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A dyed-in-the-wool Republican, Justice Rehnquist, 74, has presided at the Senate trial.
The Harvard-educated Lutheran was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Nixon in 1972 and promoted to Chief Justice by President Reagan in 1986.
Justice Rehnquist is well-known in court for his brisk manner and as expected he helped the Senate trial move along swiftly. At the end of the trial senators gave him a plaque to thank him for his work.
Chief Justice Rehnquist was a lucky choice for the job. He wrote a book about the 1868 trial of Andrew Johnson - the only other American president to face an impeachment trial. In Grand Inquests he warned that impeachment must only be used for serious abuses of office and he applauded Johnson's acquittal.
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Stage 1 7 January Senate trial opens. Sombre start for Clinton trial
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Stage 2 14 - 17January Trial resumes 1800GMT. House managers will present the case against the president. Prosecutors: Clinton must be ‘accountable’ (Day 1) Prosecutors lay into Clinton (Day 2) Republicans: 'Do the right thing' (Day 3)
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Stage 3 19 - 21 January White House lawyers present the president's defence. Clinton team makes heartfelt plea (Day 4) Clinton defence attacks charges as vague (Day 5) White House wraps up Clinton defence(Day 6)
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Stage 4 22 - 24 January Senators question both sides. Key senators call to end trial Excerpts: Senators’ questions (Day 8)
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Stage 5 25 - 26 January Prosecutors and defence lawyers make motions to present witnesses or hear evidence and dismiss the case. Senate debates dismissal (Day 9) Witness list cut to three (Day 10)
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Stage 6 27 - 29 January Senate debates and votes on the motions. Senate votes to hear witnesses (Day 11) Senate's partisan pomp Republicans force through trial plan(Day 12)
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Stage 7 1 - 11 February Witnesses are deposed and videotaped testimony is taken. Prosecution and Defence make presentations before closing arguments by each side. Senators then deliberate on the case before a final vote. Lewinsky questioned again Hyde to seek live testimony Lewinsky goes public Closing arguments Senators deliberate
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Stage 8 12 February At the end of the trial, the Senate will vote on two articles of impeachment. Sixty-seven senators or two-thirds of the Senate must vote in favour of impeachment in order to remove the president from office. Clinton in the clear
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