Earl Warren was born on March 19, 1891. He was appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower to become the 14th Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court in 1953. In law school we read lots of his decisions on cases he adjudicated. He was a learned gentleman and usually kept a copy of the Constitution with him, in his suit pocket or his briefcase. He thought we all should study it. He passed away on July 9, 1974, the year after I graduated from Law School.

As he approached the age of 40, he changed his attitude on growing old. He seemed to be upset at reaching that milestone when an older friend of his tried to cheer him up. The advice from his friend was: “Don’t complain about growing old—many people don’t have that privilege!”

When George Washington knew he was dying in December of 1799, he said to the doctor: “I believed from the first that this disorder would prove fatal. . . . I die hard, but I am not afraid to go.” He was only 67, but consider all he accomplished!

Martha said: “ . . . he did not intend to quit the theatre of this life until the new century had been rung in.” But after all he played the major role in that century.

I like the way that Johann von Goethe, a great German writer, put it:

“A man comes to be famous because he has the matter of fame within him. To seek for, to hunt after fame is a vain endeavor.”

And Horace Greeley said: “Fame is a vapor, popularity and accident, riches take wings, those who cheer today will curse tomorrow, only one thing endures–Character. Washington had Character.”