Senate Confirms Kagan to Supreme Court

In a day of hellos and goodbyes in Washington, the Senate confirmed both Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court and retired Gen. James Clapper to the post of Director of National Intelligence. With Kagan's 63-37 confirmation, the Obama apointee will become the fourth woman in American history to serve on the court and will join two sitting female judges, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor. Nebraska's Sen. Ben Nelson was the only Democrat to vote against her. Meanwhile, just in the nick of time, the Senate unanimously approved Clapper to his post late Thursday, just before lawmakers adjourned for a five-week recess. The decision was somewhat anti-climactic, given that most senators had already skipped town following the 3:30 p.m. vote that confirmed Kagan.