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Sandra Day O'Connor

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Legacy of four who departed public service this week

Last week, there were four high-profile departures from public service, ranging from highly distinguished to controversial to disastrous: Rep. George Santos became the sixth lawmaker to be expelled from Congress and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger died at the age of 100, while Rosalynn Carter was remembered as she was laid to rest in Georgia and Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court, died at the age of 93. Mark Strassmann takes a look.

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Bio chronicles story of Sandra Day O'Connor

Sandra Day O'Connor made history when she became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court in 1981. Former President Ronald Reagan appointed her to the position and the Senate confirmed her unanimously. During her nearly 25 years on the country's highest court, O'Connor was considered by many to be the most powerful woman in America. Author Evan Thomas joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss his new book, "First: Sandra Day O'Connor, an American Life." It gives what the New York Times calls a "fascinating and revelatory" portrait of the justice, both on the bench and off.

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Son on Sandra Day O'Connor dementia diagnosis

Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court. She retired in 2006 to care for her husband, John, after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In a letter Tuesday, O'Connor announced she, too, has dementia, but remains grateful. Sandra Day O'Connor's youngest son, Jay, joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss his mom's recent diagnosis and how she's as much of a "family treasure" as she is a "national treasure."

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Sandra Day O'Connor shares dementia diagnosis

Support for retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is pouring in after she announced she has the "beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimer's disease." O'Connor, who is now 88, said in a letter Tuesday she's "no longer able to participate in public life" due to her condition. Dr. Gayatri Devi, a neurologist at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital who specializes in memory disorders, joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss the disease.

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