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His mother, Gladys McLeod, participated in many Sacramento civic activities.<br>

His mother, Gladys McLeod, participated in many Sacramento civic activities.<br>

Kennedy attended a local Sacramento high school and Stanford University. He spent a year of his undergraduate studies at the London School of Economics and earned his A.B. and a Phi Beta Kappa key in 1958. After Stanford, Kennedy enrolled in Harvard Law School where he graduated cum laude. After law school Kennedy returned to California and worked as an associate for a law firm in San Francisco. His father died in 1963 and Kennedy returned to Sacramento to take over his father's practice. Also in 1963 Kennedy wed Mary Davis, with whom he had three children.

Kennedy attended a local Sacramento high school and [[Stanford University]]. He spent a year of his undergraduate studies at the [[London School of Economics]] and earned his A.B. and a Phi Beta Kappa key in 1958. After Stanford, Kennedy enrolled in [[Harvard Law School]] where he graduated cum laude. After law school Kennedy returned to California and worked as an associate for a law firm in San Francisco. His father died in 1963 and Kennedy returned to Sacramento to take over his father's practice. Also in 1963 Kennedy wed Mary Davis, with whom he had three children.

==Early Years as a Lawyer==

==Early Years as a Lawyer==

Kennedy had a talent for socializing and soon made many friends among the influential Californian politicians. Kennedy also donated large sums of money on behalf of himself and his clients to various political officials in the state.<br>

Kennedy had a talent for socializing and soon made many friends among the influential Californian politicians. Kennedy also donated large sums of money on behalf of himself and his clients to various political officials in the state.<br>

==Connection with President [[Ronald Reagan]]==

==Connection with President Ronald Reagan==

Through his work as a lobbyist, Kennedy befriended [[Ed Meese]] who was a California District Attorney. The two, sharing similarities in age and background, became close friends. Meese left to work for then-Governor Reagan in 1966 and Kennedy continued his work as an attorney and lobbyist.

Through his work as a lobbyist, Kennedy befriended [[Ed Meese]] who was a California District Attorney. The two, sharing similarities in age and background, became close friends. Meese left to work for then-Governor [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan]] in 1966 and Kennedy continued his work as an attorney and lobbyist.

The two men did not lose touch with each other, however, and Kennedy continued to help Meese and Reagan in small capacities. Kennedy also taught constitutional law for a brief period during this time at the McGeorge School of Law of the University of the Pacific. In 1973, Meese recruited Kennedy to help Reagan draft Proposition One, a ballot initiative to limit the state's spending. He campaigned throughout the state to push the passage of the proposal and his efforts won him Reagan's favor.

The two men did not lose touch with each other, however, and Kennedy continued to help Meese and Reagan in small capacities. Kennedy also taught constitutional law for a brief period during this time at the McGeorge School of Law of the University of the Pacific. In 1973, Meese recruited Kennedy to help Reagan draft Proposition One, a ballot initiative to limit the state's spending. He campaigned throughout the state to push the passage of the proposal and his efforts won him Reagan's favor.

==The Ninth Circuit==

==The Ninth Circuit==

Kennedy's loyalty was rewarded when Reagan recommended him to President Gerald Ford when a vacancy in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit opened.

Kennedy's loyalty was rewarded when Reagan recommended him to President [[Gerald Ford]] when a vacancy in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit opened.

Kennedy joined the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1975 at age 38. Kennedy soon became the head of the court's conservative minority as [[President Carter]] expanded and flooded the Ninth Circuit Court with liberal judges. In the turbulent and often divided [[Ninth Circuit Court]] of that time, Kennedy often held majorities with few dissents. His narrow case-by-case approach and his refusal to resort to sweeping conclusions and rhetoric won him the support of many colleagues. Even his opponents admired Kennedy's well-crafted and thoughtful opinions.

Kennedy joined the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1975 at age 38. Kennedy soon became the head of the court's conservative minority as [[President Carter]] expanded and flooded the Ninth Circuit Court with liberal judges. In the turbulent and often divided [[Ninth Circuit Court]] of that time, Kennedy often held majorities with few dissents. His narrow case-by-case approach and his refusal to resort to sweeping conclusions and rhetoric won him the support of many colleagues. Even his opponents admired Kennedy's well-crafted and thoughtful opinions.

=="Sometimes it's better to bet on a horse to show."==

=="Sometimes it's better to bet on a horse to show."==

When Justice Lewis Powell retired in 1987, Kennedy appeared on a short list of possibilities for the President's nomination, but [[Ronald Wilson Reagan| Reagan]] nominated [[Robert Bork]], but the feisty, [[conservative]] Bork met with fierce political opposition from [[liberals]] in the Senate and ultimately failed to win confirmation. Reagan nominated Douglas Ginsburg, a judge from the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia Circuit, who subsequently withdrew. Reagan, on the advice of Meese, finally turned to Kennedy to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. Kennedy's nomination, unlike Reagan's two previous picks, encountered little resistance. After the tumultuous events surrounding Bork and Ginsburg, Kennedy's low key nomination appeared calming and even [[liberals]] thought of him as fair-minded and pragmatic. The Senate unanimously confirmed Kennedy and he was sworn into office on February 8, 1988.

When Justice Lewis Powell retired in 1987, Kennedy appeared on a short list of possibilities for the President's nomination, but [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan]] nominated [[Robert Bork]], but the feisty, [[conservative]] Bork met with fierce political opposition from [[liberals]] in the Senate and ultimately failed to win confirmation. Reagan nominated Douglas Ginsburg, a judge from the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia Circuit, who subsequently withdrew. Reagan, on the advice of Meese, finally turned to Kennedy to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. Kennedy's nomination, unlike Reagan's two previous picks, encountered little resistance. After the tumultuous events surrounding Bork and Ginsburg, Kennedy's low key nomination appeared calming and even [[liberals]] thought of him as fair-minded and pragmatic. The Senate unanimously confirmed Kennedy and he was sworn into office on February 8, 1988.

Since he had experience as a federal judge, Justice Kennedy made an easy transition to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]]. He has voted consistently with his past record on many issues, but disappointed [[conservatives]] by providing a fifth vote to sustain [[Roe v. Wade]] in 1992. On several key issues Justice Kennedy remains the swing vote on the Court.

Since he had experience as a federal judge, Justice Kennedy made an easy transition to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]]. He has voted consistently with his past record on many issues, but disappointed [[conservatives]] by providing a fifth vote to sustain [[Roe v. Wade]] in 1992. On several key issues Justice Kennedy remains the swing vote on the Court.