Growing opposition to Harriet Miers from Republican senators — fueled by conservative groups and commentators — ultimately derailed President Bush's nomination to the Supreme Court. Miers withdrew her Supreme Court bid Thursday morning.
MELISSA BLOCK, host: This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News.  I'm Melissa Block.</s>MELISSA BLOCK, host: This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News.  I'm Melissa Block.</s>ROBERT SIEGEL, host: I'm Robert Siegel.</s>ROBERT SIEGEL, host: I'm Robert Siegel.</s>ROBERT SIEGEL, host: And we begin with today's big story, the withdrawal of Harriet Miers as a      nominee for the Supreme Court.  Miers cited a growing dispute over access      to White House documents as the reason for her move, but her nomination      faced increasing opposition from the right wing of the president's own      party.  We'll have analysis from our legal scholars in a few minutes, but      we start our coverage with NPR's David Welna at the Capitol.</s>ROBERT SIEGEL, host: And we begin with today's big story, the withdrawal of Harriet Miers as a      nominee for the Supreme Court.  Miers cited a growing dispute over access      to White House documents as the reason for her move, but her nomination      faced increasing opposition from the right wing of the president's own      party.  We'll have analysis from our legal scholars in a few minutes, but      we start our coverage with NPR's David Welna at the Capitol.</s>DAVID WELNA reporting: Miers hand-delivered President Bush a letter at 8:30 this morning.  It      said she no longer wanted to be considered for a nomination in which this      president has invested both prestige and a huge amount of political      capital.  `I am concerned,' Miers wrote, `that the confirmation process      presents a burden for the White House and our staff and is not in the      best interests of the country.'  The president's spokesman later told      reporters that Mr. Bush was, quote, "deeply disappointed" in the process      that prompted Miers to quit.  On the Senate floor, Republican Majority      Leader Bill Frist maintained it was Miers' decision alone to drop out.</s>DAVID WELNA reporting: Miers hand-delivered President Bush a letter at 8:30 this morning.  It      said she no longer wanted to be considered for a nomination in which this      president has invested both prestige and a huge amount of political      capital.  `I am concerned,' Miers wrote, `that the confirmation process      presents a burden for the White House and our staff and is not in the      best interests of the country.'  The president's spokesman later told      reporters that Mr. Bush was, quote, "deeply disappointed" in the process      that prompted Miers to quit.  On the Senate floor, Republican Majority      Leader Bill Frist maintained it was Miers' decision alone to drop out.</s>Senator BILL FRIST (Republican, Tennessee): I had a conversation with      Ms. Miers early this morning and she told me that it was last evening      that she spoke to the president and did formally request her nomination      to be withdrawn.</s>Senator BILL FRIST (Republican, Tennessee): I had a conversation with      Ms. Miers early this morning and she told me that it was last evening      that she spoke to the president and did formally request her nomination      to be withdrawn.</s>WELNA: Still, pressure was clearly mounting for Miers to bow out.      Frist's spokesman confirmed the Republican leader offered what he called      a frank assessment on Miers' standing last night to White House Chief of      Staff Andrew Card.  Frist expressed no regret today about Miers'      withdrawal, but Democratic Leader Harry Reid did.</s>WELNA: Still, pressure was clearly mounting for Miers to bow out.      Frist's spokesman confirmed the Republican leader offered what he called      a frank assessment on Miers' standing last night to White House Chief of      Staff Andrew Card.  Frist expressed no regret today about Miers'      withdrawal, but Democratic Leader Harry Reid did.</s>Senator HARRY REID (Democrat, Nevada; Minority Leader): I believe      without any question when the history books are written about all this      that it will show that the radical right wing of the Republican Party      drove this woman's nomination right out of town.  Apparently Ms. Miers      didn't satisfy those who wanted to pack the Supreme Court with rigid      ideologies.</s>Senator HARRY REID (Democrat, Nevada; Minority Leader): I believe      without any question when the history books are written about all this      that it will show that the radical right wing of the Republican Party      drove this woman's nomination right out of town.  Apparently Ms. Miers      didn't satisfy those who wanted to pack the Supreme Court with rigid      ideologies.</s>WELNA: The Judiciary Committee's ranking Democrat, Patrick Leahy,      insisted his party was not to blame for Miers' withdrawal.</s>WELNA: The Judiciary Committee's ranking Democrat, Patrick Leahy,      insisted his party was not to blame for Miers' withdrawal.</s>Senator PATRICK LEAHY (Democrat, Vermont): It all came from Republican      newspeople, Republican columnists and Republicans in the Senate.</s>Senator PATRICK LEAHY (Democrat, Vermont): It all came from Republican      newspeople, Republican columnists and Republicans in the Senate.</s>WELNA: And even though the Republican chair of the Judiciary panel,      Arlen Specter, had rejected Miers' answers to a questionnaire and      disputed what she told him behind closed doors, he lashed out at what he      called the heavy decibel level against her.</s>WELNA: And even though the Republican chair of the Judiciary panel,      Arlen Specter, had rejected Miers' answers to a questionnaire and      disputed what she told him behind closed doors, he lashed out at what he      called the heavy decibel level against her.</s>Senator ARLEN SPECTER (Republican, Pennsylvania; Judiciary Committee      Chair): This is a sad episode in the history of Washington, DC, which has      a lot of sad episodes, but the way Harriet Miers has been treated is      really disgraceful.</s>Senator ARLEN SPECTER (Republican, Pennsylvania; Judiciary Committee      Chair): This is a sad episode in the history of Washington, DC, which has      a lot of sad episodes, but the way Harriet Miers has been treated is      really disgraceful.</s>WELNA: But Specter also disputed Miers' contention that White House      documents were an issue, saying his committee has asked for nothing that      intruded on the president's executive privilege.  He said he did not know      whether Miers would have been confirmed by the Senate, but New York      Democrat Charles Schumer, who's also on the committee, expressed      satisfaction things never got as far as a vote.</s>WELNA: But Specter also disputed Miers' contention that White House      documents were an issue, saying his committee has asked for nothing that      intruded on the president's executive privilege.  He said he did not know      whether Miers would have been confirmed by the Senate, but New York      Democrat Charles Schumer, who's also on the committee, expressed      satisfaction things never got as far as a vote.</s>Senator CHARLES SCHUMER (Democrat, New York): Harriet Miers is a fine      and capable person, but this was clearly the wrong position for her.  Her      gracious withdrawal saves Harriet Miers and the nation from a difficult      and agonizing process in decision.</s>Senator CHARLES SCHUMER (Democrat, New York): Harriet Miers is a fine      and capable person, but this was clearly the wrong position for her.  Her      gracious withdrawal saves Harriet Miers and the nation from a difficult      and agonizing process in decision.</s>WELNA: Schumer's doubts were about Miers' qualifications.  Kansas      Republican and social conservative Sam Brownback had doubts about Miers'      stance on abortion.</s>WELNA: Schumer's doubts were about Miers' qualifications.  Kansas      Republican and social conservative Sam Brownback had doubts about Miers'      stance on abortion.</s>Senator SAM BROWNBACK (Republican, Kansas): I was feeling less      comfortable all along.  I had an initial pause about the nominee and then      I kept thinking, `Well, OK.  Maybe the president's really got a strong      person and we just don't know her.'  And then the background kept seeming      more checkered rather than consistent.</s>Senator SAM BROWNBACK (Republican, Kansas): I was feeling less      comfortable all along.  I had an initial pause about the nominee and then      I kept thinking, `Well, OK.  Maybe the president's really got a strong      person and we just don't know her.'  And then the background kept seeming      more checkered rather than consistent.</s>WELNA: Texas Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison disputed that      characterization of Miers.</s>WELNA: Texas Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison disputed that      characterization of Miers.</s>Senator KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON (Republican, Texas): I think some of the      things that were being brought up from before she changed her views and      her support have been used to indicate that she's not firm in her views.</s>Senator KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON (Republican, Texas): I think some of the      things that were being brought up from before she changed her views and      her support have been used to indicate that she's not firm in her views.</s>WELNA: And Jon Cornyn, also a Texas Republican, said Miers had been      treated unfairly.</s>WELNA: And Jon Cornyn, also a Texas Republican, said Miers had been      treated unfairly.</s>Senator JON CORNYN (Republican, Texas): The only person responsible for      her withdrawal was Harriet Miers.  She saw that this was--she was      becoming too controversial and that she was basically--her nomination was      going to be mugged before she got even to the chance to go to the hearing      room on November the 7th.</s>Senator JON CORNYN (Republican, Texas): The only person responsible for      her withdrawal was Harriet Miers.  She saw that this was--she was      becoming too controversial and that she was basically--her nomination was      going to be mugged before she got even to the chance to go to the hearing      room on November the 7th.</s>WELNA: Cornyn predicted coming up with another nominee won't be easy.</s>WELNA: Cornyn predicted coming up with another nominee won't be easy.</s>Senator JON CORNYN (Republican, Texas): If John Roberts had a sister, that maybe that's a      possibility. In all seriousness, I think any nominee's going to be      closely scrutinized and it is going to be a tough process.</s>Senator JON CORNYN (Republican, Texas): If John Roberts had a sister, that maybe that's a      possibility. In all seriousness, I think any nominee's going to be      closely scrutinized and it is going to be a tough process.</s>WELNA: But California Democrat Dianne Feinstein said there's no rush to      choose another nominee, and she had this advice for the president.</s>WELNA: But California Democrat Dianne Feinstein said there's no rush to      choose another nominee, and she had this advice for the president.</s>Senator DIANNE FEINSTEIN (Democrat, California): Appoint someone in the      mainstream.  Appoint someone whose knowledge and ability is beyond      question. And appoint someone about whom there will not be a major      squabble.</s>Senator DIANNE FEINSTEIN (Democrat, California): Appoint someone in the      mainstream.  Appoint someone whose knowledge and ability is beyond      question. And appoint someone about whom there will not be a major      squabble.</s>WELNA: Still, a major squabble is what everyone now expects over that      next nominee.  David Welna, NPR News, the Capitol.</s>WELNA: Still, a major squabble is what everyone now expects over that      next nominee.  David Welna, NPR News, the Capitol.