William Hubbs Rehnquist, an American jurist and the 16th Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, passed away on September 3, 2005. Born on October 1, 1924, he was 80 years old. Rehnquist joined the Supreme Court as an Associate Justice in 1972, nominated by President Richard Nixon. He served in this capacity for 19 years, and was nominated Chief Justice by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, becoming the first non-lawyer to hold that position. In his 33 years as a Supreme Court judge, Rehnquist held dissenting constitutional views with mainstream opinion. He tried to limit Congress's power to enforce the constitutional rights of individuals, to overturn legislation, and, in particular, to limit the scope of the court's power in controversial areas such as abortion and civil rights. He upheld privacy rights contained in the Fourth Amendment and was responsible for strengthening the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. His opinions were frequently cited by lower courts. Rehnquist received numerous honors and awards during his lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and was appointed to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1982. In addition to his judicial career, he had an interest in baseball and had a passion for music. Rehnquist leaves behind his wife of 54 years, Natalie Cornell Rehnquist, his three children, James, Janet, and Nancy, and seven grandchildren. He will be remembered for his enduring contributions to the law, and for his integrity and impartiality on the bench.