Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court
Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court
Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court October 13, 1991. Commitee hearing after the Anita Hill charges of sexual harassment. Panel of supporters of University of Oklahoma Law Professor Anita Hill give testimony. Ms. Ellen Wells, friend of Professor Hill, Mr. John William Carr, Judge Susan Hoerchner, fellow classmate at Yale Law School, and Professor Joel Paul, American University law professor.
Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court
People moving around the hearing chamber during a recess.
Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court
Senators entering the hearing chamber after a recess. Senators speaking to each other and their staff.
Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court
Senator Joseph Biden (D - Delaware). The hearing will come back to order. To explain to the witnesses what we are doing, is trying to figure out the remainder of the schedule. I emphasize again that Senator Thurmond and I are under strict time constraints placed on us, understandably, by the entirety of the Senate, the leadership in the Senate and the remainder of the Senate, to resolve this entire matter in time for all of our colleagues to be able to consider all the testimony here and make a judgment. As I have indicated at the outset, were this a trial, which is not, all of you who are sitting as the panel members here know that there would be a legitimate reason for this trial to go on for another week or more. We do not have that luxury. The nominee insists on a resolution of it. The White House insists on a resolution of it. And the Senate insists on a resolution of it. So what we are attempting to do is work out not only a time when we are going to vote on this on the Senate floor, which is done six o'clock Tuesday night, but an agreement on an absolute end time when these hearings will end. And I assure this panel, you will not have to be here till the end. We are about to do that with you all now, and we will probably recess very briefly after this panel is completed to discuss the final, the final witness list and the time frame within which each witness or panel will be coming before the Committee. I thank the panel and I thank everyone in this room for their indulgence, and I hope they understand. But based upon the knowledge of the arcane processes of the Senate I am sure no one will understand. But nonetheless, that is where we are. Now, where were we in questioning? Who was next?
Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court
Senator Joseph Biden (D - Delaware). Senator Simon has five minutes. Senator Paul Simon (D - Illinois). Mr. Chairman, first, if I may comment on something said by Senator Specter just before my time came up. He said, and I wrote it down, there were more than 11 calls, only 11 that were documented. To my knowledge, that is an inaccurate statement. We know Judge Thomas - Senator Arlen Specter (R - Pennsylvania). Mr. Chairman, I said we would produce a witness who would testify to that. That there were other calls, that 11 were documented when he wasn't there, but we would produce a witness. So, if Senator Simon is going to quote me, please be accurate. Senator Paul Simon (D - Illinois). Well, if you know that there were more. So far there has been nothing entered into the evidence suggesting that there are more than 11 calls. Senator Joseph Biden (D - Delaware). Let me ask the Senator from Pennsylvania, has the name of that witness been made available to the Committee as a whole? Senator Paul Simon (D - Illinois). Yes. That is Ms. Holt, who is the custodian of the records-- Senator Joseph Biden (D - Delaware). Ms. Holt. All right. Fine. Senator Arlen Specter (R - Pennsylvania). -- and also the secretary, who is prepared to testify that there were many more calls made by Professor Hill which got through to Judge Thomas, so there was not a notation. Senator Joseph Biden (D - Delaware). But it is Ms. Holt we are talking about? Senator Arlen Specter (R - Pennsylvania). That is right. Senator Joseph Biden (D - Delaware). Thank you. Senator Paul Simon (D - Illinois). And let me just add that one or more of those calls were made with great reluctance. We have evidence on that also.