"It is offensive to suggest that a potential justice of the Supreme Court must pass some presumed test of judicial philosophy. It is even more offensive to suggest that a potential justice must pass the litmus test of any single-issue interest group. The disturbing tactics of division and distortion and discrimination practiced by the extremists of the new right have no place in these hearings and no place in the nation's democracy."

"Some people say that the Supreme Court is already conservative and they ask what difference it makes to have an additional conservative on the bench. Well, I think that's the wrong question, and I reject that argument. First of all, I do not deny the President the right to appoint a conservative. As a matter of fact, I would be dumbfounded if he didn't. And so I fully expect the Supreme Court to be a more conservative body..."

Every president does, and I think most people concede, has the right to select nominees who have the basic judicial temperament, character, ability, qualifications to be a Supreme Court justice, but who generally share the president's sense of values—constitutional values, political values, et cetera.