"Memos may not hold Roberts's opinions", The Boston Globe, Peter S. Canellos, August 23, 2005 Rehnquist said in 1986 about his conversations with other clerks about Plessy that he: «thought Plessy had been wrongly decided at the time, that it was not a good interpretation of the equal protection clause to say that when you segregate people by race, there is no denial of equal protection. But Plessy had been on the books for 60 years. Congress had never acted, and the same Congress that had promulgated the 14th Amendment had required segregation in the District schools. I saw factors on both sides. I did not agree then, and I certainly do not agree now, with the statement that "Plessy against Ferguson is right and should be reaffirmed." I had ideas on both sides, and I do not think I ever really finally settled in my own mind on that. Around the lunch table I am sure I defended it. I thought there were good arguments to be made in support of it.»
S. Hrg. 99–1067, Hearings Before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on the Nomination of Justice William Hubbs Rehnquist to be Chief Justice of the United States (July 29, 30, 31, and August 1, 1986). نسخة محفوظة 3 مارس 2016 على موقع واي باك مشين.