Advise and Consent Page #3

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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. Rresident, 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 lllinois, 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. Rresident, I must defend | my distinguished colleague from lllinois.

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 lsland...

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.

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