Changes

As the Republican Whip, Nickles called for the resignation of fellow Republican [[Trent Lott]] of [[Mississippi]] as majority leader (after succeeding [[Bob Dole]]) because of remarks Lott made at the 100th birthday celebration of retiring Senator [[Strom Thurmond]] of [[South Carolina]] in December 2002. The statements were considered by Lott's critics to have been insensitive to [[civil rights]] issues though Lott said that he never realized that his remarks were unacceptable. Lott was replaced after then President [[George W. Bush]] came out against the Mississippian.

As the Republican Whip, Nickles called for the resignation of fellow Republican [[Trent Lott]] of [[Mississippi]] as majority leader (after succeeding [[Bob Dole]]) because of remarks Lott made at the 100th birthday celebration of retiring Senator [[Strom Thurmond]] of [[South Carolina]] in December 2002. The statements were considered by Lott's critics to have been insensitive to [[civil rights]] issues though Lott said that he never realized that his remarks were unacceptable. Lott was replaced after then President [[George W. Bush]] came out against the Mississippian.

After the election of [[Ronald Reagan]], a group of conservative senators, including the freshman Don Nickles, questioned the conservative credentials of [[Sandra Day O'Connor]], the first woman nominated to the Supreme Court. The opponents noted that O'Connor had been an [[abortion]] supporter while serving in the Arizona State Senate, and they expected her to join the liberal bloc on the court. Reagan, however, stubbornly stood behind O'Connor, who was confirmed 99-0, after those hesitating to confirm her followed Reagan's lead. In time the O'Connor's critics proved right and Reagan wrong because in 1991, O'Connor, who relished her role as a "swing justice," joined a 5-4 court majority in the opinion,''Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey'' which upheld ''[[Roe v. Wade]].''<ref>Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey|publisher=Oyez|accessdate=July 15, 2021.</ref>

After the election of [[Ronald Reagan]], a group of conservative senators, including the freshman Don Nickles, questioned the conservative credentials of [[Sandra Day O'Connor]], the first woman nominated to the Supreme Court. The opponents noted that O'Connor had been an [[abortion]] supporter while serving in the Arizona State Senate, and they expected her to join the liberal bloc on the court. Reagan, however, stubbornly stood behind O'Connor, who was confirmed 99-0, after those hesitating to confirm her followed Reagan's lead. In time the O'Connor's critics proved right and Reagan wrong because in 1992, O'Connor, who relished her role as a "swing justice," joined a 5-4 court majority in the opinion,''Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey'' which upheld ''[[Roe v. Wade]].''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oyez.org/cases/1991/91-744?_escaped_fragment_=&_escaped_fragment_=&_escaped_fragment_=#!|title=''Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey''|publisher=Oyez|accessdate=July 15, 2021.</ref>

In 1993, Nickles was one of only three Senators, along with [[Jesse Helms]] of [[North Carolina]] and Robert C. "Bob" Smith of [[New Hampshire]], to vote against the confirmation of [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]] of [[New York]], who was nominated by President [[Bill Clinton]] as the second woman to the Supreme Court. Ginsburg,  a popular judicial liberal who carried the backing of all of the Moderate Republican senators.<ref>SENATE, 96-3, APPROVES GINSBURG AS 107TH SUPREME COURT JUSTICE - The Washington Post, August 4, 1973.</ref>

In 1993, Nickles was one of only three Senators, along with [[Jesse Helms]] of [[North Carolina]] and Robert C. "Bob" Smith of [[New Hampshire]], to vote against the confirmation of [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]] of [[New York]], who was nominated by President [[Bill Clinton]] as the second woman to the Supreme Court. Ginsburg,  a popular judicial liberal who carried the backing of all of the Moderate Republican senators.<ref>SENATE, 96-3, APPROVES GINSBURG AS 107TH SUPREME COURT JUSTICE - The Washington Post, August 4, 1973.</ref>