"It was unlikely that a Nixon Court would reverse all the Warren Court's decisions. Though Justices John Harlan, Potter Stewart and Byron White had dissented from some of the famous Warren decisions each of them had strong reservations on the matter of the Court's reversing itself. They believed firmly in the doctrine of stare decisis - the principle that precedent governs, that the Court if a continuing body making law that does not change abruptly merely because Justices are replaced." (Prologue, p. 10)

"Richard Nixon was impressed. This was a voice of reason, of enlightened conservatism - firm, direct and fair. Judge Burger knew what he was talking about. The President questioned him in some detail. He found the answers solid, reflecting his own views, and supported with evidence. Burger had ideas about improving the efficiency of judges. By reducing the time wasted on routine administrative tasks and mediating...