Nation: STILL IN THE STORM'S CENTER

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Off the Bench. A voracious reader who takes on an enormous load of court work, Black is a diffident and kindly man in his nonworking hours. Married for the second time (his wife of 31 years died ten years ago), to his former secretary, he lives in a handsome Alexandria, Va., home, still plays an energetic game of tennis. Earthy and easygoing, he frequently takes his meals in the court's cafeteria, where he chats and jokes with the waitresses. When among the other justices, he constantly but cordially tries to win them over to his views. And when he propounds or defends those views, he becomes a tiger. Last week, as Chief Justice Warren and Solicitor General Archibald Cox marked Black's 25th year with praise for his "unflagging devotion to the Constitution of the U.S.," Black sank back in his chair, expressionless and embarrassed. But later in the morning, when it came time to read his opinion on school prayers, he came alive with force and eloquence, happy once more to be in the midst of controversy.

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