Advise and Consent Page #4

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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 Ronts.

- 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 b*tch 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 b*tch?

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...

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