President Bush acknowledged the seven current Justices who were in the audience, as well as members of his cabinet, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and other government dignitaries. The president talked about the historic occasion of swearing in a new Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He praised Judge Roberts as "a man with an astute mind and a kind heart." Justice John Paul Stevens administered the oath of office, after which the 17th Chief Justice, John Roberts, thanked President Bush and others, and talked about the nomination process and his determination to support and defend the Constitution. It has been 19 years since Chief Justice Rehnquist was sworn in.