Sedative Withdrawal Made Rehnquist Delusional in '81

Washington Post by Alan Coopperman | Jan. 5, 2007 (News Report)

Files Detail Drug Addiction And FBI's Role in Hearings

The late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist took a powerful sedative during his first decade on the Supreme Court and grew so dependent on it that he became delusional and tried to escape from a hospital in his pajamas when he stopped taking the drug in 1981, according to newly released FBI files.

The files also show that during both of Rehnquist's confirmation battles -- when he was first named to the court by President Richard Nixon in 1971 and ... Full Story »

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by Joseph Duemer - Oct. 1, 2008

There are really two stories here, both based on the release of FBI files. The more sensational story is Rehnquist's addiction to prescription drugs, the second -- and perhaps more important -- story is that the FBI was used during both of Justice Rehnquist's confirmation hearings to investigate possible adverse witnesses.

Joseph posted this story.