07:20,556 Speaker 1: month old child. But to night, Ruth has stepped away 108 00:07:20,596 --> 00:07:23,436 Speaker 1: from her child care duties to attend a dinner hosted 109 00:07:23,436 --> 00:07:25,396 Speaker 1: by the dean for all the women in the college's 110 00:07:25,436 --> 00:07:29,236 Speaker 1: first year class. As Ruth finishes her meal, she accepts 111 00:07:29,236 --> 00:07:32,156 Speaker 1: a cigarette from another guest. As she takes it, Dean 112 00:07:32,196 --> 00:07:35,036 Speaker 1: Griswald rises from his seat and ushers the women into 113 00:07:35,036 --> 00:07:38,796 Speaker 1: the living room. There, Ruth sees the room's chairs arranged 114 00:07:38,836 --> 00:07:41,756 Speaker 1: in a horseshoe. As she sits down, Ruth grabs a 115 00:07:41,796 --> 00:07:45,156 Speaker 1: nearby ashtrain places it in her lap. She listens as 116 00:07:45,156 --> 00:07:48,156 Speaker 1: the dean asks each of the women appointed question what 117 00:07:48,196 --> 00:07:50,796 Speaker 1: were they doing at the law school occupying a seat 118 00:07:50,836 --> 00:07:53,556 Speaker 1: that could have been held by a man. The question 119 00:07:53,676 --> 00:07:57,196 Speaker 1: catches Ruth and her fellow peers off guard. Ruth listens 120 00:07:57,236 --> 00:07:59,356 Speaker 1: as the first student stands up and eases some of 121 00:07:59,356 --> 00:08:01,556 Speaker 1: the tension in the room with her tongue and cheek answer. 122 00:08:01,996 --> 00:08:04,636 Speaker 1: Dean griswold, there are nine of us her, five hundred 123 00:08:04,636 --> 00:08:07,596 Speaker 1: of them. What better place to find a man? The 124 00:08:07,676 --> 00:08:10,516 Speaker 1: dean chuckles and moves on to the next student. One 125 00:08:10,556 --> 00:08:12,556 Speaker 1: by one, the dean makes his way around the circle 126 00:08:12,676 --> 00:08:15,516 Speaker 1: until he gets to Ruth. As Dean poses the same 127 00:08:15,596 --> 00:08:19,316 Speaker 1: question to her, Ruth's nerves start to build. As she 128 00:08:19,436 --> 00:08:22,636 Speaker 1: stands up, Ruth forgets about the ashtray still balanced on 129 00:08:22,676 --> 00:08:25,716 Speaker 1: her lap. She blushes as it clatters to the ground, 130 00:08:26,076 --> 00:08:28,916 Speaker 1: sending cigarette butts and ash all over the dean's living 131 00:08:28,996 --> 00:08:33,356 Speaker 1: room floor. Feverishly, Ruth apologizes for the mess, then she 132 00:08:33,436 --> 00:08:36,916 Speaker 1: half heartedly mumbles an answer to Dean's question. She says 133 00:08:36,996 --> 00:08:39,156 Speaker 1: she's at Harvard Law because her husband is in his 134 00:08:39,196 --> 00:08:41,796 Speaker 1: second year at the college, and she thinks it's important 135 00:08:41,836 --> 00:08:45,156 Speaker 1: for a wife to understand her husband's work. The response 136 00:08:45,156 --> 00:08:47,836 Speaker 1: comes naturally to Ruth, but it's not her real answer. 137 00:08:48,396 --> 00:08:50,676 Speaker 1: In truth, even though Marty is a year ahead of her, 138 00:08:50,996 --> 00:08:53,676 Speaker 1: Ruth took the law entrance exams even before he did. 139 00:08:54,236 --> 00:08:56,596 Speaker 1: Ruth knows she isn't at law school because of him. 140 00:08:56,836 --> 00:08:59,196 Speaker 1: She's at law school because she wants to study law. 141 00:08:59,676 --> 00:09:02,876 Speaker 1: But Ruth still doesn't feel comfortable voicing her ambition as 142 00:09:02,876 --> 00:09:06,756 Speaker 1: a woman. But eventually, Ruth's actions speak louder than her 143 00:09:06,796 --> 00:09:10,676 Speaker 1: words ever could. In the ensuing, Ruth's drive and talent 144 00:09:10,756 --> 00:09:14,276 Speaker 1: become apparent to everyone at Harvard Law. Before long, Ruth 145 00:09:14,356 --> 00:09:17,076 Speaker 1: shoots to the top of her class. She even becomes 146 00:09:17,076 --> 00:09:19,196 Speaker 1: one of the first women to serve as editor for 147 00:09:19,236 --> 00:09:22,996 Speaker 1: the college's esteemed Law Review. Still, Ruth faces her fair 148 00:09:23,036 --> 00:09:26,676 Speaker 1: share of challenges in her classes. Professors rarely call on 149 00:09:26,716 --> 00:09:30,356 Speaker 1: their female students at the library. Ruth has even denied 150 00:09:30,396 --> 00:09:32,996 Speaker 1: access to the periodical room because she is a woman. 151 00:09:33,596 --> 00:09:36,596 Speaker 1: But gender discrimination is only half of Ruth's battle at 152 00:09:36,636 --> 00:09:40,516 Speaker 1: law school. In Ruth's second year at Harvard, tragedy strikes 153 00:09:40,716 --> 00:09:44,956 Speaker 1: when her husband, Marty, develops testicular cancer. For Ruth, it's 154 00:09:44,996 --> 00:09:49,196 Speaker 1: an unfortunately familiar struggle. The day before her high school graduation, 155 00:09:49,596 --> 00:09:53,556 Speaker 1: Ruth's mother died from cancer. Following the lass, Ruth became 156 00:09:53,596 --> 00:09:56,596 Speaker 1: determined to live out the dreams of education and empowerment 157 00:09:56,756 --> 00:09:59,276 Speaker 1: that her mother strove to instill in her. But with 158 00:09:59,316 --> 00:10:02,196 Speaker 1: a sick husband and a young child, Ruth faces an 159 00:10:02,276 --> 00:10:06,116 Speaker 1: uphill battle. So for months, Ruth strikes a delicate balance 160 00:10:06,116 --> 00:10:09,076 Speaker 1: between looking after her daughter and taking care of her husband. 161 00:10:09,596 --> 00:10:12,436 Speaker 1: She types his class notes and papers while also doing 162 00:10:12,436 --> 00:10:15,956 Speaker 1: her own school work. Often Ruth only sleeps for two 163 00:10:15,996 --> 00:10:18,796 Speaker 1: hours a night, but somehow she manages to stay on 164 00:10:18,876 --> 00:10:22,436 Speaker 1: top of it all. With Ruth's help, Marty receives his 165 00:10:22,556 --> 00:10:25,556 Speaker 1: highest grades and graduates on time in the spring. But 166 00:10:25,676 --> 00:10:28,836 Speaker 1: soon Ruth's journey at Harvard gets cut short when Marty 167 00:10:28,956 --> 00:10:31,556 Speaker 1: lands a job in New York City. Eager to stay 168 00:10:31,556 --> 00:10:35,076 Speaker 1: with her husband, Ruth transfers to Columbia, where she earns 169 00:10:35,076 --> 00:10:37,836 Speaker 1: her law degree and graduates at the top of her class. 170 00:10:38,556 --> 00:10:41,236 Speaker 1: Upon graduation, Ruth will begin carving her path in the 171 00:10:41,316 --> 00:10:45,396 Speaker 1: legal field, but despite her accolades and recommendations, Ruth will 172 00:10:45,436 --> 00:10:49,076 Speaker 1: struggle to find work. One Supreme Court justice will decline 173 00:10:49,076 --> 00:10:51,956 Speaker 1: to even interview her for a clerkship because she's a woman. 174 00:10:52,436 --> 00:10:54,916 Speaker 1: But at the forceful insistence of one of her Columbia 175 00:10:54,956 --> 00:10:57,876 Speaker 1: law professors, a judge in New York will eventually give 176 00:10:57,916 --> 00:11:00,716 Speaker 1: Ruth a chance, and finally Ruth will have her foot 177 00:11:00,716 --> 00:11:03,356 Speaker 1: in the door. From there she will rise through the 178 00:11:03,396 --> 00:11:18,076 Speaker 1: ranks of a field determined to shut her out. It's 179 00:11:18,156 --> 00:11:22,716 Speaker 1: nineteen sixty nine at Rutgers University. Inside a classroom, Ruth 180 00:11:22,796 --> 00:11:25,316 Speaker 1: proudly stands in front of a group of students. She 181 00:11:25,476 --> 00:11:28,916 Speaker 1: is the law school second ever female professor, and today, 182 00:11:28,996 --> 00:11:31,356 Speaker 1: as she gives her lecture, she reflects back on the 183 00:11:31,436 --> 00:11:34,556 Speaker 1: journey that brought her here. After clerking for a judge 184 00:11:34,556 --> 00:11:37,916 Speaker 1: in New York for two years, Ruth returned to academia. 185 00:11:37,996 --> 00:11:40,796 Speaker 1: In New York, Ruth worked as a research associate and 186 00:11:40,836 --> 00:11:43,356 Speaker 1: then as an associate director of the Columbia Law School 187 00:11:43,356 --> 00:11:47,356 Speaker 1: Project on International Procedure. Then, in nineteen sixty three, Ruth 188 00:11:47,436 --> 00:11:50,756 Speaker 1: was offered a position teaching civil procedure at Rutger's Law School. 189 00:11:51,436 --> 00:11:54,156 Speaker 1: The job was a great opportunity for Ruth, but it 190 00:11:54,196 --> 00:11:57,396 Speaker 1: came with a disturbing caveat Ruth would be paid less 191 00:11:57,436 --> 00:12:00,516 Speaker 1: than her male colleagues because her husband already has a 192 00:12:00,556 --> 00:12:03,876 Speaker 1: well paying job. Ruth accepted the offer, but she quickly 193 00:12:03,956 --> 00:12:06,556 Speaker 1: joined an equal pay campaign with other women teaching at 194 00:12:06,556 --> 00:12:10,956 Speaker 1: the university. Together, they filed a federal class action discrimination case, 195 00:12:11,236 --> 00:12:14,476 Speaker 1: and one resulting in substantial raises for all of them. 196 00:12:15,076 --> 00:12:17,716 Speaker 1: Since then, Ruth has been happily working at the university 197 00:12:17,916 --> 00:12:21,196 Speaker 1: and become a popular professor within the law school. And today, 198 00:12:21,356 --> 00:12:25,796 Speaker 1: Ruth's popularity brings her a new opportunity. As Ruth's lecture 199 00:12:25,876 --> 00:12:28,516 Speaker 1: comes to an end, students begin to file out the doors, 200 00:12:28,956 --> 00:12:32,396 Speaker 1: but Ruth notices a group of students who stay behind. Together, 201 00:12:32,516 --> 00:12:35,116 Speaker 1: they approach Ruth and ask her to lead a seminar 202 00:12:35,196 --> 00:12:38,516 Speaker 1: on women and the law. Women's legal rights are not 203 00:12:38,676 --> 00:12:41,556 Speaker 1: Ruth's current area of expertise, but Ruth does think it 204 00:12:41,596 --> 00:12:44,556 Speaker 1: would be a worthwhile seminar to provide, and she bets 205 00:12:44,596 --> 00:12:47,476 Speaker 1: it'll be a good learning experience for her students and her. 206 00:12:47,996 --> 00:12:50,756 Speaker 1: As one of the only female law professors in the country, 207 00:12:51,036 --> 00:12:53,276 Speaker 1: Ruth knows there are a few more qualified to teach 208 00:12:53,276 --> 00:12:57,716 Speaker 1: it anyways, so Ruth gladly accepts her student's proposal. Soon 209 00:12:57,796 --> 00:13:00,636 Speaker 1: she gets to work preparing her new course. But as 210 00:13:00,716 --> 00:13:04,236 Speaker 1: Ruth tries to develop the curriculum, she discovers there's very 211 00:13:04,236 --> 00:13:07,916 Speaker 1: little information on the subject. Soon, Ruth realizes she has 212 00:13:07,916 --> 00:13:11,356 Speaker 1: the opportunity to make an even bigger impact. Before long, 213 00:13:11,476 --> 00:13:14,916 Speaker 1: Ruth volunteers as a faculty adviser to help found Rutgers 214 00:13:14,916 --> 00:13:18,036 Speaker 1: Women's Rights Law Reporter, the first law journal in the 215 00:13:18,116 --> 00:13:22,156 Speaker 1: United States to address women's rights exclusively. Than three years 216 00:13:22,156 --> 00:13:25,516 Speaker 1: after starting the seminar, Ruth takes on another project. She 217 00:13:25,636 --> 00:13:28,636 Speaker 1: becomes the founder and director of the Women's Rights Project 218 00:13:28,716 --> 00:13:31,956 Speaker 1: for the American Civil Liberties Union. There, Ruth sets her 219 00:13:31,956 --> 00:13:35,556 Speaker 1: sights on using the courts to take on gender discrimination nationwide. 220 00:13:36,276 --> 00:13:39,436 Speaker 1: Through her work with the Women's Rights Project, Ruth charts 221 00:13:39,436 --> 00:13:42,476 Speaker 1: a strategic course. Rather than asks the court to end 222 00:13:42,516 --> 00:13:45,956 Speaker 1: gender discrimination all at once, Ruth decides to attack the 223 00:13:45,956 --> 00:13:49,396 Speaker 1: problem in small increments. With each step she takes, she 224 00:13:49,476 --> 00:13:53,076 Speaker 1: aims at a specific discriminatory statute and builds on each 225 00:13:53,156 --> 00:13:56,556 Speaker 1: successive victory. And she also doesn't confine her cases to 226 00:13:56,596 --> 00:14:00,596 Speaker 1: those with female plaintiffs. Instead, Ruth often picks male plaintiffs 227 00:14:00,596 --> 00:14:03,636 Speaker 1: to help demonstrate the harm of gender discrimination to both 228 00:14:03,676 --> 00:14:07,516 Speaker 1: women and men. With Ruth at its helm, the Women's 229 00:14:07,556 --> 00:14:11,596 Speaker 1: Rights Project and other clu initiatives participate in more than 230 00:14:11,636 --> 00:14:15,596 Speaker 1: three hundred gender discrimination cases by nineteen seventy four. Between 231 00:14:15,636 --> 00:14:19,196 Speaker 1: seventy three and seventy eight, Ruth herself argues six gender 232 00:14:19,236 --> 00:14:22,876 Speaker 1: discrimination cases before the Supreme Court. Of the six, she 233 00:14:22,996 --> 00:14:26,636 Speaker 1: wins five, and in each case, Ruth persuades the court 234 00:14:26,676 --> 00:14:30,716 Speaker 1: to appreciate that the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection 235 00:14:31,076 --> 00:14:34,436 Speaker 1: applies to discrimination based not just on race, but also 236 00:14:34,516 --> 00:14:38,316 Speaker 1: on sex. Then in October nineteen seventy eight, a new 237 00:14:38,316 --> 00:14:42,156 Speaker 1: opportunity comes Ruth's way when Congress passes the Omnibus Judge 238 00:14:42,156 --> 00:14:45,196 Speaker 1: Ship Act. Not only does this new law increase the 239 00:14:45,276 --> 00:14:48,156 Speaker 1: number of federal judges and district and circuit courts, but 240 00:14:48,236 --> 00:14:50,796 Speaker 1: it works to ensure that the judge ship is more diverse. 241 00:14:51,636 --> 00:14:54,396 Speaker 1: Three months after the law passes, Ruth applies to be 242 00:14:54,396 --> 00:14:56,756 Speaker 1: a nominee to the US Court of Appeals for the 243 00:14:56,836 --> 00:15:00,316 Speaker 1: Second Circuit and applies again for the District of Columbia Circuit. 244 00:15:00,796 --> 00:15:04,436 Speaker 1: Three months after that, President Jimmy Carner nominates Ruth to 245 00:15:04,436 --> 00:15:06,796 Speaker 1: sit on the DC Circuit, where she will serve as 246 00:15:06,796 --> 00:15:10,556 Speaker 1: a judge for thirteen years. Then, in nineteen ninety three, 247 00:15:10,756 --> 00:15:14,276 Speaker 1: Ruth's biggest opportunity yet will come her way, one she 248 00:15:14,396 --> 00:15:17,756 Speaker 1: previously never thought possible, the chance to serve on the 249 00:15:17,836 --> 00:15:21,716 Speaker 1: highest court in the land. On June fourteenth, nineteen ninety three, 250 00:15:22,036 --> 00:15:25,396 Speaker 1: President Bill Clinton will announce his nomination of Ruth Bader 251 00:15:25,436 --> 00:15:28,876 Speaker 1: Ginsburg to the Supreme Court. Two months and several days 252 00:15:28,876 --> 00:15:32,196 Speaker 1: of confirmation hearings later, Ruth will become the US Supreme 253 00:15:32,196 --> 00:15:35,356 Speaker 1: Courts one hundred and seventh Justice, carrying with her a 254 00:15:35,436 --> 00:15:50,636 Speaker 1: vision of a more equal and just society. It's August tenth, 255 00:15:50,756 --> 00:15:54,516 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety three. At the White House. Their Chief Justice, 256 00:15:54,556 --> 00:15:58,556 Speaker 1: William Rehnquist, President Bill Clinton, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg gathered 257 00:15:58,596 --> 00:16:02,236 Speaker 1: before a small crown for her swearing in ceremony. Camera's 258 00:16:02,276 --> 00:16:05,156 Speaker 1: flash and applause thunders as the three take their spot 259 00:16:05,196 --> 00:16:07,276 Speaker 1: on a small stage at the front of the room. 260 00:16:07,396 --> 00:16:12,276 Speaker 1: Please be seated. Welcome to the White House. Here's my 261 00:16:12,396 --> 00:16:16,276 Speaker 1: distinct honor to introduce the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. 262 00:16:17,556 --> 00:16:20,396 Speaker 1: As a hush falls over the audience, Ruth places her 263 00:16:20,396 --> 00:16:23,556 Speaker 1: hand on a bible and takes her off. Justice Ginsburg, 264 00:16:23,636 --> 00:16:27,516 Speaker 1: will you raise your right hand and repeat after me, I, 265 00:16:27,916 --> 00:16:34,316 Speaker 1: Ruth Vader Ginsburg, do solemnly swear, I'm Vader Ginsberg, do 266 00:16:34,516 --> 00:16:38,716 Speaker 1: solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution 267 00:16:38,756 --> 00:16:42,716 Speaker 1: of the United States. That I will support and defend 268 00:16:43,476 --> 00:16:47,556 Speaker 1: the Constitution of the United States. As Ruth finishes, she 269 00:16:47,676 --> 00:16:50,316 Speaker 1: breaks out into a wide grin So help me, God, 270 00:16:50,716 --> 00:16:58,676 Speaker 1: So help me God. The crowd erupts an applause, and, 271 00:16:58,836 --> 00:17:01,756 Speaker 1: blinking back tears, Ruth steps in front of the stage's 272 00:17:01,796 --> 00:17:07,436 Speaker 1: lectern and begins her prepared address. Times are changing. The 273 00:17:07,516 --> 00:17:11,716 Speaker 1: President made that clear by appointing me and just last 274 00:17:11,756 --> 00:17:17,116 Speaker 1: week naming five other women to Article three courts. Ruth 275 00:17:17,156 --> 00:17:19,836 Speaker 1: smiles again as she mentions a quote she enjoyed hearing 276 00:17:19,916 --> 00:17:23,076 Speaker 1: from her only other female colleague on the bench. Justice 277 00:17:23,076 --> 00:17:28,796 Speaker 1: Sandra Day O'Connor recently quoted Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Gene Cooin, 278 00:17:29,516 --> 00:17:35,556 Speaker 1: who was asked do women judges decide cases differently by 279 00:17:35,676 --> 00:17:42,196 Speaker 1: virtue of being women? Justice Coinn replied that in her experience, 280 00:17:43,196 --> 00:17:48,036 Speaker 1: a wise old man and a wise old woman reached 281 00:17:48,116 --> 00:17:55,396 Speaker 1: the same conclusion. I agree, but I also have no 282 00:17:55,436 --> 00:18:01,116 Speaker 1: doubt that women, like persons of different racial groups and 283 00:18:01,236 --> 00:18:07,316 Speaker 1: ethnic origins, contribute what a fine jurist. The late Fifth 284 00:18:07,356 --> 00:18:14,036 Speaker 1: Circuit Judge Alvin Ruben described as a distinctive medley of 285 00:18:14,156 --> 00:18:22,596 Speaker 1: views influenced by differences in biology, cultural impact, and life experience. 286 00:18:23,996 --> 00:18:28,276 Speaker 1: A system of justice will be the richer for diversity 287 00:18:28,356 --> 00:18:34,316 Speaker 1: of background and experience, it will be the poorer in 288 00:18:34,436 --> 00:18:38,676 Speaker 1: terms of appreciating what is at stake and the impact 289 00:18:38,716 --> 00:18:43,796 Speaker 1: of its judgments if all of its members are cast 290 00:18:44,116 --> 00:18:47,356 Speaker 1: from the same mold. Then Ruth ends her speech on 291 00:18:47,396 --> 00:18:51,756 Speaker 1: an optimistic note. In my lifetime, I expect there will 292 00:18:51,836 --> 00:18:57,996 Speaker 1: be among federal judicial nominees, based on the excellence of 293 00:18:58,036 --> 00:19:06,556 Speaker 1: their qualifications, as many sisters as brothers in law that prospect. 294 00:19:12,396 --> 00:19:17,316 Speaker 1: That prospect is indeed cause for hope, and its realization 295 00:19:18,036 --> 00:19:27,316 Speaker 1: will be cause for celebration. Thank you. Ruth Bader Ginsburg 296 00:19:27,356 --> 00:19:29,836 Speaker 1: will serve on the Court from nineteen ninety three until 297 00:19:29,876 --> 00:19:32,956 Speaker 1: her death from cancer in twenty twenty. Her twenty seven 298 00:19:33,036 --> 00:19:35,756 Speaker 1: year tenure on the Court and her lifetime of advocacy 299 00:19:35,796 --> 00:19:38,556 Speaker 1: for the legal equality of Americans will turn Ruth into 300 00:19:38,596 --> 00:19:41,276 Speaker 1: a revered figure in the women's rights movement and earn 301 00:19:41,356 --> 00:19:44,716 Speaker 1: her the Roosevelt Freedom Medal in twenty fifteen. Too many, 302 00:19:44,876 --> 00:19:47,196 Speaker 1: Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be remembered as one of the 303 00:19:47,236 --> 00:19:51,596 Speaker 1: pioneers of gender equality, someone who broke barriers herself when 304 00:19:51,636 --> 00:19:53,756 Speaker 1: she was sworn into the highest court in the land 305 00:19:54,036 --> 00:20:03,156 Speaker 1: on August tenth, nineteen ninety three. Next, on History Daily, 306 00:20:03,476 --> 00:20:07,916 Speaker 1: August eleventh, nineteen fifty, the alleged trader Ethel Rosenberg is 307 00:20:07,996 --> 00:20:12,236 Speaker 1: arrested on allegation a spine for the Soviet Union from 308 00:20:12,316 --> 00:20:15,796 Speaker 1: Neuser and Airship. This is History Daily, hosted, edited and 309 00:20:15,916 --> 00:20:19,156 Speaker 1: executive produced by me Lindsey Graham. Audio editing and sound 310 00:20:19,116 --> 00:20:22,556 Speaker 1: designed by Molly Bond. Music by Lindsey Graham. This episode 311 00:20:22,596 --> 00:20:26,316 Speaker 1: is written in research by Alexandra Curry Buckner. Executive producers 312 00:20:26,316 --> 00:20:29,196 Speaker 1: are Stephen Walters for Airship and Pascal Hughes for Neuser.