Antonin Scalia [politics]

Calvin

Welcome to Headstones and Microphones where we use AI to step into the past through a researched, first-person simulation of history's most interesting people. I am your host, Calvin. While we’ve added some creative storytelling, our goal is to inspire your own study of these fascinating lives. Now, let’s meet our guest.

Calvin

I am absolutely honored to be joined today by a giant of the American legal system. For those who may somehow not know who you are... who are you?

White Male Guest

Hello Calvin. I am Antonin Scalia, though most people knew me as Nino. I spent nearly thirty years as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, trying my best to interpret the Constitution exactly as it was written.

Calvin

It’s great to have you, Nino! Let’s go back to the beginning. When and where were you born?

White Male Guest

I was born on March 11, 1936, in Trenton, New Jersey.

Calvin

And what was your given name at birth?

White Male Guest

My given name was Antonin Gregory Scalia.

Calvin

Is there a story behind your birth name?

White Male Guest

My parents were Italian immigrants, and they wanted a name that reflected our heritage. Antonin is a version of Antonino. It was a name that carried the weight of tradition, which I suppose suited me quite well later in life!

Calvin

What was your hometown like growing up?

White Male Guest

We moved to Elmhurst, Queens, when I was a young boy. It was a wonderful, middle-class neighborhood. It was the kind of place where everyone knew their neighbors, and there was a real respect for hard work and education.

Calvin

What was your family life like?

White Male Guest

I was an only child, which meant I received a lot of attention! My father, S. Eugene Scalia, was a professor of Romance languages, and my mother, Catherine, was an elementary school teacher. Dinner conversations were lively and intellectual; you had to be able to defend your point of view at our table!

Calvin

What kind of kid were you?

White Male Guest

I was quite studious, perhaps a bit of a "brain," but I also loved being part of a group. I was a Boy Scout and played in the band. I was definitely the kid who followed the rules—I liked structure even then.

Calvin

What were your biggest fears growing up?

White Male Guest

I suppose my biggest fear was letting my parents down. They had such high hopes for me, and I felt a great responsibility to succeed and honor the opportunities they worked so hard to give me.

Calvin

What did you dream of becoming as a child?

White Male Guest

For a while, I thought about being a priest, which is a common path for a young Catholic boy in a devout family. But as I got older, the intellectual rigor of the law began to call to me.

Calvin

What were some of your favorite activities in school?

White Male Guest

I loved history and Latin. I was also very active in the marching band at Xavier High School—I played the French horn. I enjoyed the discipline of it.

Calvin

What was your first job?

White Male Guest

My first real job after finishing my education was as an associate at the law firm Jones Day in Cleveland, Ohio. It was a sharp introduction to the "real world" of legal practice.

Calvin

Was there a moment where you realized you were different from everyone else?

White Male Guest

I wouldn't say "different," but I realized early on that I had a very specific way of looking at the world. I didn't see the law as something to be molded by current trends; I saw it as a fixed anchor. Realizing that many of my peers saw it as a "living" thing was a turning point for me.

Calvin

What’s a decision that changed everything for you, but felt small at the time?

White Male Guest

Choosing to leave private practice to teach at the University of Virginia. It felt like a career shift, but it was there that I really developed my philosophy on Originalism, which defined my entire career.

Calvin

What was your biggest break?

White Male Guest

Without a doubt, it was being nominated to the Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. I was confirmed 98 to zero! What were your biggest struggles before success?

White Male Guest

Early in my career, there were times when my judicial philosophy was very much in the minority. It can be lonely to be the one standing apart, insisting on a strict interpretation of the text when everyone else wants to find new meanings.

Calvin

Did you ever consider quitting?

White Male Guest

Never. I enjoyed the fight too much! I loved the intellectual combat of a good legal argument.

Calvin

Were there any specific daily habits or routines that you feel were essential to your success?

White Male Guest

I was a very early riser. I found the morning hours to be the best for writing my opinions and dissents. And, of course, regular prayer and attending Mass were the foundations of my day.

Calvin

What job would you have had if fame never happened?

White Male Guest

I suspect I would have remained a law professor. I loved the classroom environment and the spark of debating with bright young minds.

Calvin

How did relationships change after success?

White Male Guest

My relationship with my wife, Maureen, stayed exactly the same—she was always the one who kept me grounded. We had nine children, and at home, I wasn't "The Justice," I was just Dad.

Calvin

Did fame bring happiness?

White Male Guest

Fame was never the goal. Happiness for me came from doing my duty to the Constitution and spending time with my large, boisterous family. What misconceptions did people have about you?

White Male Guest

Many people thought that because I was a conservative and a strict constructionist, I must be a cold or angry person. In reality, I loved to laugh, I loved music, and I had many dear friends who disagreed with me on every political issue imaginable!

Calvin

What’s something people misunderstood about your life?

White Male Guest

People often misunderstood my friendship with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We were at polar opposites of the legal spectrum, but we shared a deep love for opera and for the institution of the Court. You can disagree on the law and still be best friends.

Calvin

Tell me about a time when everything went wrong and how did you handle it?

White Male Guest

There were cases where I felt the Court was making a massive error in judgment. When things went "wrong" in that sense, I poured all my energy into a dissent. If I couldn't convince my colleagues, I would write for the future and for the students of the law.

Calvin

Who had the biggest influence on your life?

White Male Guest

My father. He taught me the value of precision in language. If you don't use words correctly, you can't think correctly.

Calvin

What was life like in your final years?

White Male Guest

I was very active! I was still hearing cases, writing frequently, and enjoying my favorite hobbies—hunting and spending time at my favorite retreats.

Calvin

What were you working on in your career before you passed away?

White Male Guest

I was in the middle of a very busy term at the Court, dealing with complex cases regarding administrative law and individual rights. I never slowed down.

Calvin

When and where did you pass away?

White Male Guest

I passed away on February 13, 2016, at a ranch in Shafter, Texas.

Calvin

What happened?

White Male Guest

It was determined to be natural causes, specifically a heart attack. I went peacefully in my sleep after a lovely day spent outdoors.

Calvin

What’s a random fact about you most people have never heard?

White Male Guest

I was an avid hunter, but I also played a mean game of poker! I used to have a regular game with some of the other justices and folks around D.C.

Calvin

What was your most unique habit?

White Male Guest

I was known for being quite "animated" on the bench. I couldn't just sit still during oral arguments; I had to lean forward, gesture, and ask questions. I was also very particular about my fountain pens.

Calvin

What was your favorite food?

White Male Guest

I had a great love for traditional Italian food, of course, but I also developed a taste for wild game that I had hunted myself.

Calvin

Did you have a favorite restaurant?

White Male Guest

I was a regular at A.V. Ristorante Italiano in D.C. for many years until it closed. It felt like home.

Calvin

What was your favorite book?

White Male Guest

Aside from the Bible and the Constitution, I was a great admirer of MacBeth. I loved the power of Shakespeare's language.

Calvin

What’s your funniest behind-the-scenes moment?

White Male Guest

There were many times during the annual "skit" at the Court where we would poke fun at ourselves. Seeing my colleagues in ridiculous costumes or trying to sing was always a highlight!

Calvin

What advice would you give people chasing success?

White Male Guest

Don't chase "success" for its own sake. Chase the truth. Be precise in your thoughts and your words, and have the courage to stand by your convictions even when they are unpopular.

Calvin

Justice Scalia, do you have any closing remarks about the interview or the stories you shared that you would like to share with the listeners before we sign off?

White Male Guest

I would just say that it has been a pleasure to reflect on a life spent in service to the law. I hope that even those who disagreed with my opinions can appreciate the importance of having a vigorous debate. Thank you for having me, Calvin. It’s been a grand time!

Calvin

Thank you, Nino! What a fascinating look into the mind of a man who shaped American history. We talked about his love for the French horn, his legendary friendship with Justice Ginsburg, and his unwavering commitment to the written word. And that wraps up another conversation from beyond the grave. Thanks for joining us on The Headstones and Microphones Podcast. Remember—legends may die, but their stories never do. Please help spread the word by sharing and following the pod.