All the Laws but One - by William H Rehnquist (Paperback)

About the Book

Chief Justice Rehnquist guides readers through various wartime policies and the legal decisions that tested civil liberties Americans traditionally enjoy. Photos.

Book Synopsis

William H. Rehnquist, Chief Justice of the United States, provides an insightful and fascinating account of the history of civil liberties during wartime and illuminates the cases where presidents have suspended the law in the name of national security.

"A highly original account of the proper role of the Supreme Court, a role that makes most sense in times of war, but that has its attractions whenever the Court is embroiled in great social controversies." --The New Republic

Abraham Lincoln, champion of freedom and the rights of man, suspended the writ of habeas corpus early in the Civil War--later in the war he also imposed limits upon freedom of speech and the press and demanded that political criminals be tried in military courts. During World War II, the government forced 100,000 U.S. residents of Japanese descent, including many citizens, into detainment camps. Through these and other incidents Chief Justice Rehnquist brilliantly probes the issues at stake in the balance between the national interest and personal freedoms. With All the Laws but One he significantly enlarges our understanding of how the Supreme Court has interpreted the Constitution during past periods of national crisis--and draws guidelines for how it should do so in the future.

Review Quotes

"Offers intelligent, balanced commentary . . . a valuable book." --Houston Chronicle

"[Rehnquist is] a most eloquent explicator. . . . All the Laws but One is narrative history of a high order, each episode fixed carefully in its historical context, and not excluding deft characterizations of its principals." --Washington Times

"A dispassionate and lucid book. . . . A highly original account of the proper role of the Supreme Court, a role that makes most sense in times of war, but that has its attractions whenever the Court is embroiled in great social controversies." --The New Republic

"Rich in the history of wartime dilemmas." --The Washington Post

About the Author

William H. Rehnquist is Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. He lives in Arlington, Virginia.