--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you look at the record and the…" description: "\"If you look at the record and the enviable record which Sandra Day O'Connor has written, you find she was the fifth and decisive vote to safeguard Amer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/dick-durbin-3181_access_if-you-look-at-the-record-and-the-enviab_3109824.png" --- # If you look at the record and the enviable record which… ![“If you look at the record and the enviable record which Sandra Day O'Connor has written, you find she was the fifth and decisive vote to safeguard Americans' right to privacy, to require our courtrooms to grant access to the disabled, to allow the federal government to pass laws to protect the…” quote by Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/dick-durbin-3181_access_if-you-look-at-the-record-and-the-enviab_3109824.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/dick-durbin-3181_access_if-you-look-at-the-record-and-the-enviab_3109824.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/dick-durbin-3181_access_if-you-look-at-the-record-and-the-enviab_3109824.png) > “If you look at the record and the enviable record which Sandra Day O'Connor has written, you find she was the fifth and decisive vote to safeguard Americans' right to privacy, to require our courtrooms to grant access to the disabled, to allow the federal government to pass laws to protect the environment, to preserve the right of universities to use affirmative action, to ban the execution of children in America.” [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sandra Day O'Connor’s record shows decisive actions protecting privacy, disability rights, environment, affirmative action, and banning child execution. **In simple terms:** She voted for many key protections. Key Takeaway Recognize and support such protective policies. Themes law rights justice Mood respectful inspirational Type political historical When to use this quote - court rulings - legislative advocacy - public policy debates Key Concepts civil liberties environmental policy affirmative action Questions to Reflect On - What policies most reflect her legacy? - How can we continue her protective work? A Different Perspective Her influence may be overstated in some areas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Access](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Affirmative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative/) [Affirmative action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative-action/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Courtroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtroom/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) [Federal government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Privacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privacy/) [Protect the environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-the-environment/) [Right to privacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-privacy/) [Sandra day o connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sandra-day-o-connor/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [ Justice \[Sandra Day\] O'Connor has been the critical decisive vote on many issues that go to the heart of who we are as a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/justice-sandra-day-o-connor-has-been-the-critical-decisive-vote-on/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [I'm one that believes that Samuel Alito appointment on the Supreme Court is a pivotal appointment. And because he replace Sandra Day O'Connor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/i-m-one-that-believes-that-samuel-alito-appointment-on-the-supreme/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [A Final Say referendum on the Brexit that actually lies in front of us will give everyone a tangible and decisive vote. I and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konnie-huq/a-final-say-referendum-on-the-brexit-that-actually-lies-in-front-of/) [Konnie Huq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konnie-huq/) > [We must continually work to obtain and preserve the right to vote and future votes of babies in the womb, their parents, the sick,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/we-must-continually-work-to-obtain-and-preserve-the-right-to-vote-and/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [We must preserve our right to think and differ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/we-must-preserve-our-right-to-think-and-differ/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I'm as keen as the next person to preserve the right to free speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blunkett/i-m-as-keen-as-the-next-person-to-preserve-the-right-to-free-speech/) [David Blunkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blunkett/) > [Our First Amendment should preserve the right of Hindus and Muslims to practice their faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/our-first-amendment-should-preserve-the-right-of-hindus-and-muslims/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [The President must be true to his word. He must keep his faith with the folks who elected him twice. In other words, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-scarborough/the-president-must-be-true-to-his-word-he-must-keep-his-faith-with/) [Rick Scarborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-scarborough/) > [ \[Sandra Day O'Connor\] is a justice whose graciousness and sense of duty fuels her continued service, even agreeing to serve more than six months… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/sandra-day-o-connor-is-a-justice-whose-graciousness-and-sense-of-duty/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Justice Sandra Day O'Connor serves as a model Supreme Court justice, widely recognized as a jurist with practical values, a sense of the consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/justice-sandra-day-o-connor-serves-as-a-model-supreme-court-justice/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has been a pioneer, and her dedicated service on the Supreme Court will never be forgotten. And the people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/justice-sandra-day-o-connor-has-been-a-pioneer-and-her-dedicated/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [Abortion, however, is a big threshold issue for me because the dominant majority of people in my state are pro-choice, .. I ran as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/abortion-however-is-a-big-threshold-issue-for-me-because-the-dominant/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [ She \[Justice Sandra Day O'Connor\], unlike, Judge Bork, did not think that being on the court would be an "intellectual feast," to quote Judge… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/she-justice-sandra-day-o-connor-unlike-judge-bork-did-not-think-that/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Arizonians are deeply proud of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's service to this country. She will always be remembered by Arizonans and all Americans as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kyl/arizonians-are-deeply-proud-of-justice-sandra-day-o-connor-s-service/) [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) > [Justice Sandra Day O'Connor brought critical qualities to the high court that not everybody thinks are qualities - I happen to think they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/justice-sandra-day-o-connor-brought-critical-qualities-to-the-high/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) ## More by Dick Durbin > [We believe that there are aspects of border security that Democrats and Republicans can agree on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-believe-that-there-are-aspects-of-border-security-that-democrats/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [When you're talking about long-term deficit reduction, $4 trillion worth, entitlement reform needs to be part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/when-you-re-talking-about-long-term-deficit-reduction-4-trillion/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [I prefer Raisin Bran. But I like the Mini-Wheats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/i-prefer-raisin-bran-but-i-like-the-mini-wheats/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [As a government lawyer, Samuel Alito wrote that he personally believe very strongly the Constitution does not protect the right to an abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/as-a-government-lawyer-samuel-alito-wrote-that-he-personally-believe/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [We've had enough with the gun traffickers and straw purchasers who buy guns out of state and sell them out of the trunks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-ve-had-enough-with-the-gun-traffickers-and-straw-purchasers-who/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [Having billions of dollars immediately available to plug budget holes without raising taxes is very appealing. And to the delight of Wall Street investors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/having-billions-of-dollars-immediately-available-to-plug-budget-holes/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [It is a challenge to all of us, and it's a challenge we need to meet, to make sure the Quincy Veterans' Home is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/it-is-a-challenge-to-all-of-us-and-it-s-a-challenge-we-need-to-meet/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [Reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions spares our planet from the well-documented degradation that we are witnessing on a global basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/reducing-and-removing-greenhouse-gas-emissions-spares-our-planet-from/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [It is tough to run for public office and face an opponent, to decide on issues what is the best thing, then face the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/it-is-tough-to-run-for-public-office-and-face-an-opponent-to-decide/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [We ought to deal with Social Security in a separate conversation that is not part of deficit reduction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-ought-to-deal-with-social-security-in-a-separate-conversation-that/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [I have thought about this issue of abortion time and again. 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