Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight Page #5

simply a side effect

of a free exchange

of ideas.

Calm down.

Get out.

He's right. The Court

should rule on the war.

Oh, Bill, you've been

singing that song since '66.

Yes, and I'll go on

singing it, Whizzer.

Bill, please.

My name is Byron.

This is not a war

that's making the world

safe for democracy.

It's a war of aggression.

It is

up to Congress

to challenge the

war, not the Court.

It's up to

the Court to decide

the constitutionality

of it, Byron.

If I was still

in the Senate,

I would lead the charge!

They're trying

to say that they want peace.

They're trying to say that

they want to stop the killing.

They're trying to say that

they want to end the draft.

They're trying to say that we

ought to get out of Vietnam.

I agree with everything that

they're trying to accomplish.

Yes? It's the White House, sir.

Thank you, Janet. You can

put the call through, please.

Who's acting for the vets?

Is it Ramsey Clark?

I believe so, sir.

Get Ramsey Clark

on the phone,

and the Solicitor

General as well. Yes, sir.

There is a real danger

to security, Chief.

The anti-war protestors

have advertised plans

to shut down the city.

"Advertised plans?"

The government

has no business

anticipating

unlawful conduct.

The Justice Department is

seeking a re-instatement

of the lower court order

to prevent the Vets from

camping on the Mall at night.

Well, the Appeals Court

rule they can stay-

This is the Supreme Court,

Mr. Clark,

and if the United States

government

believes there's

a danger to security,

I will have no choice

but to reinstate

the lower court order.

The city won't grant

them a permit

to camp anywhere else.

You'll be evicting

a peaceful group

before their

protest is over.

Well, due to

the lateness of the hour,

I believe the order won't

be instated until tomorrow.

Sir, first thing

in the morning,

I will appeal the

decision to the full Court.

I'm not sure

the other Justices

will support you.

Well, that remains to be seen,

Mr. Clark.

I drove past

on my way here.

There are thousands of them

camped out there.

Oh, Warren, they are

veterans against the war.

Men and women who

fought for their country.

There is chaos, John.

Police barricades.

Traffic is stalled all the

way up Pennsylvania Avenue.

It's as if the entire

city is under siege.

They were in Court today.

Tomorrow, they could

be in Chambers!

Tonight, I had

to reinstate

the lower court order

to evict them.

You shouldn't

have acted alone.

It was an emergency

petition.

The president is

very concerned.

Excuse me, did I

hear you right?

You spoke

to the president?

I speak to him often.

He's a good friend.

A Justice should be wholly

removed from politics.

I don't even vote in

Presidential elections.

First thing tomorrow,

Ramsey Clark

will appeal my ruling

to the full Court

and I don't wish

to be overruled, John.

In 20 years, that has

only happened once.

Now, I need you.

I depend upon you

to talk to the others.

Bill Brennan,

Thurgood in particular.

Bill Douglas.

The decision

must be unanimous.

It is essential to both

the Court and the Nation

that we all

come aboard on this.

I would

appreciate it, John.

John,

the Chief's order

is a breach of

the First Amendment.

Government's trying

to govern by court injunctions.

We're being asked to do

Nixon's dirty work.

The Chief should've gone into politics.

That's his true calling, not the law.

Yeah, just like

Bill Brennan.

Hugo, please.

I think you all

malign the Chief unfairly.

Since his appointment,

debate in conference

has been more open,

much freer

than it ever was

under his predecessor.

You can't argue with that.

I know this is not ideal

and normally we have

the luxury of time

but this was

an emergency petition.

And there's no point

in conflict.

You just get locked.

I'm with you, John.

To overrule

the Chief would be

a personal affront.

Personal affront? What

are you talking about?

It is not in our interest to

embarrass him, or the Court.

Oh.

We have to vote

with the Chief.

Let me have one of these,

John. Yeah. Yeah, go ahead.

Well, shall we

put it to a vote, then?

Thank you, gentlemen,

for your unanimous support.

Excuse me, Chief.

I'm afraid

the demonstrations outside

are growing stronger.

I pledge allegiance

to the Flag

of the United States of America,

and to the Republic

for which it stands,

one Nation under God,

indivisible,

with liberty

and justice for all.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag

of the United States of America,

and to the Republic

for which it stands,

one Nation under God,

indivisible,

with liberty

and justice for all.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag

of the United States of America,

and to the Republic

for which it stands,

one Nation under God,

indivisible,

with liberty

and justice for all.

Do you know

it's the first time

in the history

of the Court

that the doors have been

closed during working hours?

Is that so?

This is

serious, sir.

The government can't stop

people from assembling

because of some

vague fear

that they're gonna

commit a crime.

These protesters

were exercising

their constitutional

right.

On the Mall, in

front of the Court.

They weren't

causing any trouble.

I would say

it was necessary

to protect the city

and the Court.

And I say fiddle-sticks to that, sir.

It's the First

Amendment.

It's the law, sir.

If the Supreme Court's not gonna protect

the constitutional rights of the people,

then who is?

Sir, please remain

completely still.

A tumor.

On one of the vertebraes

of my lower spine.

I'm sorry to hear

that, John. I really am.

I'll tender my resignation

at the end of the term.

Yeah. Yeah, I think

that's best.

John, smoking?

Oh, you know what

the doctor said?

He said, "If smoking

gives you comfort,

then carry on smoking. "

Cigarettes are the least

of my worries, my friend.

When Muhammad Ali lost

his heavyweight boxing title

for refusing military induction,

he also lost his

license to fight.

Now after 31/2 years

out of the sport,

the state of Georgia

is willing to let the ex-champ

back in the ring.

He said

it was a very severe cut.

That's the reason he stopped it.

The winner at the end of the

third round-Muhammad Ali!

The next step in the boxing

comeback of Muhammad Ali

will be a bout with

contender Oscar Bonavena.

And he

goes down again!

It's over.

Ali is the knockout winner

at two minutes and 3 seconds.

If Joe comes out smoking,

I ain't gonna be joking.

I'll be peckin' an' a-pokin',

pouring water on his smokin'.

This might shock and amaze ya,

but I will retire Joe Frazier.

I have a lot of speed

and a lot of endurance.

When I meet Frazier,

he'll need more insurance.

...he's wearing

red trunks.

He weighs 215,

undefeated in 31 bouts

scoring 25 knockouts,

here it is Muhammad Ali!

Not gonna go

his way in court.

Won't go his way

tonight, either.

Ali's the better fighter.

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