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Blackmun Reluctantly Becomes Justice
- Harry Blackmun arrived in D.C. reluctant and overwhelmed by the Supreme Court nomination process.
- He made a pros-and-cons list on the plane, found only cons, but accepted after meeting Nixon and feeling pressured to decide quickly.
Pentagon Papers Vote Shaped Blackmun's Reputation
- Blackmun was initially seen as Nixon's loyal pick after siding with the president in Pentagon Papers.
- That vote branded him a Nixon appointee, spurring his desire to prove independence on future opinions.
Young Lawyer Weddington Argues Roe
- Sarah Weddington, a 26-year-old lawyer from Texas, argued Roe before the Court after having had an abortion in Mexico during law school.
- She represented 'Jane Roe' to challenge the Texas statute and pressed the personal and societal impact of pregnancy.