I was too young when he was alive, and didn't know anything about SC. Was CJ Rehnquist hated by the liberals just like Alito and Thomas nowadays, or more similar to Roberts?
I guess he might not be that hated. The nation was not as polarized, and he appears moderate comparing to Scalia and Thomas. But I would be surprised if he has a net positive review among Dems, as Roberts currently.
Somewhere in between, for the reasons you cite. Democrats of the time certainly didn't hold a positive view of him, but they didn't exactly hate him either.
