Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate

Introducing the EMK Institute

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate will provide in-depth educational programs and exhibits for students, educators and the general public. Our goal is to provide each visitor, each class, each teacher, each life-long learner with insight into the workings of our government that they cannot get anywhere else.

Vicki Kennedy Honors Husband’s Legacy

ABC News covers the EMK Institute groundbreaking ceremony.

Hearings of Clarence Thomas

On July 1, 1991, President George H. W. Bush nominated Judge Clarence Thomas to the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States to fill the vacancy upon the retirement of Justice Thurgood Marshall. At the time of Thomas' nomination, he was in the seat vacated by Robert H. Bork on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (appointed by President George H. W. Bush). Thomas served from 1974-77 as Assistant Attorney General of Missouri and between 1977 and 1979 as an attorney for Monsanto Company. From 1979-81 Thomas worked as a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator John C. Danforth, and in 1981 Thomas served as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights in the U. S. Department of Education. Appointed by President Ronald W. Reagan, in 1982 Thomas became the chairman of the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The Thomas confirmation hearing to the U.S. Supreme Court took an unexpected twist following allegations of sexual harassment by Professor Anita Hill, his former assistant at the Department of Education. The Thomas hearing opened a discussion on the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace, making his confirmation hearing the most controversial since that of Robert H. Bork. Thomas was confirmed by the United States Senate by the narrowest margin to date for a successful Supreme Court nominee, a vote of 52-48.

Hearings of Judge Robert Bork

Judge Robert H. Bork was nominated by President Ronald W. Reagan to the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States on July 1, 1987, to replace Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr., who had just retired. At the time of his nomination, Bork was a judge on the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, where he served from 1982 to 1988.

Bork had served as U. S. Solicitor General from 1973 to 1977 and acting Attorney General from 1973 to 1974. He was best known as the man who fired the Watergate Special Prosecutor, Archibald Cox, in the infamous "Saturday Night Massacre," October 20, 1973. Bork's nomination included the longest confirmation hearing (five days of testimony) for any Supreme Court nominee since hearings began in 1939. His hearing marked the beginning of intense involvement of special interest groups in the hearing process. Commenting on Bork's nomination, Senator Edward M. Kennedy made his famous "Robert Bork's America"� speech on national television.

Judge Bork did not receive the recommendation of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, and Judge Bork's nomination was ultimately rejected by the United States Senate by a 42- 58 vote on October 23, 1987.

Hearings of Justice Anthony Kennedy

After the failure of Supreme Court nominees Judge Robert H. Bork and Judge Douglas Ginsburg (who withdrew) to gain confirmation following the retirement of Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr., President Ronald W. Reagan nominated Judge Anthony M. Kennedy to the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States on November 30, 1987. At the time of his nomination, Kennedy was a judge on the U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He was in private practice in California from 1961-1975, and from 1965 to 1988, Kennedy was a Professor of Constitutional Law at the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific.

In comparison to Bork's hearing, Kennedy's moved smoothly through the confirmation process. Kennedy remains the only nominee to ascend to the Supreme Court without a single Senator in opposition. He was confirmed on February 3, 1988 by a vote of 97-0.