Bill Clinton Shares Why RBG Stood Out Among 'Dozens of Candidates,' 30 Years After Her Swearing-In (Exclusive)

One of the 42nd president's great legacies is his appointment of Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court. Now, he tells PEOPLE how she "far exceeded even my wildest hopes" on the bench

Thirty years ago, President Bill Clinton introduced the world to his first Supreme Court nominee, then-D.C. Circuit Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, calling her a "path-breaking attorney" and "person of immense character" whom he trusted to approach the job with wisdom and fairness.

On Aug. 10, 1993, after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a bipartisan 96-3 vote, Judge Ginsburg took the oath of office and became Justice Ginsburg, serving on the nation's highest court for nearly three decades until her death — and becoming a cultural juggernaut along the way.

Related: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Life in Pictures

"When I appointed Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court, I knew it would be one of the most important decisions I would make in my presidency," Clinton, 76, tells PEOPLE in a statement on the 30th anniversary of her swearing-in.

"I had reviewed dozens of candidates and carefully studied their records, and she stood out for her compelling life story, her landmark legal victories on behalf of women, and her unique combination of intelligence, rigorous analysis, and sense of humor," he continues. "I interviewed her in the White House residence on a Sunday evening and I knew early in the conversation that she was the right person for the job."

Related: Voter Registrations Surge After Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Death

"Over the next 27 years on the Court, she far exceeded even my wildest hopes — advancing our rights and liberties, defending the Constitution, and making our union more perfect," Clinton says. "Along the way, she became a cultural icon because people admired her brilliance, identified with her story, and appreciated the way she redefined what strength and power look like."

Ginsburg earned a reputation for authoring passionate dissenting opinions and repeatedly defending human rights as it pertained to gender equality, abortion access and voting rights.

Perhaps more than any other Supreme Court justice in memory, Ginsburg's popularity on the bench also broke into pop culture — she was not only depicted on T-shirts, with bobbleheads and in children's costumes, but also earned affectionate references in TV shows and movies including Saturday Night Live, New Girl, The Good Place, Deadpool 2 and The Lego Movie 2.

Related: Felicity Jones Transforms Into a Young Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 'On the Basis of Sex' Biopic

Ginsburg overcame several bouts of cancer in the final decades of her life, rarely missing work amid treatments and sharing that she would not retire from the Supreme Court until she was unable to do her work.

On Sept. 18, 2020, still a sitting justice at the age of 87, Ginsburg died from complications of pancreatic cancer.

Related: Inside Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Quiet Final Days: 'She Was Making Plans to Live'

Thinking back on Ginsburg's accomplishments and her lasting mark on Supreme Court precedent, Clinton stands by his decision to appoint her to the highest judicial office back in 1993.

"On this 30th anniversary of her swearing in," he says, "I’m giving thanks for her life and all that she did to move America forward."

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