All language subtitles for El despertar de una nacion (1933) VO

Do you solemnly swear that you will
faithfully execute the office of

of the United States and will, to the
best of your ability, preserve, protect,

and defend the Constitution of the
United States?

I do.

Congratulations, Mr. President.

Good night, Mr. President. The
inauguration went off with a bang. Yes,

was pretty wet.

That's more than I can say for this
punch.

Good night, Mr.

President. Good night, Mr. President.

Don't you worry about Paris. I'm not.
It's Oklahoma that I'm worried about.

Good night, Mr.

President. Good night, Senator.

Glad to have you in the Capitol. Well,
it's better than being a lame duck.

Good night, Mr. President.

Hope you sleep well.

When did a vice president ever do
anything else?

Judd, one of your constituents outside
is very anxious to see you.

Oh, I don't want to see anybody. My hand
is worn out now.

Well, you better see this fellow.

He's insistent and he's armed.

Hello, Jim.

He insisted on coming to your reception,
Mr. President. That's all right, Miss

Knight. Beatman, he's the only person
that can see the President at any time

without an appointment.

Jim? I want you to meet the gentleman
who made your uncle the President of the

United States. Hello, Jim. I've got a
speech. You've got a speech? All right,

let's hear the speech.

I love my Uncle Judd because he's going
to cure the Depression and make all the

people rich again.

That's very good.

I see your nephew is inclined to the
military.

What's that?

Are you going to be a soldier, Jim?

No, I'm going to be a gangster.

Oh, that gets us more profitable at
that.

nephew, Mr. President.

You should know I'm not a policeman by
looking at my feet.

Well, you better run along home now,
Jim.

Gangsters need some rest, you know.

Good night, Jim. Good night,

Mr. President. I hope you have a
different opinion of me than your

Good night. Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

Did I keep my promise, Jed? Well, I'm in
the White House.

and considerably worried.

Why? When I think of all the promises I
made the people to get elected.

You had to make some promises.

By the time they realize you're not
going to keep them, your term will be

Oh, thanks for those unexpected votes
from Alabama.

Wait till you get...

Good luck, Chief.

Senator Langham, if you run the Senate
like I'm going to run the White House,

won't need any luck.

Good night.

Jasper, I can't tell you how grateful I
am.

Don't mention it.

You'll make the best president the party
ever had.

Good night.

Good night, Jasper.

White House.

But a big place for a bachelor present.

I think I'll look the place over.

No, I feel a good deal like a puppy. I
have to turn around three or four times

before I lie down.

I hope I never have to shake hands again
the rest of my life.

Is there anything else I've got to do?
Well, there are a lot of cablegrams up

your study.

Well, I suppose I should read those.
Anything else?

Well, I'd like you to know how much I
appreciate this opportunity of serving

country. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

Serving your country, yes.

Now, Beekman, do you realize that you're
the youngest secretary a president ever

had? I appreciate the honor, sir. Well,
we need young blood around here.

Beekman's rather a long name.

Do you mind if I call you Beek? Not at
all, sir. All right.

I'll call you Beek, and you call me
Major, okay?

Oh, Mr. Beekman.

Mr. Beekman is the president's
secretary.

Miss Malloy, is that correct?

Miss Pendula Malloy.

Miss Malloy, the president's had rather
a trying day.

Yes, I know. Inaugurations are very
trying.

Lord, may I ask what it is you wish to
see the president about?

About Miss Pendula Malloy.

Yes, of course.

Well... If you will have a seat, I'll
notify the president you're here.

You're so kind.

Here's some more of them telegrams,
Major. Hello, Sebastian.

How do you like your new home?

The show am a big place, sir. Red rooms,
blue rooms, green rooms. In times like

these, the president needs lots of room.
Yes, sir.

Sebastian, I never knew there were so
many kings in the world. And neither did

I, sir. His Majesty desires to convey to
you and all the American people his

felicitations of the birth of a new
political era.

Mr. President.

Where is Siam?

Siam?

It's just north of the Mele Peninsula,
just south of China.

That's fine. Mr. President, there's a...
Just a minute, Beak. If I'm going to

call you Beak, you've got to refer to me
as Major.

Very well, Major.

Oh, Beak.

When I told you today there was only one
person that could see the President at

any time, I was wrong.

There are two.

Will you come with me, please?

You're my first official duty.

How flattering.

Miss Malloy, Major.

So nice seeing you here, Mr. President.
Nice being here, Miss Malloy. You two

have gotten acquainted by this time, I
suppose.

Yes, indeed.

Beak, this is Miss Malloy. How do you
do, Miss Malloy?

Miss Malloy is going to be your
assistant.

You don't mind, do you?

Not at all. He's very rigid, but I like
him.

Anything else, Major? You may call me
Pendy if I may call you B.

Of course.

Good night, B.

Good night, Pendy.

Good night.

In this terrible hour of crisis, America
must look to its president with an

unshakable confidence.

My attitude is one of complete optimism.

With the help of such patriotic and
idealistic men as yourselves.

I plan to carry this nation from the
depths of despondency to the unsullied

sunny heights of prosperity.

I count on you, journalists, for
inspiration and support.

In the future, all questions will have
to be submitted in writing 24 hours

before these meetings.

Today, however, the President has very
generously consented to answer a few

questions directly.

Mr. President. Mr. Patterson.

Does the President intend to grant John
Bronson an interview?

The President didn't catch the name.

John Bronson, the leader of all the
unemployed.

The president considers John Bronson a
dangerous anarchist. If he comes near

White House, he will be arrested.

The president hasn't forgotten that
Bronson heads a million men who are

and unemployed.

In the last count, there were 270 camps
of these men in the public parks of our

largest cities.

The president considers the whole
question of unemployment a local

Is the administration going to take any
action on the racketeering that's

rampant in the country?

Are notorious gangsters like Nick
Diamond going to get away with it?

My party also regards Nick Diamond and
all racketeers as local problems.

We choose to believe that bootlegging
and all forms of racketeering will

disappear as soon as the public become
educated to respect the 18th Amendment.

Mr. Thiessen. Mr. President.

My paper's indictment against the
government is a staggering one.

Starvation and want is everywhere.

From coast to coast and from Canada to
Mexico.

Millions of dollars are poured into new
battleships.

Farmers burn corn and wheat.

Food is thrown away into the sea while
men and women are begging for bread.

Men are freezing without coats while
cotton rots in the fields.

Thousands of homeless.

Millions of vacant homes.

Over 5 ,000 gangland murders last year.
Yet only five gangsters in prison.

Not for killing, but for income tax
violations.

What does the new administration say to
this?

What answer?

What definite plan has the government to
this indictment?

This tale of misery and horror. Of lost
hope.

of broken faith, of the collapse of the
American democracy.

Young man, I shall answer you directly.

And through you, I shall speak to all of
my countrymen.

America will weather this depression as
she has weathered other depressions.

Through the spirit of Valley Forge, the
spirit of Gettysburg, and the spirit of

the Argonne, the American people have
risen before, and they will rise again.

Gentlemen, remember, our party promises
a return to prosperity.

May the president be quoted? The
president may not be quoted.

If you don't stop asking questions, we
won't have any place to sleep for the

next four years.

Hello, boys. Can I be of any further
service to you? I want a glass of beer.

Boy, remember, this is the White House.
That's right. I thought it was the

Senate.

You know, I enjoyed the president's
speech. It was straightforward and to

point. Well, sure.

Prosperity is just around the corner.
America will rise again.

Sure, when she rises, wake me up and
we'll all rise together.

Do you mind if I use your desk for our
game of solitaire?

Go ahead.

Get a load of Thiessen.

Hey, Thiessen, take the world off your
shoulders. You're beginning to look like

Atlas.

Oh, yes, Senator. That's all taken care
of.

Yes.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Beekman, the President would like to
see you.

Well?

Miss Malloy is the President's
confidential secretary.

Confidential or personal? What are her
duties? And what's home without a woman?

Maybe she'll bring back beer.

Gentlemen, the president.

Hi, Jeff.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Sit down, please. No need to be informal
just because I'm the president.

Well, what's the order of the day?

I saw Hargrave this morning, and he's
pretty sore.

What have we done to him?

Well, he feels as though he's sort of
been left out of the picture.

Straighten that out. What would you
suggest?

Ambassador to Greece.

What do you say?

It's all right with the boys. It's all
right with me.

All right,

Ambassador DeGrease.

That's one way to get rid of him.

I hope he has good -looking legs. If he
hasn't, he certainly will look funny in

those short pants they have to wear over
there when they appear at court.

Big guns, what are these?

Puppets to be signed.

Potential for the American consulate in
Shanghai.

Pointing for postmasters at Loon Lake.
She sells a lot of stamps.

Stalling a sewer system in Puerto Rico.

Well, here goes.

Where'd this come from?

It's a present for you.

What is it?

Springfield Memorial Society.

Meaning by that, what?

Lincoln freed the slaves with that pen.

Yeah?

Well, here goes for Puerto Rico garbage.

You could do important things with that
pen if you wanted to.

For instance?

Well, you're president, aren't you?

Penny, I'm afraid you're an idealist.

There's a lot of things you don't
understand.

A lot of things that people don't
understand and don't want to.

Don't they?

No. You see, Penny, the party has a
plan.

I'm just a member of the party.

Of course.

You have just five minutes before your
car leaves for Annapolis.

And I couldn't get your detective
magazine.

It won't be out until noon tomorrow in
New York.

Well, we'll get the War Department to
fly it down an army plane.

We're the President of the United
States, aren't we?

You know, Judd, it's turning quite cold.

Be careful, won't you?

Look out for that throat.

Uncle Judd! Hello, Uncle Judd! Oh, Jim,
how are you? Where have you been all

day? You rascal, you!

Straighten up your tie.

Saucer, fellas.

Goodbye, Mr. President.

Goodbye, Miss Malloy.

Have a nice trip, sir.

Yes, you're tickled to death to get a
day off. Glad to get rid of me, aren't

you?

Of course, Mr. President.

Now, you sit there.

Don't you look around, either.

We shall now switch you by remote
control.

to the camp of the unemployed in Central
Park, New York City, from which you

will hear John Bronson, the leader of
America's unemployed army, address an

letter to the people of America.

People of America, this is John Bronson
speaking, not for himself, but for over

a million men who are out of work, who
cannot earn money to buy food because

those responsible for providing work
have failed in their obligations.

We ask no more than that which every
citizen of the United States should be

ensured, the right to live, the right to
put food in the mouths of our wives and

children. Our underlying purpose is not
revolutionary.

We are not influenced by militant
leaders.

None of us are Reds. We merely want
work, and we believe this great United

States of America, under proper
leadership, can provide work for

I have appealed to the President for an
interview, and the President says he

will not deal with us because we are
dangerous anarchists. We are not.

We are citizens of America with full
confidence in the American democracy.

If it is properly administered, you
people of America are hopelessly

it. They overcoat the president of the
United States all these words when he

goes to the United States Naval Academy.
I ask your president now if he's ever

read the Constitution of the United
States, as it was laid out by those

men that day in Philadelphia long ago, a
document which guarantees the American

people the rights of life, liberty,
property, and the pursuit of happiness.

All we ask is to be given those rights.

This country is sound.

The right man in the White House can
bring us out of despair into prosperity

again. We ask him at least to try. Mr.

Beekman said this is the Annapolis coat.

We shall now put you back to the main
studio, from which you will be

by a half an hour of popular music,
furnished by the courtesy of the

Outfitting Company.

The first cousin of the United States to
drive his own car. If the motorcycle

cops don't step on the gas, I'll climb
right up on their tape.

What are we doing, 95?

98, sir.

Just received a news flash from
Washington.

President Hammond has been injured in an
automobile accident.

Beak.

Beak, will he die?

They can't tell me the truth.

Dr. Eastman speaking.

He'll tell you nothing at this time.

Well, Doctor, what is your opinion?

I'd say it's merely a matter of hours.

Do you concur in that opinion, Doctor?
I'm afraid it's beyond any human help.

Thank you.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Is the Major going to be all right?

He'll be all right, but he must have
quiet.

Did you ring, Miss Bright? Why, no,
Doctor.

But the bell in the study rang.

Why, the bell in the study is.

I rang, Eastman.

Mr. President.

I heard what you said, but the doctors
are wrong.

Judd Hammond isn't going to die.

What is the lowdown, Dr. Eastman?

We're all going crazy.

You'll be accused of assassination the
first thing you know.

The president is still unconscious.

Oh, we've printed that one line for
weeks. No one believes it. I was here

Wilson was sick and Harding, too, and no
one ever dared hide the news from us.

The president is still in a coma. That's
all I can tell you.

Oh, come on. Gentlemen.

Beekman, you've got to tell us something
new, even if you have to lie about it.

Has he talked?

What does he look like? What does he
eat? Tell us something. Where is he?

We're all going to be fired, Beekman. We
have to write something. And until we

get the truth, the stories are going to
get wilder and wilder. That's right.

Nobody's got to run this country or
we'll have anarchy.

I know as little as you do.

Dr. Eastman and the valet are the only
two people who've seen the president

since his accident.

Now that's all.

Now that's all.

I don't think we've heard that before.

There's something going on here that
doesn't quite jive. I think we're

I'm sorry.

I've told you all I know.

I think the whole thing is preposterous.

Doctor, I can't stand it any longer.

You've got to let me see him.

Miss Malloy, Mr. Bigman, this situation
is getting too much for me.

If I'm going on with this, I've got to
have help.

I've got to have somebody to share the
burden with me. What burden?

President Hammond has been perfectly
well for two weeks.

What? You know what you're saying,
Doctor. That is, he seems physically

But sometimes concussion can produce
results that transcend all the laws of

medicine.

You must prepare yourselves for a shock.

The President is not the Judd Hammond
that I've treated for 15 years.

But your bulletin. The President's
orders.

Why?

Two weeks ago, I advised him to get up
and reminded him that he had been

conscious for 24 hours.

He told me that he had been entirely
conscious for a week, but that he wanted

time to think.

What did he say?

What did he talk to you about?

He says nothing.

He sits there silently, reading or
thinking, like a gaunt, grey ghost with

burning eyes that seemed to see right
down into you.

I can't stand it.

I'm going to see him. Miss Malloy,
please.

Please be reasonable.

If you insist on seeing the president,
it must be on your own responsibility.

All right.

Doctor, I'll assume responsibility for
Miss Malloy's action.

Very well.

Judd, why have you shut us out?

That's the trouble, Miss Malloy. You
seem upset about something.

But, dear, don't you know how worried
we've been?

Miss Malloy, I want all available
information on John Bronson and the Army

the Unemployed.

Facts. On prejudiced reports.

The truth, you understand?

Yes. That is all, Miss Malloy.

Tell Mr. Beekman I would like to see him
at once.

That is all, Miss Malloy.

Yes, sir.

What is it, Penty?

Something's happened.

Something I can't understand.

His eyes are so strange.

His voice is different.

And old Beek, he called me Miss Malloy.

You poor kid.

Mr. Beekman, instruct the members of my
cabinet to meet me in one hour.

Mr. President, an hour is hardly time.
Expect every member to be present in one

hour. Yes, sir.

Am I late? No, you're not. What's all
the rush about? I don't know myself.

Well, why didn't he see us before?

We've been waiting for him for two
weeks. Don't forget, Judd's been a sick

Now, boys.

Let me handle this situation.

I've known Judd longer than any of you.

He's been a very sick man, and we've got
to humor him. Yes, but we've got to

think of the party.

Well, no matter what happens, the party
comes first.

Please admit

all condolences.

Conserve your sympathy for the people of
the United States who are in dire need

of it.

Sit down, gentlemen.

We're confronted with an ugly situation,
Judd.

A lot of things have come up since your
accident. Yes, I know.

I mean the army of the unemployed.

Bronson and his gang. Yes, I know.
They're getting ready to march on

a million strong.

We didn't think you knew. Naturally.

I call on you as commander -in -chief of
the Army and Navy.

Give me authority to mobilize and keep
these ruffians in their camps.

You want to declare war?

You've got to uphold the law. What law?

Something must be done at once or this
armed mob will descend on us. Run riot

all over Washington.

Every citizen of the United States
should be ensured the elementary

for keeping life within his body. This
cabinet, every member of Congress, each

officeholder is answerable directly to
the public conscience.

Gentlemen. I refuse to call out the army
against the people of the United

States. And I refuse to accept that.
Discussion on this subject is closed.

Now, be careful. I might resign on you.
Your resignation is accepted.

Oh, well, now, wait a minute, Judge. I
was only suggesting... Your resignation

is accepted.

You have my permission to withdraw.

Gentlemen, I suggest you read the
Constitution of the United States.

You'll find the President has some
power.

Well, I'll be... Mr.

President... May I ask why Secretary of
State Brooks resigned?

He didn't resign. I fired him.

Exactly, Mr. President. Why did you fire
Secretary Brooks?

I fired him because he's an old
-fashioned politician incapable of being

Secretary of State. Furthermore, he
insists upon calling out the Army to

the unemployed from marching on
Washington.

That's fine. Straight talk, Mr.
President.

Too bad the President cannot be quoted.

This President can be quoted. This
President wants to be quoted.

The president's scared, Alice.

He's hoping we'll stay away.

Well, we start tomorrow.

Are you John Bronson?

Yeah. Could I see you alone for a
minute?

Certainly.

Be right back, honey.

It's an interesting commentary on our
social system, Inspector, that the

of youth should prove so embarrassing at
maturity.

Sure.

I'm much better looking now than I was
then.

Especially the, uh, profile.

Don't you think?

You're filled out a bit.

Cigarette, Inspector?

Thanks.

I'll smoke it after dinner if you don't
mind.

Not at all.

Inspector, haven't you forgotten
something?

Oh, yes, the negative.

You might want some trench made up for
Christmas cards.

Hello, Bronson.

It's nice of you to have dropped in on
me.

Thanks for the escort.

Oh, that's all right.

Won't you sit down?

No, thank you.

Well, the unemployment situation doesn't
seem to have affected you any.

Life has been pretty good to me,
Bronson.

That's a terrible thing, these men of
yours.

Millions of American citizens starving
and homeless.

Yes, it is.

I'd like to do something for those not
so fortunate.

Keep your men in their camps, and I'll
see they're taken care of.

I'll have them fed.

Clothed and housed?

Lots easier for you if they stay in
their camps, isn't it?

You're not only a patriot, Bronson.
You're a very astute man.

Your profits are much bigger since the
police of the big cities have been lined

up outside our camps, praying that we
don't start something.

That's right.

I don't want anything to take them away
from their prayers.

We're going to Washington, and you won't
stop us.

You can't get anything in Washington.

The American government is...

Like the American people, just a bunch
of boobs.

We're going to Washington to look into
this government that lets decent men

starve and fosters a lot of vultures.

I get you, Diamond.

But you can't put a million men on the
spot.

We're leaving for Washington tonight.

Well, that's fine. Just thought I'd have
a talk with you and get your viewpoint.

Oh, I think I can find my way back alone
if it's all right with you.

Perfectly all right. No hard feelings.

But don't be too hasty.

I should give the matter a little more
thought if I were you.

Bronson.

Cigarette?

That ain't my brand.

Mr. President, the Secretary of War
would like to see you immediately.

He seems very much disturbed.

Yes, I thought he would be.

Show him in.

Mr. President.

Oh, splendid, Mr. President.

The General's told you my plans?

All I need is your authority to mobilize
the army and disperse these unemployed

vagrants when they reach Baltimore.

Mr. Secretary, the War Department will
supply food, shelter, and medical

requirements to these men in their camp
tonight.

Mr. President, are you out of your mind?
In 1918, we forced four million men to

accept the hospitality of the
government.

But that was war. This is war. And the
enemy is starvation.

At one time or other, we gave millions
of tons of food to the starving

the starving Chinese, and the starving
Belgians.

Now we can feed our own people.

As president of these United States, my
first duty is to the people. But if you

encourage these ruffians, they'll... I
haven't the time or inclination for

argument. Resign or get on with your
job.

Tons of food rotten.

Millions of people starving.

What's to prevent us from putting this
food into the mouths of the hungry?

Mr. Beekman, will you please make
arrangements for me to leave for

early in the morning?

He mustn't go and face that mob. There's
no telling what might happen to him.

I thought you said a simple, honest man
could solve everything.

I'm beginning to have a faith in him I
never had before.

I know, but he's way ahead of me.

The way he thinks is so simple and
honest that it sounds... It sounds a

crazy.

He's doing the things you wanted.

And if he's mad, it's a divine madness.

Look at the chaos and catastrophe the
sane men of this world have brought

Mr. President, I'm responsible for your
personal safety, and I refuse to let you

go alone into that camp. Floden, you
heard what happened to Secretary of

Brooks.

This is Alice Bronson.

My poor child, I am with you in your
grief.

I pay tribute to the martyr John
Bronson, who gave his life in this

arouse the stupid, lazy people of the
United States to force their government

do something before everybody slowly
starves to death.

It is not fitting for citizens of
America to come on weary feet to seek

president. It is rather for their
president to seek them out and to bring

them freely the last full measure of
protection and help. And so I come to

I feel certain the last thing you men
want is charity, money for idleness, and

the demoralization which follows in its
wake. Seventeen years ago, the

government put guns and bayonets in our
hands and told us to bring back peace.

We did.

Now put shovels and picks in our hands.

And we'll really bring back prosperity.

We want work!

We want work!

We want work!

We want work! We want work!

We want work!

We want work! Exactly.

Exactly.

You have been told there is no chance of
getting work.

But I say there is work.

Necessary work waiting to be done. I'm
going to make you a proposition.

You've been called the...

arts of war, but in the greater arts of
peace, trained not to destroy, but to

build up if someone will give you a job.

I propose, therefore, to create an army
to be known as the Army of

Constructions. You'll be enlisted,
subject to military discipline.

You'll receive army rates of pay.

You'll be fed, clothed, and housed as we
did our wartime armies.

You'll be put to work, each one of you,
in your own field, from baking loaves of

bread to building great dams.

industry begin to turn, stimulated by
these efforts, you will gradually be

retired from this construction army back
into private industry as rapidly as

industry can absorb you. That's all very
well, Mr. President, but what's

Congress going to say to all this?

I have called a special session of
Congress for tomorrow.

I shall ask them for funds to carry out
my plans for the rehabilitation of

America. If they give me these funds
tomorrow, I shall immediately open the

first construction army recruiting
station here in Baltimore.

And you shall be my first... First
soldiers.

Mr.

President, your address to Congress on
the construction army.

My address to Congress?

What's this? Who wrote this?

Why, you did, Mr. President.

Oh, no, Miss Martin.

I never saw...

Oh, yes, yes. My address to Congress.

Me.

Me.

What's the matter, Pendy?

I've just seen something.

He didn't know his own words, Beak.

What? And then he lifted his head for
all the world as if he were listening.

There was something in the room that
made me shiver.

And then he just smiled and said, yes,
of course.

What do you think it means?

Well, we felt from the beginning that
the president was really two men.

But I became aware somehow tonight of a
third being.

I know that sounds impossible.

I'm not a very religious person, Bea,
but does it seem too fanciful to believe

that God might have sent the angel
Gabriel to do for Judd Hammond what he

for Daniel? Gabriel? I thought he was a
messenger of wrath.

Not always.

To some, he was the angel of
revelations.

Sent as a messenger from God to men

Hmm

Gabriel over the White House

that you're not to let Hammond suspect
that you're against him.

Not by word or attitude.

Not even that we've had this meeting
here tonight.

Come in.

President's secretary is here.

Well,

Beatman? A communication for you, Mr.
Cummings.

One for you, sir.

Mr. Lockhart?

Mr. Boone?

Mr. Perry?

Mr. Fox?

And one for each of you, gentlemen, if
you'd be kind enough to pass them down.

What is this all about? How did Hammond
know we were here?

Very strange. The next thing to do is go
there.

That settles it. We'll take this to
Congress.

We've got a big enough majority to throw
them out.

We'll show this lunatic who's boss.

I speak for the majority of the Senate
and the House of Representatives.

Assured that President Hammond has been
a traitor to his party.

false to the principles on which he was
elected.

I propose to demand from the House the
impeachment, the immediate removal of

President of the United States.

of the United States.

May the rules be suspended?

I would like to dispense with all red
tape so I can answer questions directly

while I have the floor.

Unless there is objection, the rules of
this Congress will be suspended.

I'm here as a representative of the
American people, and there are of

despair. A plant cannot be made to grow
by watering the top alone and letting

the roots go dry.

The people of this country are the roots
of the nation and the sturdy trunk and

the branches, too.

You have spent $4 billion only to
aggravate adversity.

I ask for $4 billion to restore buying
power, stimulate purchases, restore

prosperity. You have wasted precious
days and weeks and years in futile

discussion. We need action, immediate
and effective action.

Mr. President, there is a movement in
Congress for your impeachment.

Hardly the time for making any requests,
however small.

Very well.

I shall withdraw that request, but I
would like to substitute another.

I ask you, gentlemen, to declare a state
of national emergency.

And to adjourn this Congress...

until normal conditions are restored.

During the period of that adjournment, I
shall assume full responsibility for

the government.

Mr. President, this is dictatorship.

Senator Langham, words do not frighten
me. But the United States of America is

democracy. We are not yet ready to give
up the government of our time.

You've closed your ears to the appeals
of the people.

You've been traitors to the concepts of
democracy upon which this government was

founded. I believe in democracy as
Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln

in democracy.

And if what I plan to do in the name of
the people makes me a dictator, then it

is a dictatorship based on Jefferson's
definition of democracy.

A government for the greatest good of
the greatest number.

I think, gentlemen, you forget that I am
still the President of these United

States.

And as Commander -in -Chief of the Army
and Navy, it is within the rights of the

President to declare the country under
martial law.

Hello, countrymen.

Your overwhelming support of my
emergency acts has enabled me to move

rapidly than I had dared hope.

I do not say that the unemployment
problem is solved, but we are at least

hundreds of thousands of men into an
organized life of food, shelter, and

clothing. If you could realize the
staggering facts I face, the appalling

of your money in America's deplorable
condition, I feel sure that you would

support me in the things I plan to do in
your behalf.

I propose to safeguard the homes of
American citizens by a law to prevent

foreclosure of mortgages until the
average American workman has had a

go to work.

I propose a national banking law which
will protect our people's money in the

banks.

I propose immediately to give direct aid
to the 55 million American people who

depend entirely upon agriculture without
whose prosperity there can be no real

prosperity in the United States.

But our next task is a return to law and
order.

I do not propose to mince words.

This primarily means the question of
that cesspool known as the 18th

This has fostered the evil force, the
greatest enemy of law and order America

has ever known, the racketeer, a
malignant cancerous growth eating at the

spiritual health of the American people,
public enemies. I refer to men of the

type of Nick Diamond, arch enemies of
these United States.

Men who are bleeding the people of
America by illegal racketeering in every

industry from bootleg whiskey to baby's
milk. The enemies of every honest

citizen. The enemies of our nation. The
United States of America.

Just a big shot. Congress has voted to
repeal the 18th Amendment.

This, however, requires millions of
dollars and months of time to be made

effective by the ratification of the
several states.

And it'll take three years. But my
patience is exhausted with these

these racketeers, and these kidnappers.
I serve warning.

These evil forces must be, shall be
eliminated, so that our citizen,

his peaceful way, will be no longer
forced to conduct his business in the

of extortion and debt.

Good night.

Good night!

You suppose he was talking about us?

Oh, you look so tired.

Why don't you call it a day and get some
rest?

Tired? I'm as fresh as a daisy. You're
the one that looks tired.

Besides, I've got some figures to go
over.

Our European debts.

I didn't know there was that much money.

Good night, sir.

Just a moment, please.

Well, do the president's guests always
receive this attention?

Well, that's all right. There's nothing
there.

May I keep this?

This way, please.

Is this the proper outfit?

Well, this is a nice place you have
here.

All right, all right, keep your seat.

The old custom of arising, when the
president enters the room, I abolish

the new administration.

Nice of you to come here on my
invitation, Mr. Diamond.

I've been pretty busy lately, almost as
busy as you are.

Yes, I guess you and I are the only
Americans who have any business left.

You needn't look me up. I've paid my
income tax. Yes, I'm sure you have. No,

this is just your biography.

You don't mind a little intimate
discussion?

The story of an immigrant boy who became
the most famous man in America.

Well, there are some good deeds here.

You've at least rid the country of a
number of your own kind.

It's something I'm grateful for.

But you're a menace to this country, Mr.
Diamond.

And the most inexpensive way to get rid
of you would be for you to eliminate

yourself.

Return to your own country. Why?

I'm what I am today by public approval.

The people want something, I give it to
them. We're in the same boat.

I, too, exist only by the will of the
people.

Exactly. Then why should I give up a
good business until I have to?

May I ask just what you had in mind when
you asked me to come here?

I thought we'd talk over this bootleg
situation.

Yes, on my trucks it's bootleg. On the
Silver Train Park Avenue it's

hospitality.

Mr. Diamond, we are two of the most
notorious men in America for notoriously

different reasons.

I had hoped that we might make a
bargain, but you seem to have different

The bootlegging business involves yearly
a sum of money aggregating several

hundred millions of dollars.

The American people need that money.

I warn you, Diamond, the government is
going to muscle in on your racket.

I thought I was guaranteed there'd be no
frame -up.

Diamond, I don't think you're quite
ready for framing.

Gentlemen, you'll see that Mr. Diamond
is escorted safely to his car.

Would you mind standing there just a
moment, Miss Malloy? And why, sir? I

want to look at you.

Mr. Beekman, you're a fool.

I'm a fool about you.

Beekman, can I speak to your mother,
please?

Yes, Mr. President.

Beekman? One hour after our first
federal liquor store was opened, it was

out for the most dastardly demonstration
of gangster defiance in the history of

this country.

Nick Diamond has declared war on the
United States.

Still here, B?

Still here.

Must be tired.

I'll never rest till you get well.

You love me a lot, don't you?

B?

What?

I didn't feel any pain at all.

Just a delicious sense of gratitude,
peacefulness. I'm glad,

Wendy.

And then...

I had a terrific feeling of loneliness.

Of being terribly, completely alone.

Yes, I know.

I wanted you.

I think I feel well enough to be kissed.

Beekman, you're fired.

I've got a better job for you.

It's only a temporary one.

I'm forming a mobile unit of the United
States Army to be known as the Federal

Police to eliminate gangsters.

I want you to head that unit.

Yes, sir. I need a man who has suffered
a terrible personal hurt. A man whose

energy and efficiency will be at white
heat. A man ruthless and merciless.

That is, of course, if you're willing to
postpone your wedding for a while.

Me?

You don't mind about us?

With no Congress to interfere, we might
be able to arrange a wedding at the

White House.

Diamond? In the name of the United
States of America, I call on you to

surrender. Boss, this is the Army.

Oh, this is just another pig.

My lawyer will have this our corpus out
of that district attorney's office in

ten minutes.

Boys, let's give them a round to show
them we are hard to get.

All right, Cassidy. Be at work.

Well, Diamond, you're in a bad way.

Charging firearms with the federal
police doesn't help either.

I believe I'm still entitled to have a
lawyer. Sure, sure. You can have any

lawyer you want.

And Uncle Sam will pay the bill.

But don't forget, this isn't going to be
a court trial. It's going to be a court

-martial.

Nick Diamond, racketeer, murderer,
kidnapper.

It is the finding of this court -martial
that you and your men are guilty.

This court is convinced that you have,
as part of your racketeering and

extortion, committed some 23 homicides.

Murders. With your own hands.

You have instigated dozens more.

Yet by bribery, by technicalities of the
law, you've escaped all punishment.

You're the last of the racketeers,
Diamond. And why?

Because we have in the White House a man
who's enabled us to cut the red tape of

legal procedures and get back to first
principles.

An eye for an eye, Nick Diamond.

A tooth for a tooth.

A life for a life.

Gentlemen, from the newspapers I gather,
there is quite some sentiment to the

effect that the President is to be out
general by crafty European politicians.

And once again, America will walk out of
conference rooms with empty pockets.

You may allay those fears.

America is through with conferences in
rooms.

The International Debt Conference,
scheduled to be held tomorrow at the

House, will be held instead on a private
yacht.

The delegates to the Debt Conference
will thus be my guests at a naval

which, quite by coincidence, I assure
you, will consist of the largest

concentration of naval strength in the
history of this nation.

Are we to infer that the President
expects the debt conference will end in

America's favor? Those debts have got to
be paid. The President intends to

collect by force? Those debts have got
to be paid.

Is the United States prepared to wage
war against 15 leading nations? Those

debts have got to be paid.

That's all, gentlemen.

Wait a minute. The President doesn't
intend to go to war.

You heard what the president had to say.
The United States won't stand for war,

even from Judd Hammond. That's right.

Gentlemen, you will bear with me a
moment while the radio is being

But, Mr. President, we did not
understand that this conference would be

broadcast. No, I have no question.

We will speak more advisedly if we know
the people of the world are listening

in. One of the reasons that we entered
the Great War was to secure the end of

secret diplomacy, to establish
throughout the world a fixed policy of

covenants, openly arrived at.

Gentlemen, we are at least today
fulfilling this great purpose.

We are taking the world into our
confidence.

I will open this conference on the
question of war debts with a brief

of America's side of the controversy.

These debts were incurred to save the
debtor nations from destruction.

The money they received, they pledged
their honor to repay.

Then the debtor pleaded poverty.

The United States compromised the debts
by half.

This remaining half, debtor nations
solemnly signed agreements to pay.

Gentlemen, are you prepared to pay those
debts?

For Germany to pay her debts means more
taxes on her half -star people.

They may burst into open revolution.

Do you think little Belgium, neutral,
unoffending little Belgium, would sever

the ravages of invasion again for ten
times the money she owes you?

Who helped the little American colonies
when they fought for their freedom? Who

helped them with money?

Yes, France, you helped us.

And America has cherished an affection
for France ever since.

But we paid you back.

And rightly, too.

A cosmopolitan nation like the United
States has reason to cherish affection

all nations of the world, whom she
properly considers her forebearers.

Yet, the inescapable consequences of the
debt are, someone must pay it.

And if your nations cannot pay the debt
you contracted to save yourselves from

destruction, They will have to be paid
by the American taxpayer himself.

And the burden on the American taxpayer
for sharing his part of the war is too

heavy. He cannot pay his own debts and
yours, too.

Gentlemen, are you prepared to pay your
debts?

But, Mr. President, we can't discuss
matters of such great importance here

now. We must have further conferences.

I have never seen the American eagle go
into one of these conferences that it

did not come out plucked to its pin
valleys.

There will be no further conferences.

We paid when we could, but we're no
longer able to pay.

We loan billions ourselves and have not
received one penny in return.

Very well. I hereby repudiate one of our
past conferences.

I refer to the Naval Limitations
Agreement.

As a result of that agreement, America
destroyed battleships while European

countries destroyed blueprints.

And from now on, America refuses to
allow European nations or Asiatic

to dictate how many ships and what kind
of ships America shall have in the Navy

which defends her lands and her people.

But, Mr. President, you can't repudiate
the signature of your country.

It is you who have repudiated
signatures, destroyed credit and

nations, made solemnly signed agreements
nothing more than scraps of paper.

If you can repudiate the debts you owe
the American taxpayer... Encourage to

save your own people from destruction.
There are no standards of ethics left.

You have gone into moral bankruptcy.

I can repudiate anything.

Gentlemen, I would like to have your
attention over here for a few moments.

I want you to take a last look at
America's small navy. At America's

and hampered navy.

A last look at an American navy
controlled by foreign powers.

But when I get through with America's
new navy, America's own navy, it'll make

all your navies look like a lot of toy
ships in a bathtub.

Is the President of the United States
going to plunge the world into another

war? No, the United States must have the
greatest navy in the world because we

want peace.

Mr. President, you leave us no
alternative.

We'll gladly pay our debts if you'll
show us how we can do so.

I've been waiting for someone to ask me
how.

Gentlemen, I'm going to tell you how.

People of the United States, nations of
the world.

It is not my intention to go to war to
collect the debts. We want peace.

But in order to have peace, while the
nations of the world are preparing to

spring at each other's throats, we must
be able to command peace.

Peace and a return to prosperity go hand
in hand only through one agency.

While hundreds of thousands of families
are wondering where the next meal is

coming from, while I am vainly trying to
balance the budget, We spent last year

nearly $360 million on battleships. Why?

Because the other nations of the world
do. And you, Great Britain, you spent

last year nearly $1 ,000 million on
armaments.

And you, France, last year you spent on
your armaments over $1 ,000 million more

than the small payment you were supposed
to make us, but defaulted. And you,

Italy, over $500 million.

And you are the nations in proportion.

And yet, people of the world, we wonder
where the money is coming from to save

our nations from financial collapse.

I'll tell you.

When I think of the billions spent on
these glorified, antiquated pieces of

scrap iron, it makes me despair of
humanity.

Antiquated, I said.

And I propose to prove it to you. At the
same time, I will show you a method

whereby the world may be saved from
international bankruptcy.

Commander Jones, you may proceed.

Over there, there are two battleships.

Those ships cost our taxpayers $40
million.

Today they are pronounced obsolete. Why?

Because fools throughout the world are
working out new designs, new ships, new

futilities, which render yesterday's
work useless.

Those ships are radio -controlled.

They contain not a single human being.

Major Dawson, you may proceed.

Just what is the purpose of this
demonstration?

Mr. President, what is your object of
it?

People of the United States, nations of
the world,

the world will not learn without bitter
lessons.

The next war will be a terrible story of
the failure of antiquated machinery and

antiquated methods, of the horrifying
destructiveness of the modern agencies

arms. Armies and navies will be
destroyed from the air. And as these

destroy armies and navies, they will
destroy cities. They will destroy

populations.

Peace and faith are necessary among men,
not merely for the welfare of nations,

but for the very existence of nations.

The next war will depopulate the earth.

Invisible poison gases.

inconceivably devastating explosives,
annihilating death rays, will sweep

a destruction, not only the men, but the
children who would constitute another

generation and the mothers who bear
them.

Unless man's God -given faculty for
utilizing the forces of nature for

beneficent purposes shall surpass their
vicious genius for destruction, the race

of man shall perish from the earth, and
the earth shall be left to the less

cruel, the less destructive, and the
less stupid wild animals.

People of the world, I speak to you.
Shall we save this world?

Shall we restore it to a condition where
it can truly be said that there is

peace on earth, goodwill toward men?

Shall the United States of America build
such a navy to force peace?

Or shall the other nations agree to
eliminate their armaments, balance their

budgets, restore honor among nations?
The United States would be glad to fall

line with such a movement, but only
after the other nations have proven

good faith by convincing action.

The very fate of our civilization rests
here and now, where it belongs, in the

hands of the people of the world.

Here we are, ladies and gentlemen, in
the East Room of the White House, the

important day in the peace and
prosperity of the world.

The Washington Covenant has already been
signed by most of the foreign powers,

and Baron Kenzo Furumoto, Prime Minister
of Japan, is about to sign the

covenant. President Hammond has not yet
appeared.

The Great Japanese Empire, along with
the world, will follow President

lead in the peace treaty.

for the peoples of the world.

With this document, this covenant of
Washington, the world takes its first

step to prevent our civilization from
tottering, as did the forgotten

civilizations before us.

Thank you.

Be careful, boys. Yep.

Who's in this building?

Get me some water. Yes, sir.

All right, boys. Thanks.

Here's the water, Doctor. Put it over
there.

It's his heart.

We'd better make some statement to the
delegates.

Anything to allay their fears. Yes, sir.

Hello, Pendy, old girl.

Here, Mr. President, take this.

There's nothing you can do for me,
Easton.

Does the President of the United States
meet with your approval?

He's proved himself one of the greatest
men who ever lived.

Hold my hand, Wendy.

The President of the United States sends
you his heartfelt gratitude for your

magnificent accomplishment in achieving
this Washington covenant.

His only thought being that the
millennium of peace on Earth be

forever for the peoples of the world.

Gentlemen, the President of the United
States is dead.