All language subtitles for Advise.and.Consent.1962.(Otto.Preminger).720p.x264-Classics

Thank you.

- Morning, son.
- Good morning, senator.

Thank you.

Taxi!

Sheraton Rark Hotel.

- Good morning, Senator Danta.
- Good morning, Willoughby.

Hold it.

Why wasn't I let in on this?

- May I help you?
- Dot, Senator Munson.

Oh, just a moment, senator.

Good morning, Bobby.
How are you this morning?

You know how I am this
morning, Mr. President.

I guess I'm in for it, aren't I?

That's a hell of a thing
to do without talking to me.

Bobby, it's been over two
weeks since Shepherd died.

We couldn't go on forever without a
secretary of state. I had to get it done.

What was the matter with
the list of men we agreed on?

No, not one of them can
really fill the bill.

Robert Leffingwell can.

You know how valuable
he's been to me.

Sure, he's great. But the man's got
more enemies in Congress than anybody.

He's never played ball with us, not even
the most ordinary, political-courtesy kind.

Well, maybe that's the reason I want
him. He doesn't waste his time on trifles.

Mr. President, a United
States senator is not a trifle.

That's a joke, Bobby.

Fine. But Leffingwell's no joke.

And I have to stuff him
down the Senate's throat.

Now, look, I knew we were
running a risk, but I want him.

He can give us some creative
statesmanship, and God knows we need it.

Oh, come on, now. What's
our toughest problem?

You want me to talk
to Warren Strickland?

There's no point talking
to the minority leader.

Our troubles are coming
from our own party.

Seab Cooley.

We can work out a
deal with old Seab.

He says we can work
out a deal with Seab.

- Who's with you?
- Stanley Danta.

Stan's always right there
on the job, isn't he?

He's the best whip ever in
the Senate. Tell him I said so.

He says you're the best
whip we've ever had.

Tell him the best whip we've ever had
says Seab Cooley will trade for one thing:

Leffingwell's head.

What'd he say, Bob?

That Seab won't trade
on this, and he's right.

We've licked Cooley
before. We can do it again.

Then we'd better get at it.
Suppose you start with Tom August.

- When did Tom become a Cooley man?
- He isn't. He's not a Leffingwell man either.

Since he's chair of Foreign
Relations we have to sweeten him up.

I'll call him in right
away. Good luck, Bobby.

- Oh, boy.
- You want off this one?

I'm with you, Bob.

There's no doubt he's
made a wild pitch...

but I'd like to back him
up all I can right now.

Sure, I know.

Hello, Bob, Stan.

- Good morning, senator.
- Come on in.

About 5'8", blond, a little cleft
in the chin, black dress, mink stole.

Sorry. Didn't see anybody
answer to that description.

Why don't you get married, Lafe?

A United States senator should
stabilize with a good, solid marriage.

If I did, I couldn't get elected.

It's the unmarried mothers
who put me in office.

Why don't you stabilize yourself?

There's a difference between
widowers and bachelors.

Widowers have more dignity.

- How do you feel about this lollapalooza?
- I think the president's nuts to name him.

But I'll vote for him.

What about your friend Brig
Anderson? Think he'll jump the whale?

- Leffingwell scuttled his power bill.
- Brig won't be influenced by that.

- Not on this.
- I'm trying to count a few noses.

- Suppose you give Brig a ring to make sure.
- If you like.

- Hello.
- Hello, Warren? Good morning. Bob Munson.

- Beating the bushes early, aren't you, Bob?
- I have a lot of bushes.

It's your garden, friend, not ours.

How many votes against Leffingwell
on your side of the aisle?

Somewhere between 17 and 20. That's
giving him the benefit of the doubt.

With the president's
right to name his cabinet?

Try that line on the members of
your own party. Say, Seab Cooley.

- Hello, Brig? How's the boy?
- Right in the middle of breakfast.

What's on your mind, Lafe?

Just wondered what you think
about the appointment. Crazy, huh?

- Think so?
- Well, it's gonna be a rough one.

I wouldn't be surprised.

- I thought you might be upset about it.
- Why would I be upset?

The trouble he gave
you on your power bill.

- That's right. He did, didn't he?
- You mean it's okay?

- Is that what Bob Munson wants to know?
- You got television on your phone?

Just a second, Lafe.

- You going, baby?
- Yeah.

- You still love me?
- Yeah.

- How much?
- That much.

Time for her bus, Brig.

Have a nice time in
school today, honey.

- Lafe?
- Yeah.

Look, I'm not grinding
an ax for Leffingwell...

but I'm not gonna commit
myself right now either.

I'd like to wait and hear what he
has to say at the committee hearing.

Apart from that, I'm just gonna sit back
and watch Seab Cooley light up the sky.

Had your fire and brimstone
this morning, Seab?

Yes, sir, Mr. Majority Leader.

Laced with hot bourbon
and branch water.

I expect you can see the
flames coming out of my ears.

Can we have a little talk?

If you mean about Mr.
Robert A. Leffingwell...

- it'd be a fruitless conversation.
- The president, the party and I...

would take it as a
favor if you'd lay off.

I honor the president,
I love my party...

and I admire you, Mr. Majority Leader,
except where it crosses with my convictions.

I believe Mr. Robert A. Leffingwell
will lead us straight to perdition.

Come on, we know what's eating you.

Leffingwell made a liar out of
you in a hearing five years ago.

- It's a long time to carry a grudge, Seab.
- Maybe for a young fellow like you.

In my table of time, it happened just
like yesterday. Good day, gentlemen.

Scares you, doesn't it? All
that 40 years in the Senate.

Good morning, Seab.

- I was just gonna call your office.
- On the run, Fred.

I know. We've all gotta hop for this
one, but we'll put Leffingwell over.

Boy, he is it, Bob. He's really it.
He's a great man, a great talent.

- I'm throwing my organization behind this.
- You got an organization?

Are you kidding?

Eight chapters in eight
cities, my peace organization.

Who you making peace
with? The Kickapoo Indians?

You find peace amusing?

It's just that Stan's on the Indian
Affairs subcommittee, isn't it, Stan?

I'll be with you in a minute.

Fred, what do those guys do
besides strew roses in your path?

Just my brain trust.

You can't hold a senator's
job by kissing babies...

and shaking hands, you know. Bob...

The hearing will go to
a subcommittee, right?

I haven't any word from Tom
August yet. I don't know his plan.

Well, if it does... I say, if
it does, I don't wanna push...

Whoever's made subcommittee chair
should be pro-Leffingwell, right?

Possibly.

Well, I've done my share of the hack work.
I ought to be in line for a spot like this.

Fred, right now I'm just trying
to get the situation in hand.

I know, but I wanted
to get my bid in early.

I've gotta fly to New York for the
afternoon and meet my eastern group.

- Suppose I call you later on?
- Yeah. Do that. Call me.

- Van Ackerman's looking for a horse to ride.
- He won't get it from me.

He won't care. He
doesn't belong here, Bob.

- You'll have to cut him off the vine.
- He'll fall off.

- Morning, Bess.
- Morning, senator. Your calls.

- First, see if you can get me Leffingwell.
- Yes, sir.

Sir, 219 telegrams so far.

- Most of them favorable to Leffingwell.
- Good.

- Good morning, senator.
- Morning.

- Leffingwell residence.
- Senator Munson calling Mr. Leffingwell.

Senator Munson? Wait a minute.

- Dad, it's Senator Munson on the phone.
- What?

The phone. It's Senator Munson.

- Tell him I've gone out.
- Why?

Because he'll want me to do
things that might obligate me.

Why do you want me to lie? If you're
in, you're in. If you're out, you're out.

Son, this is a Washington,
D.C. kind of lie.

That's when the other person knows you're
lying, and also knows you know he knows.

- Follow?
- No.

- Senator Munson will understand.
- Okay, if you say so.

He's not here. He went out.

- Do you know where I might reach him?
- No, ma'am.

- He didn't leave a forwarding address.
- Oh, I see. Well, thank you.

- I can't reach Mr. Leffingwell, senator.
- All right, Bess.

- I'll take these calls down the line.
- Yes, sir.

Wouldn't you think he'd know
we'd know he's dodging us?

He might become the best
secretary of state we'll ever have.

Want me to make you one of these?

- Thanks just the same.
- It's good.

- Don't you wanna be secretary of state?
- Think I should want to?

- Big job.
- That's a fact.

- I think you ought to want it.
- Why?

Well, you know. All that trouble,
and war and stuff like that.

Maybe you could do
something about it.

- I'd like to try.
- That's the way I'd figure it.

It's worth a try.

As you get to the top of the stairway,
look at the painting on the right.

This painting portrays one of the
worst conflicts of the Mexican War.

In this painting, it's
interesting to note...

that Lieutenants Lee and
Grant fought side by side.

They were classmates at
West Point, as you know.

The skylight came from Philadelphia.
It was placed there in 1859.

The medallions in the
skylight are hand-painted.

They were done by Gibson and
Company and placed there in 1859.

- Good morning, Max.
- Miss Harrison, Lady Maudulayne.

- Good morning, Maxwell.
- Max, this is Madame Barre.

Her husband is the
new French ambassador.

- Welcome to the Senate, madame.
- Thank you.

- Good morning, Lady Maudulayne.
- Good morning.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

Bob. How are you?

Good morning, Orrin.
Everything all right?

Bob, it's going around the Leffingwell
hearing might be set for tomorrow.

That's rushing things, isn't it?

As we need a secretary of state,
I wouldn't say it's rushing.

Senator Strickland, wouldn't
you say that's sudden?

Senator Munson's party is going to
be strongly divided on Leffingwell.

Perhaps the senator would push it
through before that division ruptures.

I wonder if the minority leader is
qualified to speak for the majority party.

On the right of that aisle is the
minority, and on the left is the majority.

All of those are left?

- Does America have so many leftists?
- Oh, no, darling. It's purely geographical.

I mean, they're all Republicans or Democrats.
No communists or anything of that sort.

They do have liberal types, but they
don't necessarily sit on the left...

conservatives don't
necessarily sit on the right.

Boys.

- Bill.
- Aaron, nice to see you.

That man, the one on
the dais, Harley Hudson.

He's the vice president
of the United States.

- He's very attractive.
- Yes, dear. Harley's very sweet.

He's from one of those odd
little states, isn't he?

He was governor of
Delaware, you mean.

- He's the president of the Senate, Celestine.
- But you said he's the vice president.

It's confusing. We'd call him Lord
High Chamberlain or something sensible.

It's very sensible. His job, as
vice president of the country...

is to preside over the Senate,
which makes him its president.

- Then he's also a senator.
- No.

He presides over the Senate, but he's
not a senator. He can't even vote.

He can vote in case of a tie.

The Senate will come to order.

The chaplain will now offer prayer.

Our Father, in these days
of stress and strain...

when men are called upon
to bear great burdens...

give this Senate the
strength and charity...

to ascertain of each who would serve
his nation his true nature and purpose...

lest through inadvertence
and oversight...

there slip into seats of power,
those who would misguide...

and mislead this great people.

Even the parson is getting
into the Leffingwell act.

Your blessings, O Lord, and
help them to serve in your ways.

Amen.

Mr. President.

Recognize the senior
senator from Michigan.

I ask unanimous consent that the journal
of yesterday's proceedings be approved.

Without objection? So ordered.

Mr. President, I suggest
the absence of a quorum.

Absence of a quorum suggested.

- Clerk will call the roll.
- Mr. Abbott...

Finish your story. Bob's got the Linotype.
Somebody's bound to pop on Leffingwell.

Call to the post early, huh?

Better wake up, Senator McCafferty.

- Senator, quorum call.
- Opposed, sir. Diametrically opposed.

No, no, senator.
It's a quorum call.

Mr. Ardell.

- Mr. Ashley.
- Here.

- Take over for a few minutes?
- Oh, sure.

Mr. Bellingham?

- Mr. Bender of California?
- Present.

- Bob? Where's Seab?
- Oh, he'll make an entrance pretty soon.

- Can I help with Leffingwell?
- Can't think of a thing. We'll just mark time.

I'll gladly talk to
anybody you want me to.

- Excuse me.
- Tom August came from the White House.

- In the cloak room.
- Sit in for me.

- What's going on, Stan?
- Oh, hi, Harley. Looks like a bumpy day.

I was asking Bob if I
could do anything to help.

Filling up, huh?

Funny how they can
always smell gunpowder.

Yeah.

Did I tell you I murdered my wife last
night, buried her under a kumquat bush?

Oh, well... Easy come, easy go.

What? What did you say?

I said I might as well get up there
and let the tourists rubberneck at me.

- I'm sorry, Harley.
- All right. Forget it. Forget it.

- Excuse me.
- Sure.

- Hello, Bob.
- Morning, Tom.

The president wants
a closed hearing.

That's impossible.

Cooley would find a way to open it
up if he had to use a can opener.

That's what I told him.

We'll have to name a subcommittee
and let it go at that.

- Who do you have in mind to chair it?
- I thought Powell Hanson.

It'll look like you're
rigging it for Leffingwell.

Put him on the committee,
but not as chairman.

It's got to be somebody
who can handle Cooley.

What would you think
of Fred Van Ackerman?

Caught you too, huh?

- Got me out of bed this morning.
- Well?

I don't know.

The man has no tact.

Of course, he could cope with Seab.

So could Brig Anderson over there.

I thought of Brig.

But he's Fred Van Ackerman's
junior. Fred would split a gut.

Let him split. Brig
knows how to be a senator.

All right. Let's tag
him and get organized.

- Brig, may we interrupt for a moment?
- Sure.

Brig, how would you feel about handling
the subcommittee on Leffingwell?

- I'd feel fine.
- Bob.

Orrin Knox is up on Leffingwell,
and Seab is warming up.

Here we go, gentlemen.

The president must have known
the reaction would be adverse...

for the name Leffingwell is
synonymous with arrogance...

and an eggheaded
determination to ignore...

When have you let somebody
else do your dirty work?

You mean Orrin Knox, Bob?

You find Orrin doing somebody else's
dirty work, and that'll be a pretty do.

- The office of federal power committee...
- This was a complete surprise.

Which he now administrates.

And in each of these, he has, under
the protection of the president...

gone his own way
without consultation...

with the appropriate
committee of the Senate.

Mr. President, will
the senator yield?

I will yield when I complete
the text of my statement.

Mr. President, I only wish to ask the
senator how long he intends to speak.

Was the senator planning to
speak for about 15 minutes?

Nice try, Robert.

Mr. President, the esteemed majority leader
is trying to trap me into a time limit.

Well, since he has trotted
out this wheezy device...

he must expect the
usual wheezy answer.

I certainly expect to speak
longer than 15 minutes.

- Indeed, I may speak 15 hours.
- Attaboy, Orrin.

I might also say that I do not need
any coaching from the sidelines...

from the esteemed senator
from South Carolina.

I would like to make it plain
that my opinions are my own...

and they do not reflect those of
the senator from South Carolina.

Now, if I might continue
without interruption.

This nomination is being handled
with an underhanded attempt...

to press the senator into silence and
railroad this nomination through Senate.

Mr. President, will the
senator yield for a question?

I have no intention of yielding to the
majority leader or the majority whip.

They have no purpose but to
block criticism of Leffingwell.

Will my good friend and colleague,
the distinguished senior senator...

from Illinois, yield
the floor to me?

Under the circumstances, and because
we see eye to eye in this matter...

I consider it a privilege to yield to the
able and respected senator from South Carolina.

Thank you, sir. Mr. President, I must defend
my distinguished colleague from Illinois.

It appears that he is beset on
every side by snarling enemies.

Yet it was his intention only to
give voice to the simple complaint...

many of us feel on
both sides of the aisle.

An honest revulsion...

at this nomination the president
has thrown in our teeth.

Mr. President, will
this senator yield?

I'll not yield, sir, but I will
say for you what you'd say anyway...

that this is not the time
for personal imputations.

Will that satisfy the senator?

Was there no other man than this...

this Robert A. Leffingwell?

Is our storehouse of brainpower so
impoverished, that for this office...

which can affect the destiny
of our nation, of the world...

there is no other man
but Robert A. Leffingwell?

I find that hard, indeed,
impossible to believe.

Will the distinguished
senator yield?

Well, now...

for my young, handsome...

and plenipotent colleague,
I will gladly yield.

Looks like Seab's gonna have
roast Lafe Smith for lunch.

Does the senior senator from South Carolina
think he knows more than the president...

about what or who is needed,
in these perilous times...

in the office of
secretary of state?

Yes, senator.

Even one so young and green as the
junior senator from Rhode Island...

would have chosen another man.
Wouldn't you say that's the truth?

The senator assumes an infallibility of
knowledge, which denotes a closed mind...

and an aged crust of prejudice.

Who ate who?

Mr. President...

we have here an example...

of the commotion this man,
Leffingwell, can arouse.

Able, sensitive young senators, taught
courtesy at their mothers' knees...

turn upon their elders and rend
them because of their passions...

over this disturbing man,
Robert A. Leffingwell.

I beseech senators to contemplate the
spectacle we are making of ourselves.

Why?

What is causing this bitterness of
division in our party? Leffingwell.

Who is disrupting the cordial flow of
legislative interchange? Leffingwell.

Who is turning this Senate...

into a cockpit of angry emotion?

Leffingwell.

I abominate this man
Leffingwell. He is an evil man.

He will pursue a
policy of appeasements!

He will weaken the moral
fiber of our great nation.

He will bring destruction
to our traditions.

And I beg you,
senators, reject him.

Reject him!

- Barney, you look wonderful tonight.
- Thank you, Mrs. Harrison.

- Betty, do you know the senator?
- Yes, we've met.

Shall we have a spin
around the floor?

Hi, Lafe.

- Having fun?
- Having a lovely time. Thanks.

- Can I get you a drink?
- No, thanks.

I will make my government's position
on Mr. Leffingwell very clear.

In some ways, he's excellent.

But in others, not so excellent.

In general, I would
say we are for him.

Except when it comes to
those features of character...

in which we might be
disposed to be against him.

On the whole, that is my
government's position. Yes, exactly.

Yes, the inscrutable East can always
be depended upon to be inscrutable.

- Enjoy your dance, darling?
- The senator dances beautifully.

Well, Lafe is not exactly
the log-cabin type.

Rowell, the senator is
coming to lunch tomorrow.

We'll be honored. You'll be
our first guest at the embassy.

- You're very kind.
- Bob, see you a minute?

Will you excuse me?

- Didn't see you at dinner, Fred.
- I just got here.

Why didn't you take my call
from New York this afternoon?

I didn't want to take your call.
Is that an honest enough answer?

You were reaching for
Brig Anderson all the time?

No. But we weren't
reaching for you, either.

- He's in the club, isn't he?
- What club?

Don't give me that. The inner
circle, the clique, the club.

Look, Fred, you forced me
to offend you. I'm sorry.

All right. I'm willing to forget it.
I'll still campaign for Leffingwell.

Fine, Fred, but let's not
irritate the situation.

Robert Leffingwell is the difference between
peace and war. I mean to fight for him.

- Being exclusive, Harley?
- Just escaping for a moment.

From the ladies?

Do you mind if I ask you a question
that a vice president shouldn't ask?

You mean like, " How's
the president's health?"

I haven't seen him in six
weeks. He never calls me in.

- I don't think he means to slight you.
- He probably does.

But that's not why I'm asking.

Look, I know I'm only Charming
Harley, the housewives' delight.

I know I was only a compromise candidate
for vice president or I wouldn't be here.

I never expected to be president, and I
hope to God I never will be, and I mean that.

But the town's boiling with
rumors about his health.

If they're true, I
should at least be told.

All right.

But this is just my own opinion.

I don't think the surgery
last year was successful.

Well, I was once the happy
governor of Delaware...

counting revenue from corporative
setups and having tea with the du Ponts.

- Now...
- It hasn't happened yet. Maybe it won't.

Bob, I'm not sure I've got
the stuff to be president.

Has anybody?

Most presidents have to
grow up in the job anyway.

The country could go to hell before I'd
grow big enough to see over the desk.

Humility is not the worst attitude
you could have toward this job.

It's a nice word for
the shakes, "humility."

In any case, you're the only vice
president we have, so the Constitution says.

Leffingwell is not only an
appeaser, but a spendthrift to boot.

He can throw more money out of
the back door with a teaspoon...

than the government can
bring in with a shovel.

He'll stage a giveaway to the communists
that'll make Munich look like a clambake.

What do you pump-order
politicians think the world's like?

Wanna get us bombed out of existence
for some lousy, two-bit country...

that can't even feed itself?

We have got to think of
ourselves, first and last.

Would the senator yield the floor?

This is no laughing matter
to me, Mrs. Harrison.

Then perhaps this isn't
the place to discuss it.

Excuse me.

- I'm terribly sorry, Dolly.
- Nonsense, Orrin.

Why, Mr. Leffingwell does
cause excitement, doesn't he?

- Is that you, darling?
- Hi.

How did it go tonight, darling?

Like any party you give. A smasher.

You're the best there is, pet.

Somebody said once, a
friend of mine, I'm sure...

that any bitch with a million bucks,
and a big house and a good caterer...

could be a social
success in Washington.

Do you think I'm a bitch?

A perfectly nice one, if you are.

And I'm probably the first man in
your life since your husband died.

That's not a question.

Don't feel obliged to
volunteer information.

You are.

How long do you think I'm going
to keep up this backstairs romance?

Front elevator.

Elevator is right.
At my age, I need it.

Oh, your age. You're as
virile as a billy goat...

and make noises like
a wounded spaniel.

- No marriage, huh?
- And spoil this convenient arrangement?

Don't be silly.

I think you're afraid I
won't get elected next time.

No girl wants to be
married to a has-been.

- Well, we've got that established.
- And I'm sleepy.

Are you sleepy?

Will the committee
come to order, please?

I'll ask the witness to take
his place at the witness table.

This hearing of the subcommittee of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee...

is being held to consider the president's
nomination of Robert A. Leffingwell...

for secretary of state.

Mr. Leffingwell, I'm sure you know
all the members of the committee here.

Senator Cooley is not a
member of the subcommittee...

but the full committee voted
him permission to join us...

for the purposes of
cross-examination.

I welcome Senator Cooley's
participation, Mr. Chairman.

If not wholeheartedly,
certainly without fear.

I commend your courage.

Frankly, the senator scares
the wits out of everybody else.

Would you please stand
and raise your right hand?

Do you swear that the statements you
are about to give this committee...

will be the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth, so help you God?

- Yes, sir, I do.
- Thank you.

- Sorry, Brig.
- Not at all, Fred.

I'm particularly
interested in this hearing.

I hope Mr. Leffingwell obtains
swift approval from this committee.

I thank the senator
for his comments.

Mr. Leffingwell, I'm sure you
have a statement to make...

before the interrogation begins.

Mr. Chairman, I believe I might serve this
committee best by answering its questions.

As you wish.

Senator Knox, would
you like to begin?

Don't you feel we're worth the
effort of an opening statement?

I'm only being practical, senator.

Well, then I too shall be
practical, Mr. Leffingwell.

Are you loyal to the United States?

I don't mind admitting that
I'm loyal to the United States.

But it wasn't an idle
question, Mr. Leffingwell.

I've had some complaints against things
you've said in some of your speeches...

about our relations
with the communists.

Some go so far as to
say you're not loyal.

- There's no foundation for that, senator.
- I have a quote from one of your speeches.

"We must not bind ourselves to
outworn principles of the past...

when we find those principles standing in
the way of affirmative action for peace."

- What does that mean?
- The past shouldn't lie too heavily...

upon our present efforts
to achieve world stability.

You say "outworn
principles of the past."

Well, what principles
did you have in mind?

I meant more a state of mind.
Perhaps the word "principle"...

- was not a good choice.
- Orrin, is that speech you got there...

- about defense mobilization?
- No, foreign policy.

Mr. Chairman, the witness is the director
of the Office of Defense Mobilization.

What's he doing making
speeches about foreign policy?

You reckon he was bucking for
the job of secretary of state?

I responded to an invitation from
the Chamber of Commerce of Chicago.

The topic they gave me to
speak on was foreign policy.

I've seen men angling for
high office, Mr. Chairman.

That's the way they do it. They make
speeches. They flaunt themselves.

- That's how they do it. Yes, sir.
- Ln fact, Mr. Leffingwell...

this was only one of a series of
speeches on foreign policy, wasn't it?

Yes, sir, that's true.

He made speeches. So what?

We all make speeches.

Mr. Leffingwell, you said you merely
meant to suggest a state of mind...

This is a cute committee here.

Do you think it's wrong to suspect
the good faith of the communists...

after four decades of dishonor?

All things change. It wouldn't
hurt to assume at times...

a desire for peace
from the communists.

On what basis? These pious,
hopeful men, Mr. Chairman.

These wool-gathering optimists.

Mr. Chairman, can't we get along
without this kind of questioning?

At the risk of seeming discourteous to the
distinguished senator from South Carolina...

I'll remind him he's here at
the sufferance of the committee.

I thank the esteemed chairman
for his courteous chastisement.

Mr. Leffingwell, do I understand
you wish to placate the communists?

Not placate. But neither do I want to kill
any chance of agreement before it starts.

In an agreement, what terms
do you think would be valid?

I can't answer that
without given circumstances.

- Will the senator yield?
- If the senator will be brief.

The senator wouldn't
want me to be too brief...

where the fate of my
country is concerned.

Why are you afraid to tell us what
terms you'd make with the communists?

- I just explained to Senator Knox...
- You're evading.

We want to know what you intend
to give away to the communists.

- I don't intend to give anything away.
- Why won't you tell us what your terms are?

Are you ashamed to
disclose these terms?

I have nothing to be
ashamed of, and you know it.

He is not responding, Mr. Chairman.

This man is hiding something.

Senator Knox, reclaim the floor.
This is getting us nowhere.

I resent the chair's arbitrary
attempt to silence cross-examination...

that'll show this
man's true intent.

It is common knowledge that no
one, nowhere, and at no time...

has been able to silence the
distinguished senator from South Carolina.

Well, sir, I might say the chairman's
doing a pretty good job of it right now.

If you feel the witness is hiding something,
would you care to make a formal charge?

Well, now, that'll
just upset everybody.

I'll just turn the floor
back to Senator Knox.

No more right now, Mr. Chairman.

- Senator Velez?
- Mr. Leffingwell...

what associations did you have when
teaching at the University of Chicago?

The usual campus associations.
Other teachers, students.

I have here a telegram
from someone named Gelman...

who claims to have known
you at the university.

Do you recognize the name?

I don't think so, but that was
quite a few years ago, senator.

Well, he says you associated
with left-wingers and communists.

Is there anything to
that, Mr. Leffingwell?

I'd like to know what
Mr. Gelman means by...

"left-wingers" or "communists." Those
terms are used carelessly by some people.

Will Mr. Gelman be
called to testify?

I'm unable to find Mr. Gelman.

Senator, I don't know what to say,
except the telegram is from some crank.

- Senator from Hawaii.
- Just a hypothetical question.

If the communists demand we yield
certain strategic positions...

- what would you recommend?
- We reject any such demand.

Even if it meant war?

That's an unlikely hypothesis if we
retain our present power of retaliation.

Say it did happen.

Would you recommend
a preventive attack?

Hit the enemy before they hit us?

No, I wouldn't recommend a preventive
attack. I would first try to bargain...

try to agree to some of their demands
if they'd agree to some of ours.

With the senator's permission, I'd like
to make a little speech to the witness.

Mr. Witness, I'd rather go out of this
world standing on my two hind legs...

fighting like a man for things I believe
in, than to yield and concede and crawl...

till there was nothing left of
our freedoms and way of life...

but a handful of lost dreams
and a fistful of dry dust.

Mr. Chairman, it's mighty comforting
to know that all the folks out there...

aren't being took in by
this appeasement talk.

Mr. Chairman, a little while ago,
Senator Knox asked me to define...

what I meant by
"outworn principles."

Senator Cooley has obliged
with a perfect illustration.

He speaks of standing on his
hind legs, fighting like a man...

as if war were still some
rousing charge up San Juan Hill...

with flags flying
and bugles sounding.

It's this kind of 19th-century
notion I was talking about.

This "don't tread on me," "walk
softly and carry a big stick"...

"damn the torpedoes," "full
speed ahead" state of mind.

Senator Cooley's state of mind.

It seems to me that the senator from
South Carolina was speaking out of pride.

Do you think we should discontinue pride
in our freedoms and our way of life?

I believe it's dangerous to negotiate
survival with pride determining our attitude.

I wonder if there isn't good
sense in what Senator Cooley said.

I wonder if we can't
become too equivocal.

I wonder if we can't reason
away, in the name of survival...

everything worth surviving for.

That's a hard line to walk, but we
have no choice but to try and walk it.

I'm sorry to say we can't
always know where we're going.

As long as we know
where we're not going.

Any questions, Senator Hendershot?

You're what they call an
egghead, aren't you, Mr. Witness?

I'm not only an egghead, senator,
I'm a premeditated egghead.

I set out to become an
egghead, and at this moment...

I'm in full flower
of eggheadedness.

I hope to shed
pollen wherever I go.

If there are no objections, we can
leave them laughing while we have lunch.

We'll take it up again
at 1:30, Mr. Leffingwell.

Do you think the committee's
trying to smear you?

They're asking what
they feel they should.

Some questions have
been smear questions.

Right now my main
emphasis is getting lunch.

If he won't answer
that question, I will.

The committee is being used
to smear Mr. Leffingwell.

- What about that, Mr. Leffingwell?
- The senator is entitled to his opinion.

Will you excuse me, please?

You don't like how this hearing
is being conducted, do you?

The chairman should stop
these irresponsible questions.

He doesn't want to. They're
out to crucify Mr. Leffingwell.

Senator, Senator Van Ackerman is accusing
the committee of using smear tactics.

Would you comment on this?

If the senator has any complaints to make,
he should write a letter to his congressman.

- Will you give Seab Cooley a free hand?
- Oh, come on.

Do you believe war can be
avoided, Mr. Leffingwell?

I believe it must be avoided. But I don't
think we can avoid it by rattling sabers.

That's all, Mr. Chairman.

Now, Mr. Leffingwell, it becomes necessary
to turn you over to the tender mercies...

- of the senator from South Carolina.
- I'm girded for the occasion, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I
have no questions, Mr. Chairman.

Then I don't see any reason why
we can't adjourn the hearing.

If there are no objections.

Would the nominee mind staying
with us for just a smidgen longer?

I said I have no questions, Mr. Chairman.
But I have a witness I would like to call.

Call your witness, senator.

Herbert Gelman.

Will the photographers withdraw
to the sidelines, please?

- Are you Herbert Gelman?
- That's my name.

Raise your right hand, please.

Do you swear the testimony you
are about to give this committee...

will be the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth, so help you God?

- Yes, sir, I swear.
- Take a seat, please.

Where do you live, Mr. Gelman?

At 2221 Grove Place
Northeast, here in Washington.

- Your occupation?
- I'm a clerk in the Treasury Department.

Did you send this
telegram to Senator Velez?

And, Mr. Gelman, would you mind speaking
just a little bit louder, please?

Yes. Yes.

Why didn't you include your
address so he could contact you?

- That was Senator Cooley's idea.
- What did Senator Cooley have to do with it?

He suggested that I send a
telegram to Senator Velez.

- Is this true, Senator Cooley?
- It is, Mr. Chairman.

Why didn't you tell us when Senator
Velez introduced the telegram?

I was just giving the nominee
enough rope to hang himself.

I resent being used as a cat's-paw
by the senator from South Carolina.

I apologize to the
senator from New Mexico.

The senator will forgive me when he
hears what this new witness has to say.

Do you know Robert
Leffingwell, Mr. Gelman?

- Yes, sir.
- Intimately?

Well, not intimately.

Well, how? On sight or how?

Well, closer than that.

I worked for the Federal Power
Commission when he was chairman.

In his office?

No, sir, at a subsidiary agency.

But I knew him before
then in Chicago.

I was in one of his
classes at the university.

I see. Does he know you?

He ought to.

He fired me from the
Federal Rower Agency.

- For what reason were you fired?
- He wanted me out of the agency.

- I knew too much.
- About what?

About him.

What do you know about him?

He's a communist.

The nominee has a
right to cross-examine.

I was about to ask, Mr. Leffingwell,
if you'd like to cross-examine as we go.

Thank you, but I'll
wait till he's finished.

Senator Cooley, he's all yours.

Now, sir, Mr. Herbert Gelman.

Will you please tell the committee
how you happened to be here.

I came to you about
Mr. Leffingwell.

Now I want you to tell the
committee, and the nation...

what you told me in my office.

Yes, sir.

When I was going to the
University of Chicago...

I lived at 2714 Carpenter Street.

I got to know a man, who also had
a room there, named Max Bukowski.

- And he...
- How do you spell that name, Mr. Gelman?

Would you continue, please?

Bukowski invited me...

to sit in on political
discussions in his room.

I went to several of
these discussions...

before I realized I was getting involved
in a communist cell, and I dropped out.

Who was in this communist cell?

Bukowski was the leader.

There was a man named James Morton.

And then there was
Mr. Robert Leffingwell.

You knew Mr. Leffingwell.

Well, like I said, I was in one
of his classes at the university.

Now I'll ask you to tell the committee
what was discussed at these meetings...

but I want to tell the committee
that I in no way coached this witness.

The words that he
uses are his own words.

Mr. Gelman.

Max Bukowski was
a dogmatic Marxist.

He didn't feel that communism would come
to America without violent revolution.

But James Morton and Mr.
Leffingwell felt that communism...

would come as a result of the
erosion of our form of government.

I remember James Morton saying that
our principles would become outworn.

Now, it seems to me we've heard
that from somebody else today.

Not mentioning any
names, of course.

Brig, we'll want verification
of this man's story.

- I thank the senator for pointing that out.
- Someone's got to point it out.

I'd advise you to
demand verification.

I thank the senator for his advice.

Would the senator care
to sit with the committee?

Are you trying to
choke me off, Brig?

Not at all, Fred.

Continue, please.

Now, Mr. Gelman, you told me something
about names in this communist cell.

Yes. Nobody used their right name.

Mr. Leffingwell was called Walker.

Bukowski was called Fitzgerald.

I never learned James
Morton's real name.

And they tried to give
me the name of Andrews.

About that time, I quit.

What happened when you quit?

Mr. Leffingwell failed me in his
class on government administration.

Why didn't you report all this
to the university authorities?

- I was afraid.
- And you're not afraid now.

Yes, I'm afraid.

But I couldn't stand by and see
a man like Mr. Leffingwell...

get into a position of
power as secretary of state.

- Can you corroborate this, Mr. Gelman?
- The man's an eyewitness, under oath.

- I'm not lying!
- I didn't say you were lying.

Where can we find Max
Bukowski and James Morton?

Bukowski's dead. I never
saw James Morton again.

Maybe Mr. Robert A. Leffingwell can
help us to locate this James Morton.

Would the committee grant me one hour
to prepare an answer to this testimony?

If he can defend himself,
let him do it right now.

The committee will extend
this courtesy to the nominee.

We'll stand recessed until 3:30.

Seab, you don't believe
that tale yourself. Come on.

Anyway, I'm rocking the boat.

He's going to cut Gelman
up four ways from Sunday.

And I'm going to pick off just
enough votes to push him into office.

What about that, you old buzzard?

Us old buzzards can see a
mouse dying from 10,000 feet up.

Us old buzzards have the
sharpest eyes in creation.

Right now, I'm
studying the terrain.

Thank you.

Led by questions from Senator Brigham
Anderson, the witness flatly stated...

that Robert Leffingwell
was a communist.

He claimed he had once been in a
communist cell with Leffingwell.

Leff, how are you? Come in.

Daddy, George is
hiding my new record.

- I haven't even seen her old album.
- He has seen it. He's got it, Daddy.

Kids, go in there and behave
or I'm gonna tell Mother.

Leffingwell seemed to
be as flabbergasted...

Leff, I've been watching the
whole awful business on television.

- Sit down.
- Hardiman...

when I go back to the hearing,
I'll tell them the whole story.

Chicago, Gelman, everything.

You're bound to come into it. Might
be better if you're there with me.

We can make them understand
how it really was.

Make who understand?

- Who would even want to understand?
- We've got nothing to lose by trying.

- Nothing to lose?
- I'm under oath, Hardiman.

I know you're under oath,
but wait a minute here.

I've got a family to feed.

Leff, look, if we do what you want,
we'll not only be through in government...

we'll never even get
a job teaching again.

You know what happens when these
red-baiting newspapers get the scent.

- I know that, but what can I do?
- Withdraw. Don't go back to the hearing.

That would be the worst
admission of guilt.

There'd be a Senate investigation in
24 hours. We'd be in the same spot.

All right.

Tell me this: What do
you owe these politicians?

Nothing.

They let that old megalomaniac Cooley bring
a half-witted clerk to testify against you.

I know you're a man of principle. I admire
you for it, but it's no time to go by the book.

- I don't know.
- You have to. You're putting...

your head on a chopping
block and mine with it.

Look, you talk about
being under oath.

What about Gelman? His
testimony was shot with lies.

He was never in one of your
classes at the university.

Destroy him. It's
easy for you, Leff.

Will the chair please administer
the oath to Mr. Lewis Newborne...

of the Federal Rower Commission.

Would you stand and raise
your right hand, please?

Do you swear the testimony you're
about to give this committee...

will be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth?

- I do.
- Thank you. You may be seated.

First, Mr. Chairman, let me say
that I do know Herbert Gelman.

Looks like we might've smoked
us out a possum, Mr. Chairman.

Afraid there'll be no possum stew in
the old Cooley pot tonight, senator.

I realized I knew Herbert Gelman
only after I'd heard his testimony.

- May I question Mr. Gelman?
- By all means.

Mr. Gelman.

Before being detached from
the Rower Commission...

- you'd been ill a long while, correct?
- I was in a tuberculosis sanitarium.

- Tuberculosis sanitarium?
- You know that, Mr. Leffingwell.

You fired me when I tried
to come back to work.

Can you tell us the name of
this tuberculosis sanitarium?

- The name?
- Yes, the name. It had a name, didn't it?

The name. I can't
think of the name.

It was in the country, in Maryland.

Mr. Newborne, do you
know Herbert Gelman?

Oh, yes. I was his immediate
superior in the Federal Rower Agency.

Tell the committee the true
cause of Mr. Gelman's illness.

It wasn't tuberculosis. Herbert...
Mr. Gelman had a mental breakdown.

And the sanitarium was the Elm Grove
Rest Home right outside of Baltimore.

What happened when
he came back to work?

He seemed, well, kind of shaky. He
couldn't seem to get a hold of the job.

I went to Mr. Leffingwell, and I told
him that I wanted to let Gelman go.

Mr. Leffingwell said he'd
try and find him another job.

A few days later, on Mr. Leffingwell's
instructions, I discharged Gelman...

and recommended that he apply to
the Department of the Treasury.

He made an application, and
he went to work over there.

This, Mr. Chairman, is the sum total
of my knowledge of Herbert Gelman...

except I telephoned the
University of Chicago...

to find out if he'd ever
been a student of mine.

The registrar said Gelman
had been at the university...

but there was no record of
his attending my classes.

This will be confirmed by telegram
from the registrar to the committee.

What do you have to
say to this, Mr. Gelman?

I thought...

I thought it was my duty as a citizen
to come here, expose Mr. Leffingwell.

You will receive another telegram. This one
from the city planning office of Chicago.

Seems this address,
2714 Carpenter Street...

where this communist cell practiced its
mumbo jumbo, according to Mr. Gelman...

This address has been a fire
station for more than 50 years.

Did you have a mental
breakdown, Mr. Gelman?

Do you still insist you were fired by
Mr. Leffingwell because you knew too much?

I didn't know that he got me the
job in the Treasury Department.

Could you have been mistaken about
being in his classes in the university?

I don't know.

And what about 2714
Carpenter Street?

Well, it might not
be the right number.

I may not remember for sure.

Perhaps you don't remember
other things for sure.

Well, if I did, would
anybody believe me?

I think we can let this witness go.

Thank you, Mr. Gelman.

I said you could go, Mr. Gelman.

This committee owes you an
apology, Mr. Leffingwell.

Perhaps Senator Cooley would
like to join us in that?

I'm not joining
anybody in anything.

Senator Cooley wants a transcript of this
hearing at the earliest possible moment.

The committee owes me no apology, Mr.
Chairman, nor do they owe me approval.

Win, lose, or draw I shall continue to
serve my country when and wherever I can.

- Good afternoon.
- Yes, sir?

Why, I'd surely be obliged if I
could see the employment record...

of Mr. Herbert Gelman.

I'm sorry, sir, but employment
records are privileged information.

You might say that I am
privileged. I'm Senator Cooley.

You're a mighty pretty gal,
yes, ma'am. Mighty pretty.

I'm not entirely sure in which section
of this building Mr. Gelman works.

Mr. Leffingwell.

Well, Leff.

- Congratulations.
- I appreciate your arranging...

to see me so quickly.
I know how busy you are.

Glad you called. I wanted
to see you. Sit down.

Bobby thinks the committee will
go four-to-one in your favor.

He has enough votes sewed up
to get you through on the floor.

So it looks like you're in. How'd
you like a drink, Mr. Secretary?

Mr. President, I'm not in,
and I'm not going to be in.

- Yes, sir.
- What are you talking about?

- Yes, sir.
- Nothing! Sorry.

Mr. President, I want you
to withdraw my nomination.

I lied at the hearing.

I knew Herbert Gelman.
I knew him in Chicago.

I knew him at those meetings.

They were communist
meetings, Mr. President.

I was never a party member, but
I was young, looking for a cause.

Didn't take long to discover
that wasn't it, and I dropped out.

Please believe that,
Mr. President. It's true.

But I am guilty of one bad error.

I gave Herbert Gelman a job
to keep him from talking.

When I saw Gelman in the courtroom, I knew
Cooley had me set up for the witch-hunters.

I wish I could tell
you I'm sorry I lied.

I'm only sorry I had to lie.

Anybody else know you lied?

One person. Hardiman Fletcher.

- Fletcher of the Treasury Department?
- Yes.

Will he talk?

No. Fletcher was the
third man in Chicago.

He was James Morton.

- Hello, senator.
- Well, Mr. Fletcher...

I surely do appreciate you
keeping this little rendezvous.

Who are we hiding
from, senator, and why?

I thought us meeting by this fine old
monument might have a salutary effect...

on our conversation. It was George
Washington who couldn't tell a lie...

wasn't it, Mr. Fletcher?

I sometimes forget my schoolboy
history. Shall we take a little walk?

A thought came to me, Mr. Fletcher.
Not like a bolt from the blue.

More insinuating, like a
soft breeze off the river.

I thought, "Why did Robert A.
Leffingwell have Herbert Gelman..."

Apply to the Treasury
Department for a job?

"Why didn't he send him through
civil service for a job?"

- Are you asking me a question?
- Not yet, Mr. Fletcher.

I gallivanted over to the Treasury
Department this afternoon...

and I sort of looked up
Herbert Gelman's record.

And I discovered that you
approved Herbert's application.

Personally approved it.

- Senator, get to the point.
- The point is, I was gonna give you a break.

Looks like you see fit to turn
down my Southern generosity.

- Senator Cooley, I'm a loyal citizen. I...
- I didn't say you weren't.

But I might have to start an investigation
to prove you're loyal, Mr. Fletcher.

Mr. James Morton.

What is this...

- break you were gonna give me?
- Simple.

Make a telephone call to Brigham
Anderson, offer him a small confession...

not mentioning I had anything to do with
it, just made out of your own conscience.

What happens then?

Natural course will be followed to
protect the president and our party.

Your confidence won't be
betrayed, Mr. Fletcher.

And you'll have done a noble
duty, sir. Yes, sir, noble.

- Senator Knox?
- Oh, thank you.

Senators, looks like we
won't be voting today.

It's from Brig. He's postponed it.

For what reason?

He doesn't say.

Are you sure it was
Fletcher who called you?

I made sure.

I called him back at his home.

Has he told this to anyone but you?

He said not.

Why in hell did he open
up this can of beans?

He felt he should
do the right thing.

Nuts. He's protecting himself.

Bess, get through to the
president at Camp David.

Tell his secretary I want him next.

I don't care who's ahead
of me. The queen of England.

And it is not enough that the subcommittee
has permitted a great man to be smeared.

Now the chairman of that subcommittee is
deliberately blocking the committee vote.

It's one more thing to add to the most
unfair hearing in the history of the Senate.

Sir, will the senator
yield for a question?

- Will the senator yield for a question?
- I'll yield to the senator.

Mr. President, I admit I'm not
a supporter of Mr. Leffingwell...

but I watched the hearing on TV,
and it seemed eminently fair to me.

Mr. President, I'm sorry if the senator was
not perceptive enough to grasp the obvious.

I am telling the Senate
exactly what happened.

As much as I appreciate hearing
about the senator's particular view...

I must say I will need more substantial
proof than the senator's own description.

Sir, is the senator
calling me a liar?

The record must stand
as is, Mr. President.

How the senator interprets
that is his problem, not mine.

Mr. President, the senator from Kansas
is welcome to take advantage of her sex.

Oh, Fred, come off it.

You think it's funny?

You think the world
thinks it's funny?

The world thinks it's funny that we're
trying to smear a man who believes in peace?

Do you think the people of
this country think it's funny?

Does the senator from
Utah think it's funny?

Will the senator from Utah tell
us why he is blocking the vote?

I'll tell you. He's assassinating the
character and reputation of Robert Leffingwell!

The senator asks me a question
and answers it himself.

I prefer to make my own
reply, Mr. President.

As chairman of the subcommittee,
I seek only to do my duty.

And that I will do despite the hysterical
tantrums of the senator from Wyoming.

The senator is frightening no one except
the children in the visitors' gallery.

I'm not too sure the senator
from Utah can't be frightened.

There are ways to frighten any
man, even the senator from Utah.

- Every man has his Achilles...
- The chair is tolerant, as everybody knows.

But there'll be no threats
made in this chamber.

- What happened to Harley?
- I don't know.

I apologize to the chair.

In my anxiety for a great
cause, I was carried away.

- Will the chair hear a motion?
- Make your motion.

I move that the Committee on
Foreign Relations be discharged...

from consideration of the
nominee for secretary of state...

and that the Senate vote
on Robert Leffingwell now.

- Did he clear this with you?
- He did not.

Bob, I can't let this pass.
I'm gonna have to open up.

I'll try and stop it.

Make Van Ackerman withdraw the motion.
Tell him we haven't enough votes.

- Mr. President.
- The senior senator from Michigan.

Mr. President...

it would certainly be a dramatic
affirmation of the nominee...

if we were to bypass
the regular procedures...

of the Senate and vote
him into office now...

I won't withdraw. He should
make a motion himself.

The balance of power in our government,
as created by the Constitution...

is the most brilliant device for the
protection of liberty conceived by free men...

We're not ready for this,
Fred. Don't you understand?

I'm ready for it.

That none can become absolute has made
this government the miracle of the ages.

We must always
guard this balance...

so this great dream of liberty within
discipline, which is America, will die.

I tell you, we
haven't got the votes.

You'll get him beat before
we get him out of committee.

Citizens of this republic
for almost two centuries.

Now Senator Van Ackerman's motion
proposes to ride over those procedures.

Though I hope for the eventual
confirmation of the nominee...

I ask that this motion be defeated.

It won't hurt Mr. Leffingwell
if he isn't confirmed...

by sundown today or
even sundown tomorrow.

But it might hurt us most
grievously if we do what suits us...

in the heat and passion
of the passing moment.

Is there a request
for the yeas and nays?

Squarehead Anderson
can't block this.

Senators, do I hear a request for
the yeas and nays? A quorum, maybe?

What got your tongue today?
You're usually shaking the rafters.

It's my day for sunning myself, Mr. Majority
Leader, like an old bullfrog on a lily pad.

- You've got to withdraw.
- Does anybody want to say anything at all?

- Mr. President.
- Saved by the senator from Wyoming.

Mr. President, I have decided to heed the
wisdom of the esteemed majority leader...

who has pointed out
the danger in my motion.

I would not wish to abuse
this citadel of freedom.

I will instead humble myself
before my peers and withdraw the...

This news about Leffingwell
hit the president pretty hard.

- He put a lot of faith in him.
- I'm sorry.

He's coming to the correspondents'
banquet tonight. You going?

I plan to.

He'd like to see you, Brig. Would
you come up to my place afterwards?

What can I tell him I haven't told you?
All he has to do is withdraw the man.

Did I eat crow nicely, Bob?

Yeah, you did fine, Fred.
Thanks for your cooperation.

Is Brig cooperating?

Any time old Brig isn't cooperating,
I might be able to change his mind.

Just let me know.

Get off my back, Fred.

Bob, see you a minute?

Okay for after the banquet, Brig?

Sure, all right.

I said you made a mistake
with him. He's trouble.

Fred, will you please butt out of this?
You're not doing Leffingwell any good.

Okay, but if you want Brig whipped
into line, I've got the whip on file.

I'm sure we can manage
without your file.

Gentlemen, tonight is the one night
in the year when we're honor-bound...

not to be reporters.

Our guests may speak freely...

and not have to read a hundred versions
of what they said in the morning papers.

So with that assurance, I give you
the president of the United States.

Fellow members of the White House
Correspondents' Association...

the man says there are no
reporters present tonight...

but I'm going to exercise the privilege
given me by my gold membership card...

and reverse that
traditional ruling.

Tonight, gentlemen, there
are reporters present.

So get out your pencils.
We'll write ourselves a story.

- This planned?
- Not by me.

I see down there at table number three
the senior senator from South Carolina.

Hello, Seab.

And over there at table seven...

I see the senator from
Utah, Brigham Anderson.

Hi, Brigham.

I said, hi, Brigham.

Now, a few days ago, the
president of the United States...

nominated a man for
secretary of state...

who the president thinks
is a pretty good man...

and he wants that man
confirmed by the Senate.

But the senior senator from South
Carolina, for reasons of his own...

and those reasons are never
like anybody else's reasons...

the senator's
opposed to my nominee.

Well, everybody expected that.

We'd all be disappointed if
Seab hadn't reared back...

and huffed and puffed, and
tried to blow the house down.

But now comes Senator
Brigham Anderson...

who nobody suspected of
being a big, bad wolf.

And he goes Seab Cooley one better by
trying to dig a tunnel under the house.

This is your story, fellow members of the
White House Correspondents' Association.

The president is
standing by his nominee.

Despite Seab Cooley's windstorms
and Brigham Anderson's tunneling...

you can tell the readers the president
hasn't changed his mind about his nominee.

He's going to fight for that
confirmation no matter what.

What are you clapping for?

I can afford to be charitable, sir.

Mr. President.

Sore at me, Brigham?

Frankly, I'm puzzled,
Mr. President.

There's coffee and brandy here if you
want. I'll go down to the banquet room.

- If it's okay, I'd rather have you stay.
- What's the matter, Brigham?

You think you need a witness?

I'm not sure, Mr. President.

You'd better stay, Bobby. Sit down.

I have a feeling I might need
some help with this young man.

Of course you know I'm grateful, the
way you put the lid on this matter.

I didn't get that
impression tonight.

Well, a president has to stand up for a
man he sends down to Senate. You know that.

It seems to me, the sooner you withdraw
him, the sooner this will blow over.

I still want him, Brigham.

If we open this up, he won't be confirmed.
I'm sure Senator Munson told you that.

If we don't open it up, we've got enough
votes committed to put him through.

I've gone as far as I can
with this, Mr. President.

I think the circumstances might
permit you to go a little further.

You don't seriously believe
Leffingwell's a communist, do you?

Whether he is or not,
he lied under oath.

Aren't you interested
in why he lied?

Well, I'm not completely
unsympathetic, but I just think that...

You think he should
let himself be ruined...

just because he flirted with
communism a long time ago?

My point is he should've
told the committee...

he had flirted with
communism instead of lying.

Well, maybe there's nothing in your
young life you'd like to conceal...

but we're not all
of us that fortunate.

We have to make the best of our
mistakes. That's all Leffingwell has done.

As the leader of our party, I'm
asking you. Let me judge the man.

Mr. President, I don't
want to wreck his life.

I don't want to deprive you of
his services in some other office.

But in this case, his confirmation
as secretary of state...

I am bound by my
duty to my committee.

You also owe a duty to your party.

I can't subvert the purpose
of a Senate committee.

You don't think Cooley subverted
the purpose of the committee?

He's used his little forum
in a personal vendetta.

Mr. President, I'm sorry, but
your arguments won't wash with me.

My prestige is riding
on this nomination.

Prestige of this country, Senator
Anderson. By God, that ought to wash.

Or don't you know we're
in trouble in the world...

outside that little
subcommittee of yours?

Yes, sir, I know our
prestige will suffer...

but it will suffer a lot more if I have to
show up your nominee as a barefaced liar.

If you won't withdraw him, I'll reopen
and call Hardiman Fletcher as a witness.

Then do it. Do what you
like. I won't withdraw.

- Good night, Bobby.
- Good night, Mr. President.

He has a case, Brig.

You can't always cut it black
or white. Not in these times.

But this is black and white.

I just don't understand you. You make a
great speech about the balance of power...

then you ignore your
responsibility...

and want me to rubber-stamp this
nomination just to please the president.

I guess it is inconsistent...

but I've come a long way with him, ever
since we were green congressmen together.

He's pulled us through
six hard years of crisis.

He's tired, Brig, and he's ill.

I love the man.

I guess I can stretch my
responsibility a little.

Love to help him.

I'm sorry, but mine won't stretch.

All right. Give him a few days to save
face, and then we'll put up another nominee.

That isn't what the president said.

He'll bend if he has to.

And I guess he has to.

Brig?

Did I wake you? I'm sorry.

I was waiting for you.

This was a night, Mrs. Anderson.

Your husband had a knockdown-and-dragout
with the president of the United States.

- Oh, Brig.
- It's all right. I won.

I had a very strange
phone call, Brig.

Strange? Well, who was it?

I don't know. A man.

He said that before you go on
with the Leffingwell matter...

you ought to remember
what happened in Hawaii.

Then he hung up.

What happened in Hawaii, Brig?

What was the voice like?

It was crawly. He made it sound like
he knew some kind of nasty secret.

I've been on the front pages the past few
days. We're bound to get crackpot calls.

Just hang up if you get any more.

Are you sure you're doing
the right thing, Brig?

Yes, darling, I'm sure.
Don't worry about it.

What did he mean about Hawaii?

I was stationed there
when I was in the Army.

I don't see what that has
to do with Leffingwell.

Just some crackpot,
darling, that's all.

- Hello?
- Did you speak to your husband?

- What do you want? Who are you?
- We're serious about this.

- You call here one...
- Hello!

Hello?

- I told you to hang up on those calls.
- Brig, I'm frightened.

Now, look, there is nothing to
be frightened of, Ellen. Nothing!

Come on, let's have some breakfast.

The senator handling the inland waterways
bill can't be present this afternoon.

If the senator from
Michigan will agree...

I would like to ask that nothing
be put ahead of this bill.

Since the afternoon is
an extremely busy one...

When is the president
going to withdraw?

You can't hurry him, Brig. After all,
we don't run that end of the avenue.

I am very glad to accommodate
the senator, Mr. President.

I move we stand in recess
until noon tomorrow.

Without objection, so ordered.

Have you seen him?

He's on a destroyer at Chesapeake
Bay for the naval boat race.

Come on, don't look so worried. After
all, you won your point last night.

Have a cup of coffee with me.

No, thanks.

Early recess, senator?

Hello, Seab.

A man can live like a mole in
the halls of that old capitol.

Me, I just sit out here for a while
most every day, winter or summer.

You look like you've got
the burden, son. Sit down.

You got them treed, haven't you? Look
out they don't shinny down on top of you.

You're dealing with devious
men, senator. Yes, sir.

Devious, powerful men.

Hardiman Fletcher took a
plane to Europe this afternoon.

A mission for the president.

Gonna make a study of
world currency problems.

You know that?

Well, it'll be in the
papers tomorrow morning.

- Where do you come into this, Seab?
- Well...

let's just say you've got a
friend. A powerful, devious friend.

Thanks.

Thanks. I might need him.

- Bob.
- Hi, Brig.

- Change your mind?
- I just wanna verify something.

Something about Hardiman Fletcher.

Well, what about Hardiman Fletcher?

Is this an act?

- I don't know what you're talking about.
- Go now.

I give you my word, I don't
know anything about it.

I don't understand why
the president did this.

All I can think of is he's making sure
you won't jump the gun until he's ready.

Hello.

Oh, yes, he's here.

Who is this?

Just a minute, please.

Oh, Brig, there's a call for you.

- For me?
- Yeah. It's your clerk.

- Hello.
- Hello. Senator Anderson?

- Who is this?
- Well, it's not your clerk.

Don't hang up, senator. You'll be interested
in this. We have the stuff on Hawaii.

If you don't want us to use it,
you'll get out of Leffingwell's way.

This is no joke,
senator. We'll use it.

Use what? What? I
don ' t know what...

It's a photograph,
senator. And a letter.

Listen, I won ' t be
scared off. I mean it.

I won ' t carry this anymore.
I'll go to Senate and tell it all!

- Take it easy. What's the matter?
- He withdraws!

I don't mean tomorrow! I don't mean
next week! Today, you understand? Today!

Brig.

Will you come in, Miss Foster?

There was a man about five or six
weeks ago. His name was Raymond Shaff.

"Ray," he probably said. I didn't
want to talk to him. Do you remember?

Yes. He called several times.
He also came to the office.

- Did he leave a number?
- I think so.

Senator?

Yes, Miss Foster?

I have no telephone number, but I
have an address in New York City.

Thank you. Would you just
put it on my desk, please?

- Then why send Fletcher away?
- I had nothing to do with it.

I haven't talked to the
president since the hearing.

You expect me to believe you don't know
whether he's going to withdraw you or not?

Senator, I've put myself at his disposal.
I'm waiting for him to tell me what to do.

Well, I won't wait.
I don't need Fletcher.

I'll convene the hearing
and you won't lie this time.

You can't do that, senator.

I've got to do it!

Why? What does a day matter?
Or two? You have the whip hand.

I'm giving you a chance.

Call the press, announce your
withdrawal. Forget the president.

I've given the president my word.

Your word is not exactly
the coin of the realm.

No, maybe it isn't, thanks to your
committee. But I still place a value on it.

And there's nothing more to be
said. Good afternoon, senator.

Did you hear all of that, Johnny?

Did you understand it?

Well, I don't exactly know
how to explain it, Johnny.

- Okay.
- No. Wait a minute.

I could tell you the truth.

All right.

Sit down, Johnny.

Brig?

I'd like to talk to you, please.

I had another call, Brig.

Yes, I took the call.

When did I become the little woman who's
supposed to sit at home and know nothing?

Brig, I've campaigned with
you. I've worked for you.

I know politics isn't all...

love thy neighbor and friendship.

I know how cruel it can be.

There's trouble. I
want to know what it is.

Please, Daddy, you
promised to play with me.

In a minute, Pidge.

Do you know someone named Ray?

Please, Daddy.

Please, Pidge.

Go back in the garden.

Daddy will be there in a minute.

He said to tell you
that they had bought Ray.

What does that mean?

I don't know.

You must know.

Will you please just
leave this to me?

But it's coming into my
home on that telephone.

They're calling me, Brig. They're trying
to force you to do something through me.

Now, you've got to
tell me what it is.

You're getting all
hysterical about nothing.

Now, I don't know what those phone calls
are about, but I'm trying to find out.

For the first time in our lives,
you're not telling me the truth.

That awful creature
on the telephone.

He knows what he's talking about.
He's not making something up.

Something will happen if you don't do what
he wants, and you must prepare me for it.

Ellen, please, don't press me.

I've got to have
time to work this out.

Why can't I help you?

What do you think I live for?

You're my whole life, you and
Ridge. There isn't anything else.

I know that. I know that.

If they're threatening you through
me, it can only mean one thing.

It's about a woman, isn't it?

Is that why you're
afraid to tell me?

I know I'm not everything
a wife should be.

I know we haven't had
an exciting marriage.

It's my fault.

Darling, nothing in the
whole world is your fault.

This is something from a long
time ago. Before I even knew you.

If I could only...

- Tell me, Brig, tell me.
- I can't.

Then you'd better do
what these people want.

It doesn't seem so very much.

Not if it means that our whole...

If I do what they want, everything
that I have tried to be...

everything that I have tried to stand for
in my life would be just thrown away. No.

Brig, I can't wait for
a mountain to fall on me.

I can't be that brave.

I'll take Pidge and leave.

Shall I do that? Shall
I take Ridge and go?

What do you expect me to do?

All I want to do is stand beside you,
and you give me no place to stand.

I want you to wait. Wait
for just a little while.

If I can't stop these people, then I'll
tell you all there is to tell, everything.

Then you can decide.
But wait. Please wait.

And if you do stop them?

I'll ask you to try and
forget this ever happened.

Oh, I couldn't leave you.

No matter what happens,
I couldn't leave you.

Hurry up, Daddy.

Hurry up, Daddy. It's getting dark.

Oh, go and help her
with the silly fish.

I have to do
something about dinner.

Where is Daddy going?

- Have you any luggage, senator?
- No. No luggage.

Hold flight 338.
VIR. Senator Anderson.

- Gate 11, sir.
- Thank you.

And Brig was more determined than ever the
president should withdraw Mr. Leffingwell.

Then these telephone
calls began to come.

I don't know what else to tell
you, Lafe. I know I'm meddling.

I know Brig will be angry and embarrassed
if he finds out I talked to you.

Maybe he won't have to know.

I said some things to
him I shouldn't have said.

He was desperate when he
left. Really desperate, Lafe.

He might be protecting someone
else. Had you thought of that?

Yes, that might be
it. That's like Brig.

I'll tell you what.

When he comes home, tell him
to call me at Dolly Harrison's.

I'll get around and find
out what it's all about.

Now, you stop worrying.

- I'm sorry to bother you, Lafe.
- I'm glad you did.

What's a friend for?

This must be Lafe. Excuse me.

Senator, we were just
about to begin without you.

I'm sorry, Dolly.
It was unavoidable.

I'm sure she must have been.

Oh, Dolly. Could you get Bob
to drift out here for a minute?

Oh, we are serious,
aren't we? Of course.

Hello, lover.

Bob, I know about the argument
between Brig and the president.

- How?
- His wife.

- Now I know why I never married again.
- No, no. She's scared.

Bob. Brig's got a
blackmailer on his tail.

Blackmailer?

- You know anything about it?
- Are you joking?

It's about Leffingwell.

Thought maybe you had some ideas.

Where is Brig?

I've been looking for
him. That's why I'm late.

Blackmail. Are you sure
his wife isn't exaggerating?

I don't believe so.

Well?

Yes, I might have some idea.

Why in the devil didn't he come to
me with this or to you? Somebody?

- Did you leave word for him to call here?
- His wife or office will tell him.

- Yes?
- Ray?

Who is it?

Is this Raymond Shaff?

Hello.

- You want Ray?
- Yes, please.

- He doesn't live here, you know.
- He left this apartment number.

- I'm a friend of Ray's. Are you a friend?
- Where can I find him?

Won't you sit down, please?

- Do you know where I can find Ray?
- Please, sit.

I'm making some tea.
Would you like some tea?

Thanks just the same.

- My name is Manuel. I didn't get your name.
- Do you know where I can reach Ray?

- I'd appreciate it.
- I said, I didn't get your name.

Anderson.

Where are you from, Mr. Anderson?

Well, if it's any help, I'm from out
of town. Utah. I knew Ray in the Army.

Oh, Utah. Way out West.

Mormons, and "This is
the place" and all that.

Mr. Manuel, if you don't
mind, I'm in kind of a hurry.

I have kind of a mail and answering
service here for friends like Ray.

Nothing big.

Confidential, you understand.

See?

Oh, yes. Yes, I see.

- Will this do?
- Oh, anything. Just put it there.

Would you like to meet Ray here?

Can't you give me his
address or phone number?

It's convenient here. It's quiet.

Cream or lemon?

Mr. Manuel, do you know
where Ray is or don't you?

Oh, it's like that.

Urgent, sudden, PDQ.

Won't you sit down, please?

Yes, it's urgent.

I think he'll be at 602.

- It's a big night at 602.
- 602 what?

The club, 602.

I'll give you the address.

You can come back here with Ray.

I mean, you've paid.

Well, come on in.

Don't just stand there.

Hey, don't run off.

Ray?

Ray! You're with me.

Brig?

- Wait a moment, Brig.
- Taxi!

Let me explain.
Brig, wait a moment.

- Taxi!
- Brig...

I needed money, Brig.
Well, you wouldn't see me.

I kept calling. I was drunk.

Newark Airport!

Drive, will you? Drive!

Please fasten your
seat belt, senator.

You mind, Brig?

Harley. Sure. I didn't see you.

- If you'd rather sleep...
- No, no, no. Sit there.

- What time do we get to old Foggy Bottom?
- About midnight.

What? What were you doing
in New York, making a speech?

PTA convention. You?

Business. Just business.

Are you going to give in?

On Leffingwell, I mean.

I know what you mean.

- What do you know about it?
- Well, I can't say I know anything.

I'm not included in very much, either
by the senators or the president.

But that doesn't prevent me
from doing a little guesswork.

You're being pushed and
pushed hard, aren't you, Brig?

Why are you going it alone?
That's what I don't understand.

Some character once said that being
vice president isn't exactly a crime.

They can't put you in jail for it.

But it is a sort of a disgrace, like
living in a mansion with no furniture.

If you don't mind traveling
in such impoverished company...

I might be able to help you.

I've suddenly gotten the feeling you're
the most underestimated man in Washington...

Anything I can do, Brig.

Maybe you're right. Maybe if...

Go ahead.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are approaching
an area of possible turbulence.

Please fasten your
seat belts. Thank you.

Brig?

Forget it, Harley.

Please forget it.

Well, looks like rain.
I'll run you home.

- Come on, hop in.
- What? Oh, no. No, thanks, Harley.

I've got my car over here.

Brig?

Do you feel all right?

Good night, Harley.

Good evening, senator.

- Hi, Mike.
- Senator Smith was around looking for you.

He said you can get
him at Mrs. Harrison's.

Thanks.

But the elevators
are running, senator.

Senator.

You in there, senator?

It's Mike, senator.

Ace queen bets three.

Dear me. I may be
forced to drop out.

Is that how the British
played their cards at Waterloo?

No, but it served us well at
Dunkirk. Different hands, of course.

- Out.
- No good.

Nope.

- Running a sandy, Seabright?
- No. I'm running a possum.

It looks like I've
got him nearly treed.

Senator Smith, you're
wanted on the telephone.

Thank you. Excuse me.

- Closed.
- All right?

Wheel and deal, madam.

Still a possible
flush. Pair of sevens.

Jack to me.

Is that Brig?

What's the matter?

He's dead.

Brig?

In his office.

He cut his throat.

Are you two at it again?
We're on the last hand.

Sorry, everyone.

- We just got word Brig Anderson's dead.
- What?

Oh, Bobby.

Stan, will you get Harley and meet
Lafe and me at the Anderson home?

- I know he'd like to be there.
- Of course.

How did it happen?

It looks like he killed himself.

No, I don't know.

He was good, and kind and honest.

I don't know what it was they
were trying to use against him.

But whatever it was,
they can't use it anymore.

So it doesn't matter, does it?

Did Brig have any idea about...

who might be behind all this?

No.

No.

Excuse me.

Please excuse me!

I know Van Ackerman's behind it.

What I don't know,
is he alone in it?

If he is alone in it, it
becomes a Senate matter...

for the Senate to
handle in its own way.

And if Van Ackerman isn't alone?

Is that what they think of me on the
Hill? Is that what you think of me, Bobby?

No, I don't. But Harley here might
like a straighter answer than that.

As God is my witness,
Harley, I know nothing of it.

- What about Leffingwell?
- There will still be a suspicion...

in some quarters that you're involved in
Brig's death. Better withdraw Leffingwell.

The president is always suspect by some
because people are suspicious of power.

I can't be guided by that.

I'm sorry about Brig Anderson.
Don't misunderstand me.

I wish he were alive and happy.

But he's dead, morning's coming, and
I still need a secretary of state.

The situation hasn't changed.

Except now you could bring
Leffingwell to the floor for a vote.

You've got the votes
committed, Bobby, use them.

Well, Harley, what are you
looking so shocked about?

You think in my place, you'd feel
any differently about this than I do?

I don't know, Mr. President.

But the last night I saw Brig
Anderson, I saw a man in terrible pain.

I wonder if Leffingwell or any
one man is worth all of this.

Wondering doesn't run a government.

Good night, Harley.

Good night, Mr. President.

Good night, Mr. President.

Bobby.

Yes, sir?

I do want to confirm
a suspicion to you.

Maybe it will help you understand
why I want Leffingwell so badly.

I understand.

I'm going fast. There's nothing left
inside here that's working anymore.

Leffingwell can take a firm grip on
everything I've built up in foreign policy.

Not let it all fall to pieces.

Harley can't. You know he can't.

No, I don't know that. Why don't you
bring him in and give him some help?

I haven't any time to run
a school for presidents.

I haven't any time for anything.

I guess I've been wrong
in many, many things.

I don't suppose history will
have much good to say of me.

I can't dwell on that.

I've done my best.

You're one of the
great presidents, Russ.

Well, if you think so, that's
almost as good as history.

Bye, Bobby.

Good night, Mr. President.

Thank you.

- Anything there?
- Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Don't you ever go to bed, Seab?

Sleep's a waste of
precious time for old folks.

I have a feeling you've
been waiting for me.

Mr. Majority Leader...

tomorrow I'm gonna
raise the dome...

off the capitol building. That
old dome won't sit right again...

when I get through speaking my
piece. I know all about James Morton.

How long have you known
about James Morton?

That's not important. The important
thing is, I know about him.

- I said, how long, Seab?
- There's nothing more to say.

- You forced Fletcher to call Brig.
- I was trying to do the best for everybody.

I'll tell you what you were doing. You were
amusing yourself watching us all squirm.

Laughing while a dying president put
up a fight for a man he believes in.

In the Senate, you kept quiet while
Brigham Anderson carried the load.

You were playing for the
right moment to rise up...

and turn on the mighty
wrath of Seab Cooley.

All right, Seab, you've got it.

The biggest moment
you'll ever have.

Brig Anderson gave it to
you with a dull razor blade.

Will you wait?

I'll make you a deal,
Mr. Majority Leader.

Turn your votes loose, and
I'll keep my mouth shut.

Even if that man is confirmed,
I'll keep my mouth shut.

You call that a deal?

- I call it extortion.
- I meant it as a favor.

Thanks. I can do
without your favors.

The subcommittee, under the
chairmanship of Senator Anderson...

has reported favorably
to the full committee.

And the full committee
vote is as follows:

Eight votes for recommendation,
five votes opposed, one abstention.

By this vote, the Committee
on Foreign Relations...

recommends that Robert A. Leffingwell
be confirmed for secretary of state.

I return the floor to
the senator from Michigan.

I move the Senate now
advise and consent...

to the nomination of Robert A.
Leffingwell for secretary of state.

The question is, will the
Senate advise and consent...

to the nomination of Robert A.
Leffingwell for secretary of state?

The senator from South Carolina
has apprised me of his intention...

to speak on this motion.

The chair now recognizes the
senior senator from South Carolina.

Mr. President, there is
some opinion harbored here...

that my opposition to Mr. Leffingwell
has been a matter of vindictiveness.

Mr. President, I'm afraid
that's true to some degree...

and for this, I humbly apologize...

to this chamber...

and to the man in the White House, who,
with good intentions for this nation...

sent the nominee down to us.

I don't expect this apology
to wash away my sins...

but I hope that it will, in
some way, reestablish me...

as a senator in the
eyes of my colleagues...

rather than as the
flannel-mouthed old curmudgeon...

I seem to have become in my
waning years, and so much for that.

Mr. President...

I shall still oppose
Mr. Leffingwell...

but without vindictiveness.

His voice is not the voice I
wanna hear speak for America.

It is, to me, an alien voice.

Perhaps it's the new
voice of my country.

These old ears aren't tuned
to these new sounds, I know.

I don't understand much
that Mr. Leffingwell says.

I don't understand how
principles of dignity...

can become outworn...

or how this nation can be
represented without pride.

I don't understand these things.

Of course, I am what
I am, feel as I feel.

I'm gonna vote
against confirmation...

yet...

I ask no man to follow me in this.

Mr. President.

Recognize the senior
senator from Michigan.

The senior senator
from South Carolina...

has just eaten a rather
large order of crow.

Strangely enough, he makes
the dish seem palatable.

He makes us all want
to sit at his table.

He calls himself a curmudgeon.

Well, I hope the day never comes...

when there is not at least
one curmudgeon in this body...

to goad us in the right direction.

I can't agree with him
about Mr. Leffingwell.

I don't interpret Mr. Leffingwell in the
same way. I don't hear an alien voice.

To me, it sounds realistic.
And more than that...

I have great respect for the
judgment of our chief executive.

I'll vote for the nominee.

But there are tragic circumstances
surrounding this nomination...

which takes it out of the usual
business and sets it deeply...

into the conscience
of each senator.

For this reason, I now wish to
release all pledges made to me.

- Mr. President, will the senator yield?
- I will not.

All pledges made to me are
free to vote as they will.

- What kind of a double-cross is this? -
The senator from Michigan has the floor.

- Mr. President, I ask for a quorum.
- I protest!

A quorum call precludes any speeches
from the floor until the call is finished.

Mr. Clerk?

- Mr. Abbott.
- Present.

- Mrs. Adams.
- Present.

- Mr. Andrews.
- Here.

- Well, Seab.
- Well, Bob.

- I'll beat you anyway.
- That, sir, is a question.

- Mr. Caulfield.
- Here.

It is impossible to predict the outcome
because there was no time to poll...

the individual members of the
Senate, who will now decide...

free of political commitments,
guided only by their own conviction...

how to vote on the question
of Leffingwell's confirmation.

Senator Anderson's
mysterious suicide will...

Wells, Simpson, Lansing.

Mr. Randall.

Kanaho abstained in the committee
vote, but he'll vote with Seab.

Strike him off.
Goodman, strike him off.

- Mr. Toland.
- Present.

- Mr. Topper.
- Here.

- Mr. Van Ackerman.
- Here and waiting!

- Mr. Young.
- Present.

- Mr. Zeffenbach.
- Here.

Call the absentees.

Mr. Courtney.

Mr. Fickett.

Mr. Fields.

Mr. Granville.

Mr. Larkins.

Thank you. From Strickland. Seven
minority votes for Leffingwell.

- A 42 majority, seven minority. Forty-nine.
- Well, we've still got a chance to win.

Prior to the quorum, the Foreign
Relations Committee reported favorably...

on the nomination of Robert A.
Leffingwell for secretary of state.

The senator from Michigan moved
the Senate advise and consent...

- to that nomination.
- Mr. President.

I did not relinquish the floor when
I asked for a quorum, Mr. President.

The senior senator from
Michigan still has the floor.

The senator can't hold
the floor in silence.

With the chair's permission,
I shall be very brief.

The chair gladly gives
permission to be brief.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Yeas and nays have been requested.
Is there a sufficient number?

I demand recognition,
Mr. President!

You can't close to me!

- Question!
- Question!

Both sides of the aisle are loudly
demanding an immediate vote...

on the question whether
or not to consent...

to the president's nomination of
Leffingwell as secretary of state.

Plainly, both parties are
repudiating Van Ackerman's tactics.

He is still putting up a fight to regain the
floor before the question is put to a vote.

This is conspiracy!

The chair is conspiring
to stop debate!

The chair is violating the rules of the
Senate! I will not be bullied this way!

There is a sufficient show of hands.
Yeas and nays have been ordered.

- The clerk will call the roll.
- Mr. Abbott.

- Yes.
- Mrs. Adams.

What are you and Harley trying to pull?
You can't gag me. I'll get an investigation.

I don't think you'd want that.

- We're on to it, Fred.
- What are you talking about? On to what?

We tolerate about anything here.

Prejudice, atticism,
demagoguery, anything.

That's what the Senate's
for, to tolerate freedom.

But you've dishonored us.

Mr. Bender of California.

What I did was for the
good of the country.

Fortunately, our country always
manages to survive patriots like you.

We could introduce a resolution
to censure and expel you.

But we don't want Brig Anderson's
tired old sin made public.

Whatever it was.

- So we let you stay, if you want to.
- If you want to.

Mr. Bronson.

No.

Mr. Caulfield.

Yes.

- Mr. Satinas.
- Yes!

Mr. Chambers.

Yes.

- Mr. Chatsworth.
- Yes.

- Mr. Cook.
- Yes.

- Mr. Cooley.
- No.

- Mr. Cunningham.
- No.

- Mr. Curry.
- Yes.

Mr. Dahl.

No.

- Mr. Daniels.
- Yes.

Maybe we should've waited for his
vote. Now we only have a margin of two.

- Slipped up there, didn't we?
- Mr. Danta.

Yes.

So far, the vote is running about even,
and it is still impossible to predict...

the final outcome.

- No.
- Mr. Eaves.

Somebody better wake up
McCafferty. We need his vote.

- Mr. Evans.
- McCafferty's asleep again.

- Mr. Everett.
- Wake up McCafferty. We need his vote.

- Mr. Farmer.
- Wake up McCafferty. We need his vote.

Awaken the senator.

- Yes.
- Mr. Frank.

- Opposed, sir. I'm opposed.
- No, no, senator, not yet.

And I believe that
you're not opposed.

- Mr. Jollie.
- No.

During the last few minutes,
Leffingwell's chances have improved...

and it seems more than likely he
will be confirmed by a small margin...

of maybe one or two votes.

Of course, in case of a tie, we can
definitely count on the vice president...

to use his decisive vote
in favor of the nominee.

- Harley has always gone along...
- Mr. President!

- With the majority leader's policies.
- Call Dr. Slater. Hurry.

- Mr. Smith of Oregon.
- Yes.

Mr. Smith of Rhode Island.

Mr. Smith of Rhode Island.

- No.
- What the...?

That ties it.

Haven't had so much fun since
the cayenne pepper hit the fan.

- Mr. Snyder.
- Yes.

- Mr. Sorensen.
- Yes.

- Mr. Strickland.
- No.

- Mr. Sundberg.
- No.

- Mr. Swanson.
- Harley, we're coming in deadlocked.

- You'll have to make it good.
- Okay.

Mr. Tate.

Yes.

- Mr. Teller.
- No.

- Mr. Temple.
- No.

- Mr. Thacker.
- Yes.

- Mr. Thompson.
- No.

- Mr. Timothy.
- Yes.

The third painting by Colonel Trumbull
is the surrender of Lord Cornwallis...

at Yorktown, Virginia.

Major O'Hara in the red coat in the
foreground delivered his sword for him.

Washington wouldn't accept the
sword from anyone beneath his rank.

- Mr. Toland.
- Yes.

- Mr. Thule.
- No.

- Yes.
- Mr. Topper.

- Yes.
- Mr. Tracy of New Jersey.

- No.
- Mr. Tracy of Washington.

- No.
- Mr. Vandergrift.

- Yes.
- Mr. Vassar.

- No.
- Mr. Welch.

- Yes.
- Mr. Wells.

- Yes.
- Mr. Whitman.

- No.
- Mr. Williams.

- No.
- Mr. Wilson.

- Yes.
- Mr. Woodworth.

- No.
- Mr. Yost.

Yes.

- Mr. Young.
- No.

- Mr. Zeffenbach.
- Yes.

The vote is tied at 47 to 47.

The vice president will not exercise
his constitutional privilege...

to break this tie with an affirmative
vote. The motion to advise and consent...

to the nomination of Robert A. Leffingwell
for secretary of state stands defeated.

- Sit down.
- Mind your own business!

Something's happened. Sit down.

It has fallen to me to
make a sad announcement.

The president died
a few minutes ago.

Will the senior senator from South Carolina,
as president pro tempore of the Senate...

please assume the chair.

- Good luck, sir.
- Thank you.

About the vote, Bob, I'm sorry.

I'd prefer to name my
own secretary of state.

All right, Harley, Mr. President.

- I'll see what I can do for him.
- Thank you.

- Mr. President.
- Recognize the senior senator...

from Michigan.

Senators...

a great leader is dead.

A bitter loss for our country...

a bitter personal loss
for all of us here.

I move we adjourn out of
respect until further notice.

So ordered.