Advise and Consent Page #6

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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?

B-U-K-O-W-S-K-l.

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.

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