'A terrific first': Remembering Sandra Day O'Connor with historian Linda Hirshman

Kaely Monahan, Arizona Republic
Updated ·1 min read
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The country has said its final goodbyes to Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman ever to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court.

To mark her remarkable life, The Gaggle is sharing in-depth interviews with those who knew her. Previously we heard from her biographer, Evan Thomas. In this episode, we’ll hear from Linda Hirshman, a lawyer, cultural historian and author of many books – including the 2016 “Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World.” Hirshman also recently passed away on Oct. 31, 2023.

Hirshman sat down in the Gaggle studios in spring 2022 with then-Gaggle host and former Arizona Republic reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez.

For Hirshman, O’Connor is something of a complicated figure. O’Connor opened the door for extreme conservatism to enter the highest court in the land, Hirshman said. But at the same time, O’Connor was a defender of moderation and believed strongly in nonpartisanship when it came to interpreting the law.

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Read the episode transcript here. Please note, there might be slight discrepancies due to the AI used to transcribe the conversation.

Throughout this week, we'll hear from those who knew O'Connor. Make sure to subscribe to The Gaggle on your favorite podcasting app so you don't miss an episode.

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Read more about O'Connor's funeral service in Washington, D.C. here.

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Contact the producer at kaely.monahan@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter @KaelyMonahan.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sandra Day O'Connor's court legacy as seen by historian Linda Hirshman