In the presence of greatness: An afternoon with Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg had an intense gaze behind her boxy lenses. Photos: AFP

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a petite woman from Brooklyn who grew up to be a towering figure in American legal history and cultural trailblazer in American life. She was the most intimidating interview I have ever done.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg had an intense gaze behind her boxy lenses. She had angular features that made her face stand out even as her body seemed to disappear in a giant cream-colored sofa. She snuggled into a beige wrap and considered each question for more than a few moments before she answered. I remember thinking how intimidating her 1,000-yard stare must have been to the generation of lawyers who have delivered arguments before the nation's high court since Ginsburg arrived in 1993.