History of the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute for American Democracy
It all began with a call to preserve an historic Adobe home…
In February 2006, philanthropist Gay Firestone Wray hosted a luncheon in her home for the then head of the Smithsonian, Lawrence M. Small, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Ambassador Barbara Barrett, a new member of the Smithsonian National Board. By the end of the luncheon, an idea sprang forth that would ultimately lead to the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute For American Democracy.
Friends of O’Connor House formed to raise funds and preserve the O’Connor family home. Among friends standing with Justice O’Connor in the nearly finished living room are Secretary Barbara Barrett, Janie Ellis, Pam Hait, Kim Sterling-Heflin, Gay Wray, Lucia Howard and Elva Coor. The preservation project took several years.
Over the next three years, a cast of citizens mobilized to save the Adobe home which had been scheduled for demolition. Dismantled brick by brick and reconstructed in a pristine desert setting, Justice O’Connor visits the site to view the progress with Adobe expert Janie Ellis, shown speaking with the Justice.
2009 ~ O'Connor House Preserved and Institute Founded
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor inspects the final touches on the relocation of her family home from Paradise Valley to Papago Park.
Highlights:
- Following her retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice O’Connor founds both the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy and iCivics.
- O'Connor House receives Certificate of Occupancy in September, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
2010
Justice O’Connor speaks about the importance of civil discourse and collaboration.
To raise funds for the continued conservation of the historic O’Connor House, a Supreme Evening of Jazz was held. Justice O’Connor welcomes a guest on stage as Board member Gay Firestone Wray looks on.
O'Connor House receives a large grant from the Avon Foundation For Women to address domestic violence in the legal field.
2011
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Don Budinger share the stage with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for the first Distinguished Speakers Series program.
Following the program, Justice O’Connor welcomed Condoleezza Rice and guests to tour O’Connor House where the Justice presented her with a John Henry Waddell bronze honoring citizens of our nation.
2012
Welcoming Dignitaries
Our Distinguished Speakers Series welcomed Pulitzer Prize-winning author and noted historian David McCullough. Following his remarks, legendary broadcaster Hugh Downs moderated the on-stage conversation that included Justice O'Connor.
Former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev is greeted by Justice O’Connor, Ambassador Barbara Barrett and Dr. Lattie Coor at our Distinguished Speakers Series.
Justice O’Connor welcomes NASA Astronaut Catherine “Cady” Coleman and her family to the historic O’Connor House. Colonel Colman logged 159 days on the International Space Station. Earlier, she had received a scarf honoring Justice O’Connor's Supreme Court appointment and took it to the Space Station. She left a corner of it behind to remind her fellow astronauts of Justice O’Connor and her civil discourse legacy.
Pictured: Coleman family with Justice O’Connor, Secretary Barbara and Dr. Craig Barrett.
Peter Sagal, host of PBS’ Constitution USA documentary, filmed part of the program at the historic O’Connor House and interviewed Justice O’Connor about the Constitution. The Justice held up her copy of the document, kept in her purse at all times.
Our Supreme Evening of Statehood paid tribute to Arizona’s centennial. Leaders and volunteers honored at the event included Elva Coor, the Honorable Hugh Hallman and the Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
Pictured from left to right: The Honorable Hugh Hallman, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Ambassador Barbara Barrett, Janie Ellis, Elva Coor and Gay Firestone Wray.
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor with son Brian Day O’Connor at the dinner.
2013
Justice O’Connor welcomes Adam Driggs for a legislative dinner to encourage civil discourse among elected leaders.
Washington Post columnist David Ignatius addressed world matters at our Distinguished Speakers Series. Following his remarks, Justice O'Connor joined him for an onstage conversation.
At a charitable benefit for our organization, Justice O’Connor is flanked by Dinner Co-Chairs Don Bivens and Patricia Refo. A Supreme Evening at the Lazy B Ranch honored her southwest upbringing.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke on the topic of leadership at our Distinguished Speakers Series, where he was thanked by Justice O'Connor.
Justice O’Connor participated in a press conference at the O’Connor House to discuss the importance of civics education and civic engagement.
2014
To address the prevention of child sex trafficking, Justice O’Connor was the keynote speaker at annual lodging industry executive luncheon. Her speech resulted in the formation of an industry task force in collaboration with our organization, which resulted in the training of thousands of hotel employees across the country.
David Gergen, of the Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership, discusses American history and democracy at our Distinguished Speakers Series. He was joined afterwards by Justice O'Connor for an onstage conversation.
Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral James Stavridis is greeted by Justice O’Connor prior to his Distinguished Speakers Series presentation on cyber security.
Philanthropist Jerry Hirsch is honored at our benefit, Supreme Evening at the Lazy B, where he is congratulated by Justice O'Connor.
To encourage civil discourse, Justice O’Connor spoke at our Chats & Chalupas legislative dinner at the historic O’Connor House. It featured Mexican food utilizing her recipes that she herself used when hosting Senate colleagues at her home in the 1970s.
Senators Sam Nunn and Alan Simpson are greeted by Justice O'Connor at our Distinguished Speakers Series. They inspired the audience with their remarks on the topic of working across the aisle and statesmanship.
To encourage voting, Justice O’Connor prepares to record a Public Service Announcement at the Institute.
Our Issues & Answers Forum explored the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court case, Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission. The landmark ruling upheld so-called “dark money” contributions to political campaigns, stating "there are other groups now free to spend unrestricted funds advocating the election or defeat of candidates.”
Justice O’Connor joins leading civics teachers and Scott Bales, her former Supreme Court Law Clerk who became Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice. The event was held in support of civics education.
Justice O’Connor visited with the students and congratulated them on their studies. Afterward, they toured the historic O’Connor House conserved by the Institute as part of their field trip.
September
Justice O'Connor regularly presided at our Board of Directors meetings over the years. At her request, a Board meeting took place at the O'Connor House, symbolic of civil discourse and consensus building.
The Institute co-hosted a Gubernatorial Debate with the local PBS station. Here, Justice O’Connor arrives with Board Member Peter Hayes who is greeted by the honorable Doug Ducey.
Past President of Latvia and U.N. Special Envoy, Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga visits with Justice O’Connor prior to her speech on global democracy at our Distinguished Speakers Series.
Justice O’Connor sits with her brother Alan Day prior to his interview for our Oral History Project where he reflected on growing up with his sister.
Gabby Giffords attended a meeting at the Institute on the issue of domestic violence.
2015
Four-Star General Duncan McNabb is welcomed by Justice O’Connor for our Distinguished Speakers Series. General McNabb discussed global security, including audience Q&A moderated by journalist Aaron Brown.
Dinner With Churchill started our tradition of an annual history dinner. Justice O’Connor thanks the presenting sponsor Nanci Bruner and Dinner With Churchill author Cita Stelzer.
Justice O’Connor joins a breakfast honoring civics educators.
2016
Author Chris Matthews spoke on his book, Tip and The Gipper, When Politics Worked at our Distinguished Speakers Series. His New York Times bestseller recounted the friendship and historic dealings between Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill and President Ronald Reagan.
His Excellency Cui Tiankai, Ambassador to the United States from the People’s Republic of China, engages in a discussion with Justice O’Connor at our Distinguished Speakers Series.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham spoke on a leading Founding Father and his book, Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power. Justice O’Connor chose Thomas Jefferson as the subject for our annual History Dinner.
Nobel Peace Prize winner F.W. de Klerk, former President of South Africa, offered insightful remarks about apartheid at our Distinguished Speakers Series. He engaged in a warm conversation with Justice O’Connor.
2017
Former U.S. Ambassador to India, David Mulford, greets Justice O’Connor prior to his remarks at our Patrons Circle Salon.
To benefit the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute Scholarship Fund, international pianists Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi performed at A Supreme Evening of Jazz.
Following a 2017 strategic planning board retreat, Justice O’Connor posed with female members of the Board of Directors and Institute staff. At the important retreat, Justice O’Connor emphasized that American democracy be the focus of our mission.
Garry Kasparov, World Chess Champion, Russian Pro-Democracy Leader and Chairman of Human Rights International is welcomed at our Distinguished Speakers Series. Mr. Kasparov offered insightful remarks on the important role of the United States in promoting democracy around the world.
Lesley Stahl, Emmy Award-Winning Journalist, 60 Minutes CBS Correspondent and bestselling author visits with Justice O’Connor prior to her Distinguished Speakers Series remarks followed by Q&A moderated by the Dean of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.
During a lunch with our summer interns, Justice O'Connor conceived of a civics education summer program for 7th and 8th grade students. Camp O'Connor was crafted that very day under her leadership. Since its inception, hundreds of middle schoolers have experienced our democracy summer camp. Justice O'Connor was gratified with the program's success.
2018
In October 2018, Justice O’Connor issued a public letter announcing her retirement from public life.
Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement that "no illness or condition can take away the inspiration she provides for those who will follow the many paths she has blazed." He added that “Justice O’Connor is of course a towering figure in the history of the United States and indeed the world.”
Among her poignant remarks, she reflected:
Retirement From Public Life
Sandra Day O’Connor
Phoenix, Arizona
October 23, 2018
Friends and fellow Americans,
Not long after I retired from the Supreme Court twelve years ago, I made a commitment to myself, my family, and my country that I would use whatever years I had left to advance civic learning and engagement.
I feel so strongly about the topic because I’ve seen first-hand how vital it is for all citizens to understand our Constitution and unique system of government, and participate actively in their communities. It is through this shared understanding of who we are that we can follow the approaches that have served us best over time – working collaboratively together in communities and in government to solve problems, putting country and the common good above party and self-interest, and holding our key governmental institutions accountable.
It is time for new leaders to make civic learning and civic engagement a reality for all.
