Confirmation Page #5

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Step off, ma'am. Step off.

(REPORTERS CLAMORING)

Get closer.

A little more. A little more.

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(HONKING)

- MAN:
Come on!

- I don't know.

- Lady, really?

- Sorry. I don't know.

MALE REPORTER:

They earned law degrees at Yale

and went to Washington

to begin their careers.

Now, in the nation's capital

and before the world,

they are at opposite ends

of a personal, legal,

political, and emotional dispute

of historic proportions.

- Ma'am.

- Thank you.

You're welcome.

- (INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

- Here she is. You found us. Good.

Great to see you.

Wish it was under different circumstances.

Hi, Anita. Janet Napolitano.

Ms. Hill, I'm Warner Gardner.

Anita, hi. Judith Resnik.

- Hi, Anita. I'm Michele Roberts.

- Pleasure.

- Sue Ross.

- Hi.

Anita, I'm John Frank.

- Thank you.

- It's my pleasure.

Professor Hill, Charles Ogle tree.

- I'd heard you were unavailable.

- I worked it out.

Well, we have a lot to do

and little time in which to do it.

Let's get started.

You worked for him all of what, two years?

Two and a half.

Hmm.

And you were both single all that time?

Yes. Well, I had a dating life, as did he.

Hmm.

Excuse me. You never dated each other?

No.

I mean, not even two colleagues

at the end of the day,

"Hey, let's go catch a movie"?

Why would I do that?

I couldn't stand to be around him.

- Is that right?

- Yes.

Hmm? Starting when?

At Education or the EEOC?

I suppose you're trying to find out

why I followed him.

Anita, you did stay in touch with him.

By that, if you mean

that there was occasionally a reason

for me to call him on professional

matters, then yes, I...

What about the office Christmas party?

What party?

Nat King Cole roasting chestnuts,

too much eggnog.

You get a little sloppy.

- You wind up knocking boots with the boss.

- No. No.

- Happens all the time.

- Absolutely not. Not to me.

- No?

- No.

Charles, I don't know

- what the hell goes on at Cambridge.

- No judgment.

But I do not get sloppy.

That is not who I am.

And for you to imply that it might be means

that you are grossly mistaken

about me personally,

and more importantly tells me

that you need to learn

the damn truth about sexual harassment.

Hmm.

Okay?

Okay.

And tomorrow will be much worse.

Yeah.

MALE REPORTER:
There is in Washington

almost a giddy sense of anticipation

about the impending drama.

It's like the flash of lightning

in the summer sky just before a big storm,

and all around town

it's all anyone's talking about.

Oh, yes, it's much more fun

than talking about national health insurance.

Joe. Joe, you are not seriously

having Anita Hill testify first, are you?

She's the one who made the claim.

She's asked to go first, so yes.

She's already gone first.

She's told her story to the media.

Her claims are out there,

and they are hanging over Clarence's head.

That is exactly why in these proceedings,

Clarence deserves the right

to speak first and clear his name.

- So you're asking me to change the order?

- Yes, I am.

The hearing is less than 12 hours away.

You're the chairman, Joe.

You know what's right here.

So, listen, you go on and get some sleep.

- I'll meet you at the hotel in the morning.

- Hang on.

- We'll ride over together.

- Hang on, guys. Change of plans.

They switched the order.

They're gonna let Thomas testify first.

Danforth convinced Biden

the order wasn't fair to Thomas.

But that doesn't make any sense.

The hearings are about my charges.

What is there to talk about

until I introduce them?

It's strategic.

You get out in front first, you set the tone.

But he can't just make a big change

like this hours before we start.

He's the chairman.

He can do whatever he wants.

MALE REPORTER:
Judge Clarence Thomas is,

as surely the whole country knows now,

accused by Professor Anita Hill

of sexually harassing her

when he was the head

of the Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission,

the government agency

where one would file a complaint

of sexual harassment if one felt

they had been victimized by it.

The country has not heard

from Judge Thomas in person all week,

though he did issue a statement

denying all the charges against him.

Sometime after Judge Thomas testifies,

Professor Hill will be called.

The Judiciary Committee stands accused

of not taking these charges seriously

when they were made.

And this week at least,

virtually the entire Senate

stands accused of being indifferent

to women's rights.

(KNOCKING)

ANNOUNCER:
The number six Oklahoma

Sooner drive for perfection is over.

Their dream for an undefeated season

saw its biggest test and challenge last week

during the Red River shootout

at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas...

Football?

It relaxes me.

...swarming throughout the game.

Oklahoma could not

get anything done offensively

while being held to under 100 yards passing.

FEMALE REPORTER:

Anti-Thomas protesters rallied this morning

before what is expected to be

a dramatic Senate hearing.

Supporters of Judge Thomas gathered

to show solidarity for the nominee, and...

ANNOUNCER:
...despite this outstanding

24-yard touchdown catch

by running back Ted Long.

Quarterback Cale Gundy

was under constant pressure...

That was a hell of a throw.

...late fumble recovery for

the winning touchdown late in the game.

(CROWD CLAMORING)

We're wasting time.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

I'm sorry for this setting.

It's the only quiet spot around here.

(DOOR CLOSING)

In Acts, how do Paul and Silas

prepare for trial?

They sing.

(ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS PLAYING)

Where's Clarence? They're ready for him.

Judge, do you swear to tell the truth,

the whole truth, and nothing

but the truth, so help you God?

I do.

Mr. Chairman, Senator Thurmond,

members of the Committee.

As excruciatingly difficult

as the last two weeks have been,

I welcome the opportunity

to clear my name today.

(SHUTTER CLICKS)

The first I learned of the allegations

by Professor Anita Hill

was on September 25th, 1991,

when the FBI came to my home

to investigate her allegations.

When informed by the FBI agent

of the nature of the allegations

and the person making them,

I was shocked, surprised,

hurt, and enormously saddened.

I cannot imagine anything

that I said or did to Anita Hill

that could have been mistaken

for sexual harassment.

If there is anything

that has been misconstrued

by Anita Hill or anyone else,

then I can say that I am so very sorry

and wish I had known.

Thank you so much for calling.

- That's great. Thank you. It's very helpful.

- (SNAPS FINGER)

Okay, thanks.

That's three more friends of Anita's

in addition to the one we already knew about

who remember her telling them at the time

that Thomas was harassing her.

Go to the chairman's office.

Tell them we need to fly these people in.

- They can all testify together.

- Got it.

...or this country can do

to give me my good name back.

I am not going to engage in discussions,

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