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[Barbara] What the people want
is very simple.
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00:00:15,783 --> 00:00:17,251
They want an America
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00:00:18,819 --> 00:00:20,354
as good as its promise.
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{\an8}[inspirational music playing]
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{\an8}[Ann] When you were
with Barbara,
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00:00:27,528 --> 00:00:30,664
you could never quite shake
the feeling
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00:00:31,565 --> 00:00:34,068
that you were in the presence
of somebody
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that was truly great.
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[crowd cheering in background]
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[Brenda] Barbara Jordan
blazed a trail.
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00:00:42,309 --> 00:00:44,145
She was the first black woman
to serve
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in the Texas State Senate.
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{\an8} The first black woman
elected to Congress
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from the deep South.
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Barbara Jordan
was a champion of our freedom,
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00:00:53,020 --> 00:00:55,523
our Constitution,
and our laws.
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[Woman 1] She could walk into
all white male spaces
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and be respected.
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00:01:00,394 --> 00:01:02,296
[Max] She reached
into the heart of people
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00:01:02,329 --> 00:01:04,832
whose hearts didn't want
to be reached into.
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00:01:04,865 --> 00:01:06,801
[Woman 2] She was someone
who was respected
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00:01:06,834 --> 00:01:08,469
across party lines.
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00:01:08,502 --> 00:01:11,238
When Barbara Jordan spoke,
you just sat up and listened.
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We are trying to spark
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00:01:12,873 --> 00:01:17,178
the consciousness in depth
of everybody in this country
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00:01:17,211 --> 00:01:19,847
and we feel that we have
the capacity to do it.
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00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:21,882
[Dan] Barbara Jordan's got
the voice of God.
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[Barbara] When people are
eroding the foundation
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of the country,
don't be silent.
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00:01:28,022 --> 00:01:29,824
Don't be quiet.
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00:01:29,857 --> 00:01:33,861
[Woman 3] I see the conviction
and honesty that she had,
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00:01:33,894 --> 00:01:36,597
something that is absent
from politics today.
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I think this mood
that we're in now is cyclical.
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00:01:41,535 --> 00:01:44,171
I think people
are basically good,
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00:01:44,205 --> 00:01:46,474
and honest,
and that they care,
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00:01:46,507 --> 00:01:49,310
and I think we will return
to that posture.
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00:01:51,579 --> 00:01:53,414
[Dan] She carried the fire.
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She carried the flame
at a very critical time
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in American history.
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Today I am
an inquisitor.
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My faith in the Constitution
is whole,
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it is complete,
it is total.
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And I am not going to sit here
and be an idle spectator
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to the diminution,
the subversion,
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the destruction
of the Constitution.
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[♪♪♪]
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[uplifting music playing]
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[♪♪♪]
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It would be difficult
to understand and recognize
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from where Barbara Jordan came
to what she became.
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{\an8}It's a great story.
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It's a great American story.
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[reel whirring]
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[motor whirring]
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[marching]
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[explosion]
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[Barbara] You have the freedom
to choose
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the kind of future you want.
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You're denied the luxury
of opting out.
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You can't opt out.
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You're already in.
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How can you opt out
where you are?
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You are involved in life.
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You make the choice to lead.
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But if you choose to lead,
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you must be sure
you have the capability,
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the capacity,
the competence to do the job.
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[reel whirring]
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[calm music playing]
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[♪♪♪]
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{\an8}[Barbara] Myself
and my two sisters grew up
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in the Fifth Ward of Houston.
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We didn't know
that we were in
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a deprived sector of the city.
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When everybody's poor,
you don't ever think
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about poverty.
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We thought we'd just play
in our gravel streets
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and eat the dust,
which the cars would stir up.
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We didn't worry about it
too much.
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[uplifting music playing]
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I don't know...
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[Rosemary] Barbara had
a beautiful alto voice.
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We started singing together
at the church
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to where we belong,
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at Good Hope Missionary
Baptist Church.
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And we even gave them
little mini recitals.
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Grandpa Patton showed
favoritism to Barbara
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when we would go sometimes
back to evening church,
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she would stay there with him.
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[calm music playing]
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[Barbara] Grandpa Patton
was a junk man.
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We would weigh that paper
and weigh the rags,
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hitch up his mules,
and go sell them.
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I say we, because I was
my Grandpa Patton's
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partner in business.
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And we had more money
than anybody we encountered.
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[horses neigh]
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[Barbara] My father wanted
excellence in his children.
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I was very proud
of a report card.
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I had five As and one B.
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My father, he looked at it
and then with a scowl,
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"Why do you have this B?"
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So I was reverent toward him,
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he taught me to love,
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to do the best
that I could do.
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I didn't want to be
run of the mill.
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I don't want to be
just same old, same old.
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I want to be
a little bit different
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and uh, superior
to tell truth.
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{\an8}[birds chirping]
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{\an8}[Otis] Barbara and I
were students
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00:06:04,531 --> 00:06:06,867
together in high school
and we went on
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00:06:06,900 --> 00:06:08,736
to Texas Southern University
together.
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We were partners as members
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of the Texas Southern
University debate team
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under the direction
of Dr. Thomas Freeman.
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[Brenda] Dr. Thomas Freeman
was a well-known
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renowned debate coach
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and he taught
Martin Luther King
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and some others.
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Under him, she learned
about cadence
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{\an8}and the importance
of research,
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{\an8}of enunciation, pacing.
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{\an8}[upbeat music playing]
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{\an8}[♪♪♪]
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[Rodney] Everybody loved
Dr. Freeman.
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{\an8}All of us on the debate team
did as much as we could
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to please him.
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He told me a good speaker
accomplishes three things.
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You make people laugh,
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you make people cry,
and you make sense.
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And if you can only do one,
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make sense
and sit your boring self down.
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[Barbara] We would drive
into a city.
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The signs are up.
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White, colored.
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Thomas Freeman would refuse
to go in the back door.
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He said, "We'll get a sandwich
and eat it
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by the side of the road
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before I take you through
a back door."
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That certainly made
an impression on me.
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[door bell jingles]
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00:08:04,818 --> 00:08:05,986
[upbeat music playing]
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00:08:06,019 --> 00:08:08,856
[Otis] The final event
for Barbara and me
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00:08:08,889 --> 00:08:12,326
was a debate against a team
from Harvard University,
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00:08:12,359 --> 00:08:15,128
something akin to being
in the World Series, I guess.
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00:08:16,563 --> 00:08:17,865
[Rodney] It was a first.
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A black university in the
South,
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00:08:22,069 --> 00:08:26,340
as deep in the heart of Dixie
as you could get,
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with a all-black debate team,
against Harvard University.
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[Barbara] The judges of the
debate said it ended in a tie.
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People were shocked.
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[Barbara] Harvard is supposed
to be so high, and sharp,
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and smart that debating
a little group like TSU
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to call it a tie,
we must have won.
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00:08:53,767 --> 00:08:56,103
{\an8}[Otis] It just really
told us personally
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{\an8} that we could leave
Texas Southern University
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{\an8} and go on to do anything
that we wanted to do.
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00:09:04,411 --> 00:09:08,215
{\an8}[Barbara] I was a sophomore
at Texas Southern University.
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I can remember reading
this big headline,
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"Segregation Ends."
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And I said, "Ha, dog."
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In my naiveté,
I thought tomorrow morning
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it was going to happen.
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When I say,
it was a miracle for her
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00:09:28,068 --> 00:09:30,804
to come out of the 5th ward
of that era.
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I mean, you were not permitted
to leave 5th ward.
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We are right in the shadow
of Downtown Houston.
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But you couldn't go
Downtown Houston.
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[Barbara] Before I went to
law school,
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00:09:50,791 --> 00:09:54,027
my world had been all black.
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[chatter]
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00:09:56,229 --> 00:09:59,633
{\an8}[Barbara] And then I arrive
to attend law school
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00:09:59,666 --> 00:10:02,269
{\an8}at Boston University.
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00:10:02,302 --> 00:10:08,141
In our entering class,
there were about 300 people.
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00:10:08,175 --> 00:10:11,778
Of the 300, there were
three or four blacks.
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00:10:11,812 --> 00:10:17,951
[♪♪♪]
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00:10:18,986 --> 00:10:21,221
[Barbara] I knew that
if I worked harder
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00:10:21,254 --> 00:10:24,358
and studied longer,
I'd survive it.
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00:10:24,391 --> 00:10:27,060
But one thing I discovered
by observing
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00:10:27,094 --> 00:10:30,297
is that young white people
love to stop
186
00:10:30,330 --> 00:10:33,633
whatever they're doing
and have a cup of coffee.
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00:10:33,667 --> 00:10:35,068
I would just go around
and say,
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"You need to take a break.
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Let's have a cup
of coffee."
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00:10:38,972 --> 00:10:41,174
That always worked.
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00:10:41,208 --> 00:10:44,945
I formed many friendships
over a cup of coffee.
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00:10:50,117 --> 00:10:52,953
[Barbara] The first thing
I did when I got my law degree
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00:10:52,986 --> 00:10:55,922
was to take
the red ribbon off
194
00:10:55,956 --> 00:10:57,991
and make sure
that my name was on it.
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And then I cried.
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00:11:02,162 --> 00:11:06,466
Because of what
had gone into it.
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[car whirring]
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00:11:14,274 --> 00:11:16,343
[car whooshing]
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00:11:20,013 --> 00:11:23,083
[upbeat music playing]
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[Barbara] I had the notion
that I'd like to do something
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00:11:51,578 --> 00:11:55,882
to affect the way
masses of people live.
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I became very interested
in politics working first
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00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:03,290
in the
Kennedy-Johnson campaign.
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00:12:03,323 --> 00:12:04,758
[applause]
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00:12:04,791 --> 00:12:07,694
Let us move
for the unified goal
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00:12:07,727 --> 00:12:09,463
of an America
where every man
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00:12:09,496 --> 00:12:14,000
will be free to live and be
whatever he desires to be.
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00:12:14,034 --> 00:12:16,036
[Mary] She started speaking
at some events
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00:12:16,069 --> 00:12:18,905
and began to come
to public attention.
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00:12:18,939 --> 00:12:21,007
[Barbara] The Democrats
around there said,
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00:12:21,041 --> 00:12:23,110
"You ought to run
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00:12:23,143 --> 00:12:26,613
for the Texas House
of Representatives."
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00:12:28,181 --> 00:12:31,017
[Mary] They saw Barbara
as a person
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00:12:31,051 --> 00:12:33,753
around whom
the black community
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00:12:33,787 --> 00:12:35,222
could coalesce.
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00:12:37,190 --> 00:12:39,359
[Barbara] I ran twice
for the Texas legislation
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00:12:39,392 --> 00:12:40,360
and was defeated.
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00:12:41,595 --> 00:12:45,232
Why could I not win?
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00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:50,303
[Max] It was a time
when cities like Houston
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00:12:50,337 --> 00:12:52,606
were gerrymandered
in a different way
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00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:54,541
because they stacked the deck.
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00:12:54,574 --> 00:12:57,077
People had to run into
these countrywide district,
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00:12:57,110 --> 00:13:02,482
so that meant that
in Houston, in Austin, Dallas,
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00:13:02,516 --> 00:13:05,285
black voters never could get
a majority of anything.
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00:13:06,486 --> 00:13:08,255
[Ashley] The districts
were discriminatory
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00:13:08,288 --> 00:13:10,190
in how their lines
were outlined,
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00:13:10,223 --> 00:13:12,292
in order to divide
the black voting black.
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00:13:13,326 --> 00:13:16,129
[Max] She got more votes
not to be elected
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00:13:16,163 --> 00:13:19,599
to the Texas House
than I got to be elected
230
00:13:19,633 --> 00:13:21,034
to the Texas Senate.
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00:13:22,235 --> 00:13:24,804
[Barbara] The disappointment
was especially bitter,
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00:13:24,838 --> 00:13:26,640
because I was playing
by the rules,
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00:13:26,673 --> 00:13:28,275
but the rules were not fair.
234
00:13:29,442 --> 00:13:32,012
Then the Supreme Court
established the principle
235
00:13:32,045 --> 00:13:34,247
of one person, one vote.
236
00:13:37,017 --> 00:13:38,885
[Ashley] That opened up
the door for districts
237
00:13:38,919 --> 00:13:41,121
to be redrawn in ways
where black people
238
00:13:41,154 --> 00:13:43,023
could represent black people.
239
00:13:44,224 --> 00:13:47,027
[Barbara] The Texas
legislature was required
240
00:13:47,060 --> 00:13:49,095
to reapportion itself.
241
00:13:49,129 --> 00:13:54,201
So in 1966, I ran again,
this time in one of those
242
00:13:54,234 --> 00:13:57,704
newly-created
state senatorial districts.
243
00:13:58,705 --> 00:14:01,074
I won.
244
00:14:01,107 --> 00:14:04,244
And my political career
got started.
245
00:14:06,213 --> 00:14:09,583
[Jasmine] It speaks to why
it is important
246
00:14:09,616 --> 00:14:13,220
that we have people
who accurately interpret
247
00:14:13,253 --> 00:14:15,455
these constitutional
amendments.
248
00:14:15,488 --> 00:14:19,059
This is how we ended up
with seats where black folk
249
00:14:19,092 --> 00:14:20,427
could have a voice.
250
00:14:22,295 --> 00:14:24,130
[Senfronia] At that
particular time,
251
00:14:24,164 --> 00:14:27,133
black people only could be
on the Capitol ground
252
00:14:27,167 --> 00:14:31,271
if you were cutting the grass,
polishing the statues
253
00:14:31,304 --> 00:14:32,672
{\an8}or cleaning the building.
254
00:14:34,674 --> 00:14:37,510
On her first day,
she was like an unknown person
255
00:14:37,544 --> 00:14:39,779
from outer space coming
into the Texas Senate.
256
00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,450
They didn't even have
a restroom which she could use
257
00:14:43,483 --> 00:14:46,820
and they had to build
a bathroom specifically
258
00:14:46,853 --> 00:14:48,588
for her to use.
259
00:14:48,622 --> 00:14:51,658
The good thing about that is
they let her design it.
260
00:14:54,494 --> 00:14:57,530
Everybody's going down
to see what she looks like
261
00:14:58,465 --> 00:15:01,534
to see someone come back
to the Senate
262
00:15:01,568 --> 00:15:03,236
after reconstruction,
263
00:15:03,270 --> 00:15:05,405
an African American
and a woman.
264
00:15:07,073 --> 00:15:10,210
It made black people
feel like they had a say
265
00:15:10,243 --> 00:15:12,712
in help to shape
their government.
266
00:15:15,148 --> 00:15:20,086
Barbara Jordan
carried with her at all times,
267
00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:21,521
the Constitution
268
00:15:23,089 --> 00:15:25,959
and a photo
of her grandfather.
269
00:15:25,992 --> 00:15:29,896
[reel whirring]
270
00:15:29,929 --> 00:15:31,731
[Barbara] My grandpa
was always saying
271
00:15:31,765 --> 00:15:34,467
that you couldn't trust
the world out there,
272
00:15:34,501 --> 00:15:37,370
so you had to figure things
out for yourself,
273
00:15:37,404 --> 00:15:41,441
but you had to love humanity
even if you couldn't trust it.
274
00:15:43,310 --> 00:15:46,246
[playful music playing]
275
00:15:48,281 --> 00:15:50,984
[Rodney] Barbara Jordan
came along in a era
276
00:15:51,017 --> 00:15:54,187
in which you had
a very conservative
277
00:15:54,220 --> 00:15:58,325
group of men
who ran the Texas Senate.
278
00:15:59,159 --> 00:16:01,628
Many of the older white men
279
00:16:01,661 --> 00:16:04,097
who were in that
had probably never had
280
00:16:04,130 --> 00:16:06,566
any kind of relationship
with a black woman
281
00:16:06,599 --> 00:16:08,702
unless she was a maid
in his house.
282
00:16:10,370 --> 00:16:12,272
[Ben] I was a speaker
of the house
283
00:16:13,540 --> 00:16:16,576
and I went over to the Senate
to see the Senate sworn in.
284
00:16:17,877 --> 00:16:20,780
There were a lot of older men
that had reservations
285
00:16:20,814 --> 00:16:24,250
about what kind of senator,
uh, Barbara's gonna be.
286
00:16:29,322 --> 00:16:32,058
The Senate would go on hunts.
287
00:16:32,092 --> 00:16:33,960
There were some reservations
at first on part
288
00:16:33,993 --> 00:16:35,028
of the senators.
289
00:16:35,061 --> 00:16:36,096
What are we gonna ask Barbara?
290
00:16:36,129 --> 00:16:37,597
We're all men.
291
00:16:37,630 --> 00:16:40,233
No one really hunted,
they played cards,
292
00:16:40,266 --> 00:16:43,036
and drank whiskey,
and sang songs.
293
00:16:43,069 --> 00:16:44,437
Could Barbara fit in?
294
00:16:45,438 --> 00:16:48,341
We asked Barbara to go
and not only did she fit in,
295
00:16:48,375 --> 00:16:49,809
she brought her guitar.
296
00:16:51,678 --> 00:16:54,414
She was one of the first ones
down around the fire
297
00:16:54,447 --> 00:16:56,449
and had a glass of scotch
in her hand
298
00:16:56,483 --> 00:16:58,885
and she was one
of the last ones to go to bed.
299
00:16:59,586 --> 00:17:02,288
Barbara Jordan was really
a good old boy
300
00:17:02,322 --> 00:17:03,790
and everybody realized that.
301
00:17:07,660 --> 00:17:09,262
[Jasmine] She walked in
with a certain level
302
00:17:09,295 --> 00:17:13,099
of credentials,
and she was able to demand
303
00:17:13,133 --> 00:17:15,402
a level of respect
that they probably
304
00:17:15,435 --> 00:17:17,137
didn't even know
that they would be giving
305
00:17:17,170 --> 00:17:18,505
to a Black woman.
306
00:17:20,140 --> 00:17:23,443
[Barbara] Once I cut through
the maleness
307
00:17:23,476 --> 00:17:26,746
of the Texas State Senate
and their view
308
00:17:26,780 --> 00:17:31,117
that I was going to be
a disruptive force
309
00:17:31,151 --> 00:17:36,156
rather than a helping force,
I enjoyed being in the Senate.
310
00:17:37,791 --> 00:17:40,760
[Rodney] The Texas Senate,
you have to persuade people.
311
00:17:41,728 --> 00:17:44,397
So even if you shoot down
that argument and debate,
312
00:17:44,431 --> 00:17:45,799
you got to do it
in such a way
313
00:17:45,832 --> 00:17:48,268
you don't anger 'em,
because you may need
314
00:17:48,301 --> 00:17:49,869
their vote 10 minutes later.
315
00:17:51,204 --> 00:17:52,739
[Mary] Barbara learned
a whole lot
316
00:17:52,772 --> 00:17:53,940
about political power.
317
00:17:55,442 --> 00:17:57,377
[Ben] Barbara did some things
that some
318
00:17:57,410 --> 00:18:00,580
of her liberal friends
would have been disappointed
319
00:18:00,613 --> 00:18:03,283
if they'd had known
that she did that.
320
00:18:03,316 --> 00:18:04,884
[Barbara] We didn't agree
politically
321
00:18:04,918 --> 00:18:07,187
on practically anything,
322
00:18:07,220 --> 00:18:09,389
but I got along with them
323
00:18:09,422 --> 00:18:11,958
and formed
genuine friendships.
324
00:18:13,159 --> 00:18:15,895
We sat by each other
over and over.
325
00:18:15,929 --> 00:18:17,997
We began to talk
about ourselves,
326
00:18:18,031 --> 00:18:21,434
tell our history
and became close,
327
00:18:21,468 --> 00:18:23,636
close friends,
almost brother and sister.
328
00:18:24,771 --> 00:18:28,308
[birds chirping]
329
00:18:28,341 --> 00:18:31,411
At the time,
there was a really vibrant
330
00:18:31,444 --> 00:18:33,279
civil rights and black power
movement going on.
331
00:18:33,313 --> 00:18:36,649
[reel whirring]
332
00:18:36,683 --> 00:18:38,351
I tell you,
I got to change my life,
333
00:18:38,384 --> 00:18:39,853
because I'm choking to death.
334
00:18:39,886 --> 00:18:45,291
[indistinct chanting]
335
00:18:47,293 --> 00:18:48,928
[Huey] The party is one
with the people,
336
00:18:48,962 --> 00:18:51,397
{\an8} because we struggle
with all oppressed people.
337
00:18:51,431 --> 00:18:54,167
{\an8} We struggle against
the international bourgeoisie.
338
00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,936
[Fannie] I went down
the 31st of August
339
00:18:56,970 --> 00:18:58,638
to try to register.
340
00:18:58,671 --> 00:19:01,508
{\an8} They wasn't ready
for that in Mississippi.
341
00:19:01,541 --> 00:19:05,078
{\an8} They shot in the house
15 times thinking
342
00:19:05,111 --> 00:19:06,279
that I was there.
343
00:19:06,312 --> 00:19:14,654
[♪♪♪]
344
00:19:15,922 --> 00:19:20,493
[Barbara] You, my friends,
can help somehow tear down
345
00:19:20,527 --> 00:19:22,629
these walls
that divides people
346
00:19:22,662 --> 00:19:25,798
into groups
and separates them.
347
00:19:25,832 --> 00:19:28,468
The people of this country,
I ask you,
348
00:19:28,501 --> 00:19:31,237
what about the basic
and fundamental problem
349
00:19:31,271 --> 00:19:34,374
of human understanding,
of a human care
350
00:19:34,407 --> 00:19:35,942
for human beings?
351
00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:42,749
[uplifting music playing]
352
00:19:42,782 --> 00:19:45,418
[♪♪♪]
353
00:19:45,451 --> 00:19:48,187
[Senfronia] There was
an upswing of women
354
00:19:48,221 --> 00:19:51,024
being energized politically.
355
00:19:52,492 --> 00:19:55,128
[Rodney] Most of the more
progressive issues
356
00:19:55,161 --> 00:19:59,132
that Barbara Jordan wanted
to pass were not going to pass
357
00:19:59,165 --> 00:20:00,867
the Texas Senate.
358
00:20:02,502 --> 00:20:04,270
[Barbara] It's not
an anti-male
359
00:20:04,304 --> 00:20:05,738
chauvinistic movement.
360
00:20:05,772 --> 00:20:08,474
And I know, men, that there
are some of you
361
00:20:08,508 --> 00:20:11,210
who remain reluctant
to embrace
362
00:20:11,244 --> 00:20:14,480
the cause of the equality
of women.
363
00:20:14,514 --> 00:20:17,350
We want to help you.
You need help.
364
00:20:17,383 --> 00:20:20,053
[audience laughs]
365
00:20:20,086 --> 00:20:25,959
[♪♪♪]
366
00:20:25,992 --> 00:20:30,063
[Rosemary] In Texas,
it was not until '73
367
00:20:30,096 --> 00:20:32,265
that a woman
was able to have a credit card
368
00:20:32,298 --> 00:20:35,368
in her name or buy property.
369
00:20:38,438 --> 00:20:40,340
[Ben] Barbara wanted
the Equal Rights
370
00:20:40,373 --> 00:20:41,808
Constitutional Amendment
for women
371
00:20:41,841 --> 00:20:44,844
to pass and wanted Texas
to be one of the early states
372
00:20:44,877 --> 00:20:45,979
to do it.
373
00:20:46,946 --> 00:20:49,782
[Max] She was able
to reach out to people
374
00:20:49,816 --> 00:20:52,485
on all sides
and pull them together.
375
00:20:53,820 --> 00:20:56,556
[Ben] She got to be the author
of the Equal Rights
376
00:20:56,589 --> 00:20:58,524
Constitutional Amendment
for women,
377
00:20:59,692 --> 00:21:01,594
one of the first
legislative branches
378
00:21:01,628 --> 00:21:04,864
of any state that passed
in the United States.
379
00:21:11,804 --> 00:21:15,708
[♪♪♪]
380
00:21:15,742 --> 00:21:17,644
[Ruth] Keep in mind
that in the days
381
00:21:17,677 --> 00:21:21,848
when she grew up,
the goal for girls at the time
382
00:21:21,881 --> 00:21:25,652
was to find a marriage
as soon as possible
383
00:21:26,552 --> 00:21:30,056
and to be rescued from
your situation as a woman.
384
00:21:30,923 --> 00:21:34,027
And that meant that, you know,
boys had to like you.
385
00:21:34,927 --> 00:21:37,430
And if they didn't,
well, gee, I mean,
386
00:21:37,463 --> 00:21:39,032
what was wrong with you
and what was going
387
00:21:39,065 --> 00:21:40,133
to happen to you?
388
00:21:40,166 --> 00:21:43,569
[reel whirring]
389
00:21:43,603 --> 00:21:45,938
[uplifting music playing]
390
00:21:45,972 --> 00:21:49,042
[♪♪♪]
391
00:21:49,075 --> 00:21:51,544
{\an8}[Barbara] One thing
I learned early on
392
00:21:51,577 --> 00:21:54,681
{\an8} was that you can't work
all the time.
393
00:21:54,714 --> 00:21:57,083
{\an8} You need people around you
who don't care
394
00:21:57,116 --> 00:21:59,018
{\an8} about titles or status.
395
00:22:00,019 --> 00:22:03,089
One night
after wrapping up a long day,
396
00:22:03,122 --> 00:22:05,091
some friends invited me out.
397
00:22:06,159 --> 00:22:08,561
That's where I met Nancy Earl.
398
00:22:09,295 --> 00:22:12,298
She worked at the university,
and from the moment
399
00:22:12,331 --> 00:22:16,269
we started talking,
it felt easy.
400
00:22:16,302 --> 00:22:18,538
We played music,
sang together,
401
00:22:18,571 --> 00:22:20,840
and just enjoyed the night.
402
00:22:22,175 --> 00:22:25,945
Nancy had this way
of making people feel at ease.
403
00:22:27,246 --> 00:22:28,881
I remember thinking,
404
00:22:28,915 --> 00:22:32,018
"This is something
I'd love to do again."
405
00:22:34,887 --> 00:22:37,290
She enjoyed being
with Nancy Earl.
406
00:22:37,323 --> 00:22:38,558
She finally felt
she could relax
407
00:22:38,591 --> 00:22:40,660
and be herself.
408
00:22:42,161 --> 00:22:44,230
[vehicles whooshing by]
409
00:22:46,399 --> 00:22:48,401
[Barbara] SCR number--
410
00:22:48,434 --> 00:22:50,103
- [Man 2] 14.
- [Barbara] 14.
411
00:22:50,136 --> 00:22:53,339
All those in favor of adoption
of the resolution, vote aye.
412
00:22:53,372 --> 00:22:54,307
[Men]
Aye.
413
00:22:54,340 --> 00:22:56,042
[Barbara] Those opposed,
vote no.
414
00:22:56,075 --> 00:22:57,143
Ayes have it.
415
00:22:57,176 --> 00:22:59,045
Resolution is adopted.
416
00:22:59,078 --> 00:23:01,013
[Ben] Barbara was
an independent person
417
00:23:01,047 --> 00:23:04,717
who had an agenda
to represent her district.
418
00:23:04,751 --> 00:23:07,987
[Barbara] Our Urban Affairs
Committee devoted specifically
419
00:23:08,020 --> 00:23:12,992
and entirely to the solutions
of problems of the cities.
420
00:23:13,025 --> 00:23:15,728
I'm frankly very disappointed
in the work
421
00:23:15,762 --> 00:23:17,897
of the Constitutional
Commission.
422
00:23:17,930 --> 00:23:19,899
{\an8} You don't have
any daycare center here?
423
00:23:26,873 --> 00:23:28,908
{\an8}So if you can
find someone who can take care
424
00:23:28,941 --> 00:23:30,810
{\an8}of the two
youngest children...
425
00:23:31,744 --> 00:23:33,279
{\an8}You would be able to work?
426
00:23:36,649 --> 00:23:38,217
[Ben] And she had agenda
way beyond
427
00:23:38,251 --> 00:23:39,585
the borders of Texas.
428
00:23:40,686 --> 00:23:42,622
She wanted
to go to Washington.
429
00:23:44,857 --> 00:23:48,027
A group of us found
the empty building,
430
00:23:48,060 --> 00:23:50,863
and we set up
the headquarters.
431
00:23:53,099 --> 00:23:55,334
We literally would
stuff envelopes
432
00:23:55,368 --> 00:23:57,036
and lick stamps.
433
00:23:57,069 --> 00:23:59,505
[Rosemary] We spent a lot
of time in the headquarters,
434
00:23:59,539 --> 00:24:01,207
helping in whatever way
we could
435
00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:02,775
to boost the campaign for her.
436
00:24:02,809 --> 00:24:03,876
[phone ringing in background]
437
00:24:03,910 --> 00:24:05,444
[indistinct chatter in distance]
438
00:24:05,478 --> 00:24:08,714
[classical music playing]
439
00:24:10,616 --> 00:24:12,084
[applause]
440
00:24:12,118 --> 00:24:15,454
[Mary] Her main opponent
in the Democratic primary
441
00:24:15,488 --> 00:24:16,823
was Curtis Graves.
442
00:24:16,856 --> 00:24:17,723
[Curtis] If you hear
candidates now
443
00:24:17,757 --> 00:24:19,091
talking about law and order,
444
00:24:19,125 --> 00:24:21,794
they don't mean the kind
of law and order that we mean.
445
00:24:21,828 --> 00:24:25,731
We mean law
that isn't necessarily looking
446
00:24:25,765 --> 00:24:28,968
for order as an end result,
but rather law
447
00:24:29,001 --> 00:24:31,971
which is looking for
justice as an end result.
448
00:24:32,004 --> 00:24:33,840
[applause]
449
00:24:33,873 --> 00:24:36,709
[Curtis] I represent
the real Democrats of Texas,
450
00:24:36,742 --> 00:24:40,246
who have always supported
the traditional philosophy
451
00:24:40,279 --> 00:24:41,881
of liberalism.
452
00:24:44,050 --> 00:24:46,786
{\an8}[Rodney] Curtis Graves had
been a bomb-throwing,
453
00:24:46,819 --> 00:24:50,456
very progressive,
outspoken member of the House.
454
00:24:50,489 --> 00:24:52,625
And so he had a lot of
links out there
455
00:24:52,658 --> 00:24:54,026
in the black community.
456
00:24:55,294 --> 00:24:57,697
[Curtis] I served
in the Texas legislature
457
00:24:57,730 --> 00:25:00,166
at the same time
that Barbara Jordan did.
458
00:25:00,199 --> 00:25:02,702
I guess she chose not
to be affiliated
459
00:25:02,735 --> 00:25:04,670
with the causes
that I was involved in,
460
00:25:04,704 --> 00:25:06,239
because they were
a little too liberal
461
00:25:06,272 --> 00:25:07,340
for her politics.
462
00:25:08,574 --> 00:25:10,543
Barbara Jordan
looked really good
463
00:25:10,576 --> 00:25:12,945
in terms of this being
her time.
464
00:25:13,746 --> 00:25:15,915
He had also still
put in the time.
465
00:25:18,484 --> 00:25:20,653
[Frank] He was a firebrand
who liked
466
00:25:20,686 --> 00:25:23,055
to be confrontational.
467
00:25:23,089 --> 00:25:25,892
He tried to make it look
like Barbara Jordan
468
00:25:25,925 --> 00:25:28,895
was kowtowing
to the old white guys.
469
00:25:29,762 --> 00:25:31,697
[Mary] And well, he started
circulating rumors
470
00:25:31,731 --> 00:25:33,065
that Barbara was gay.
471
00:25:35,201 --> 00:25:37,637
[Senfronia] Curtis Graves
is a light-light complexion
472
00:25:37,670 --> 00:25:39,705
of African American guy
running against
473
00:25:39,739 --> 00:25:42,141
a dark complexion woman.
474
00:25:48,981 --> 00:25:50,850
[Barbara] The press seldom
presented me
475
00:25:50,883 --> 00:25:52,618
in a favorable light.
476
00:25:52,652 --> 00:25:54,787
[country music playing]
477
00:25:54,820 --> 00:26:03,930
[♪♪♪]
478
00:26:05,064 --> 00:26:06,899
[Barbara] The world
had decided
479
00:26:06,933 --> 00:26:09,902
that we were all Negro,
480
00:26:09,936 --> 00:26:13,372
but some of us were more
Negro than others.
481
00:26:14,073 --> 00:26:17,076
You went further,
you got the awards
482
00:26:17,109 --> 00:26:20,880
if you were not
Black-Black with kinky hair.
483
00:26:22,148 --> 00:26:25,885
Black was bad.
You didn't want to be Black.
484
00:26:37,163 --> 00:26:38,898
[Barbara] Everything is
on the table
485
00:26:38,931 --> 00:26:41,801
when you're out there
running for public office.
486
00:26:41,834 --> 00:26:43,936
It is a requirement
of the person
487
00:26:43,970 --> 00:26:46,272
who puts themselves out there.
488
00:26:46,305 --> 00:26:49,075
You're going to feel
that kind of pain
489
00:26:49,108 --> 00:26:52,111
that comes
from that kind of scrutiny.
490
00:26:52,144 --> 00:26:55,414
And if you don't want
that kind of scrutiny,
491
00:26:55,448 --> 00:26:58,284
don't seek the office.
492
00:26:58,317 --> 00:27:00,853
[indistinct whispers]
493
00:27:01,887 --> 00:27:04,323
By that time,
Barbara Jordan was able
494
00:27:04,357 --> 00:27:07,326
to have the relationships
with both the black community
495
00:27:07,360 --> 00:27:11,330
and the union community,
which crossed racial lines.
496
00:27:12,798 --> 00:27:16,435
[Barbara] I was trying to get
the hard-nosed,
497
00:27:16,469 --> 00:27:20,940
crusty business establishment
in the city of Houston
498
00:27:20,973 --> 00:27:23,776
to come to the fundraising
rally for me
499
00:27:23,809 --> 00:27:27,446
and endorse my candidacy
for Congress.
500
00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:32,184
Well, they said we might come.
We, I guess.
501
00:27:32,218 --> 00:27:36,355
But then the word got out.
Lyndon Johnson is coming.
502
00:27:37,390 --> 00:27:40,659
Lyndon Johnson came
to the first reception
503
00:27:40,693 --> 00:27:43,429
that we had
at the Rice Hotel in Houston
504
00:27:43,462 --> 00:27:46,165
when Barbara Jordan
was gonna run for Congress.
505
00:27:46,198 --> 00:27:48,567
[Barbara] And of course,
that guaranteed a success
506
00:27:48,601 --> 00:27:49,802
of the rally.
507
00:27:49,835 --> 00:27:53,472
And anybody who thought
they were somebody
508
00:27:53,506 --> 00:27:55,474
came to the Rice Hotel.
509
00:27:57,276 --> 00:27:59,311
[Mary] And of course,
she adored him for that.
510
00:28:00,713 --> 00:28:04,183
[Barbara] Lyndon Johnson
held my hand in both of his
511
00:28:04,216 --> 00:28:06,385
as only he could do and said,
512
00:28:06,419 --> 00:28:11,390
"If ever you need anything
from me, just call."
513
00:28:12,525 --> 00:28:14,860
He looked at her
as the future
514
00:28:14,894 --> 00:28:16,062
of the new South.
515
00:28:16,095 --> 00:28:17,897
{\an8}We gave you Lyndon Johnson
516
00:28:17,930 --> 00:28:19,799
and now we're giving you
Barbara Jordan.
517
00:28:19,832 --> 00:28:21,200
[audience laughs]
518
00:28:21,233 --> 00:28:25,237
[applause]
519
00:28:25,271 --> 00:28:27,873
[Mary] He saw and heard
the potential
520
00:28:29,408 --> 00:28:32,812
and that was a friendship that
lasted until Johnson died.
521
00:28:32,845 --> 00:28:37,349
[♪♪♪]
522
00:28:37,383 --> 00:28:39,618
[Rodney] That picture was
on the front page
523
00:28:39,652 --> 00:28:41,754
of the newspapers
throughout Texas.
524
00:28:41,787 --> 00:28:47,393
[♪♪♪]
525
00:28:47,426 --> 00:28:51,163
Curtis Graves just didn't have
what Barbara Jordan had.
526
00:28:51,197 --> 00:28:52,865
{\an8}[Ben] Once she was elected,
527
00:28:52,898 --> 00:28:55,634
{\an8} she moved away
from the liberal wing
528
00:28:55,668 --> 00:28:59,338
{\an8} and into the Lyndon Johnson
wing of the party
529
00:28:59,371 --> 00:29:03,142
by doing their bidding
in many cases.
530
00:29:03,175 --> 00:29:05,311
And that may have been
a wise decision.
531
00:29:05,344 --> 00:29:07,880
It eventually got her elected
to the Congress
532
00:29:07,913 --> 00:29:09,148
of the United States.
533
00:29:10,149 --> 00:29:12,351
But I promised you
that you would have
534
00:29:12,384 --> 00:29:18,157
{\an8}a clear, sound, effective,
clarion voice on the floor
535
00:29:18,190 --> 00:29:20,092
{\an8}of United States House
of Representatives
536
00:29:20,126 --> 00:29:21,927
{\an8}if you elected me
and I guarantee you,
537
00:29:21,961 --> 00:29:23,095
you have that.
538
00:29:23,129 --> 00:29:28,100
[applauding & cheering]
539
00:29:28,134 --> 00:29:29,068
[Richard Nixon]
I would only hope
540
00:29:29,101 --> 00:29:30,469
{\an8}that in these next four years,
541
00:29:31,504 --> 00:29:35,307
{\an8}we can so conduct ourselves
in this country
542
00:29:36,475 --> 00:29:41,147
that years from now,
people will look back
543
00:29:41,180 --> 00:29:44,383
to the generation
of the 1970s.
544
00:29:45,284 --> 00:29:48,487
And they will say,
"God bless America."
545
00:29:48,521 --> 00:29:56,462
[♪♪♪]
546
00:29:57,730 --> 00:30:01,033
[♪♪♪]
547
00:30:01,066 --> 00:30:04,203
[Mary] Nancy came
to Washington with Barbara.
548
00:30:07,506 --> 00:30:09,608
When you look back, yes,
it's easy to see
549
00:30:09,642 --> 00:30:11,343
that they were a couple.
550
00:30:11,377 --> 00:30:14,914
They shared a house together,
they shared a life together,
551
00:30:14,947 --> 00:30:17,449
and publicly that was
all there was to it.
552
00:30:23,489 --> 00:30:25,257
Nancy cared
for Barbara Jordan,
553
00:30:25,291 --> 00:30:28,093
respected her,
gave her her space.
554
00:30:28,127 --> 00:30:30,896
Nancy understood
that Barbara Jordan's
555
00:30:30,930 --> 00:30:33,399
love and life was politics.
556
00:30:35,768 --> 00:30:37,736
[indistinct chanting]
557
00:30:37,770 --> 00:30:41,574
[Barbara] The civil rights
movement is still alive
558
00:30:41,607 --> 00:30:42,441
and well.
559
00:30:42,474 --> 00:30:45,911
Its methodology
has perhaps changed.
560
00:30:45,945 --> 00:30:47,813
The political arena,
that's where
561
00:30:47,846 --> 00:30:49,481
the black radicals have gone.
562
00:30:49,515 --> 00:30:53,852
[indistinct shouting]
563
00:30:53,886 --> 00:30:57,156
[Ashley] The Congressional
Black Caucus started in 1971.
564
00:30:58,357 --> 00:31:01,126
Black people are in that space
in a way that we never
565
00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:02,361
have been before.
566
00:31:03,529 --> 00:31:06,065
[Jasmine] The difference
in state and federal,
567
00:31:06,098 --> 00:31:08,300
there's a lot more eyes
on you.
568
00:31:10,035 --> 00:31:11,937
{\an8} And cameras rolling.
569
00:31:11,971 --> 00:31:13,372
[indistinct speech]
570
00:31:13,405 --> 00:31:17,977
[♪♪♪]
571
00:31:20,613 --> 00:31:22,481
[Interviewer 1] You've made
history in the Texas Senate
572
00:31:22,514 --> 00:31:25,017
and now being
the first black woman elected
573
00:31:25,050 --> 00:31:26,785
to the US Congress
from the South,
574
00:31:26,819 --> 00:31:28,520
How do you feel
about all this?
575
00:31:28,554 --> 00:31:32,758
Well, I'm often asked
whether I feel historical
576
00:31:32,791 --> 00:31:34,693
and I-- I really don't.
577
00:31:40,399 --> 00:31:41,967
[Elizabeth] Barbara Jordan
wanted to be on
578
00:31:42,001 --> 00:31:44,270
the House Judiciary Committee.
579
00:31:44,303 --> 00:31:49,308
There were very few women,
but there we were together.
580
00:31:50,576 --> 00:31:52,444
It was a hard slog.
581
00:31:52,478 --> 00:31:54,246
You get there
and all of a sudden,
582
00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:56,582
you're voting on
agricultural appropriations.
583
00:31:56,615 --> 00:31:58,684
Well, I'm from Brooklyn,
I don't know too much
584
00:31:58,717 --> 00:31:59,785
about farming.
585
00:32:01,420 --> 00:32:03,355
But of course,
what I didn't know
586
00:32:03,389 --> 00:32:06,425
was that
when impeachments come up,
587
00:32:06,458 --> 00:32:09,094
the House Judiciary Committee
plays the key role.
588
00:32:13,232 --> 00:32:14,533
[Reporter 1] The Democratic
National Committee
589
00:32:14,566 --> 00:32:16,402
is trying to solve
a spy mystery.
590
00:32:16,435 --> 00:32:18,437
Five intruders were captured
by police
591
00:32:18,470 --> 00:32:20,539
inside the offices of
the committee in Washington.
592
00:32:20,572 --> 00:32:22,975
The five men carried cameras
and apparently, had found
593
00:32:23,008 --> 00:32:24,376
an electronic bug.
594
00:32:24,410 --> 00:32:26,245
{\an8}Mr. Nixon says empathetically
595
00:32:26,278 --> 00:32:28,647
{\an8}that the White House
is in no way involved
596
00:32:28,681 --> 00:32:31,583
{\an8}in the burglary and mugging of
the Democratic headquarters.
597
00:32:31,617 --> 00:32:35,087
You had this
slow drip of information
598
00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:38,123
coming out that was possible
that the president
599
00:32:38,157 --> 00:32:39,325
of the United States
was involved
600
00:32:39,358 --> 00:32:41,727
in bribing burglars
to keep quiet
601
00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:45,431
about a break-in
that affected the election.
602
00:32:45,464 --> 00:32:48,500
And of course, Nixon said
this was completely untrue.
603
00:32:48,534 --> 00:32:50,536
[Richard Nixon] I welcome
this kind of examination,
604
00:32:50,569 --> 00:32:52,204
because people have gotta know
whether or not
605
00:32:52,237 --> 00:32:54,139
their President's a crook.
606
00:32:54,173 --> 00:32:55,474
Well, I'm not a crook.
607
00:32:55,507 --> 00:32:57,476
[Barbara]
There were rumblings
608
00:32:57,509 --> 00:32:59,378
about impeaching
the president,
609
00:32:59,411 --> 00:33:01,480
but no serious rumblings.
610
00:33:01,513 --> 00:33:05,417
I had always had
the highest respect possible
611
00:33:05,451 --> 00:33:09,722
for the presidency
and I could not imagine
612
00:33:09,755 --> 00:33:12,091
that I would be engaged
in a process
613
00:33:12,124 --> 00:33:15,194
which could lead to the end
of the presidency.
614
00:33:15,227 --> 00:33:16,595
{\an8}It was only last week that
615
00:33:16,628 --> 00:33:18,897
{\an8}the Senate Watergate Committee
learned of the existence
616
00:33:18,931 --> 00:33:19,965
{\an8}of tape recordings
617
00:33:19,998 --> 00:33:21,500
of President Nixon's
conversations.
618
00:33:21,533 --> 00:33:23,335
The tapes would tell the truth
619
00:33:23,369 --> 00:33:25,504
and Nixon didn't want
the tapes to come out.
620
00:33:26,538 --> 00:33:29,675
This administration has,
I think, gone further
621
00:33:29,708 --> 00:33:31,744
in terms of waiving
executive privilege
622
00:33:31,777 --> 00:33:34,146
than any administration
in my memory.
623
00:33:34,179 --> 00:33:36,348
On the question of impeachment
of the President,
624
00:33:36,382 --> 00:33:39,284
a matter now being examined by
the House Judiciary Committee
625
00:33:39,318 --> 00:33:40,686
is whether
he illegally received...
626
00:33:40,719 --> 00:33:43,989
[Barbara] I not only did a lot
of homework and study,
627
00:33:44,022 --> 00:33:47,626
I lived
the impeachment matter.
628
00:33:47,659 --> 00:33:51,397
It was a 24-hour-a-day
engagement.
629
00:33:52,498 --> 00:33:53,932
Could I ask any of you to say
630
00:33:53,966 --> 00:33:56,902
what your own definition
of impeachable offence is?
631
00:33:56,935 --> 00:33:58,771
I have no difficulty
saying that.
632
00:33:58,804 --> 00:34:01,340
I do not feel that
an impeachable offence
633
00:34:01,373 --> 00:34:03,876
has to be
an indictable offence.
634
00:34:03,909 --> 00:34:06,145
I do not think
it has to be one
635
00:34:06,178 --> 00:34:07,679
which shows criminality...
636
00:34:07,713 --> 00:34:10,082
[Frank] You wouldn't say,
"I'm not a crook",
637
00:34:10,115 --> 00:34:11,450
if you weren't a crook.
638
00:34:11,483 --> 00:34:13,452
That was enough
for the rest of us,
639
00:34:13,485 --> 00:34:15,521
but she needed the facts.
640
00:34:16,688 --> 00:34:19,525
[Barbara] The great disservice
to the country
641
00:34:19,558 --> 00:34:22,728
would be to react emotionally.
642
00:34:22,761 --> 00:34:24,730
Some of my colleagues
on the Judiciary Committee
643
00:34:24,763 --> 00:34:26,999
said, "He's guilty.
I'm ready to vote."
644
00:34:27,032 --> 00:34:30,102
I said, "But I am not.
645
00:34:30,135 --> 00:34:31,670
And I will not be ready
646
00:34:31,703 --> 00:34:35,174
until I have satisfied
my own mind."
647
00:34:35,207 --> 00:34:39,344
That reason, reason tells me
648
00:34:39,378 --> 00:34:44,316
that this process
has to be worked now.
649
00:34:46,785 --> 00:34:49,021
[Elizabeth] The Nixon tapes
were finally released
650
00:34:49,054 --> 00:34:51,323
by the Supreme Court.
651
00:34:51,356 --> 00:34:55,360
One of the tapes showed
that Nixon had ordered
652
00:34:55,394 --> 00:34:57,396
the cover-up
from the beginning.
653
00:34:59,565 --> 00:35:02,501
[Barbara] The committee
will view to determine why
654
00:35:02,534 --> 00:35:03,936
the President
of the United States
655
00:35:03,969 --> 00:35:08,173
felt it necessary to spy
on citizens of this country.
656
00:35:08,207 --> 00:35:10,876
Tamper with the evidence.
It's a long list.
657
00:35:13,045 --> 00:35:15,714
[Elizabeth] I felt as though
there was no bottom
658
00:35:15,747 --> 00:35:19,451
to the misconduct,
abuses of power
659
00:35:19,485 --> 00:35:22,387
of Nixon and of his team.
660
00:35:22,421 --> 00:35:23,956
There was so much criminal--
661
00:35:23,989 --> 00:35:25,257
[chuckles]
662
00:35:25,290 --> 00:35:27,893
Let's be honest about it,
criminal stuff going on.
663
00:35:34,733 --> 00:35:37,603
[Brenda] It was three evenings
that the 38 members
664
00:35:37,636 --> 00:35:39,371
of the U.S. House
Judiciary Committee
665
00:35:39,404 --> 00:35:41,507
each had 15 minutes
to say something
666
00:35:41,540 --> 00:35:43,642
about the matter
of impeachment.
667
00:35:43,675 --> 00:35:46,378
[Ron] 1970s, we didn't
have social media.
668
00:35:46,411 --> 00:35:48,547
We didn't have
all these distractions.
669
00:35:48,580 --> 00:35:51,750
We actually all
watched the news.
670
00:35:51,783 --> 00:35:54,219
Everybody was glued
to what was happening
671
00:35:54,253 --> 00:35:55,687
in these proceedings.
672
00:35:57,089 --> 00:35:59,658
Barbara was always
a little bit of perfectionist.
673
00:35:59,691 --> 00:36:01,493
She told me that
on the way down
674
00:36:01,527 --> 00:36:04,296
to the hearing,
she made some revisions
675
00:36:04,329 --> 00:36:05,931
to the text.
676
00:36:05,964 --> 00:36:08,567
[Barbara] If I can get
into the vernacular,
677
00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:11,236
I had to have
my stuff together.
678
00:36:11,270 --> 00:36:12,871
I felt that
I was participating
679
00:36:12,905 --> 00:36:16,275
in a very important
historical event.
680
00:36:20,245 --> 00:36:21,613
[Dan] What was at stake?
681
00:36:22,848 --> 00:36:25,250
We were talking about
a widespread
682
00:36:25,284 --> 00:36:28,353
criminal conspiracy led by
the President
683
00:36:28,387 --> 00:36:29,888
of the United States.
684
00:36:29,922 --> 00:36:32,591
And the question was,
"What are we, the people,
685
00:36:32,624 --> 00:36:33,926
going to do about it?"
686
00:36:37,195 --> 00:36:39,765
Barbara Jordan addressed
sharply focused
687
00:36:39,798 --> 00:36:41,333
on the question.
688
00:36:41,366 --> 00:36:45,270
{\an8}[Chairman] I recognize
the gentlelady from Texas,
689
00:36:46,038 --> 00:36:49,408
{\an8}Miss Jordan, the purpose
of general debate,
690
00:36:49,441 --> 00:36:51,977
{\an8}not to exceed a period
of 15 minutes.
691
00:36:52,010 --> 00:36:54,146
{\an8}- Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
- [Chairman] Miss Jordan.
692
00:36:54,179 --> 00:36:57,683
Earlier today,
we heard the beginning
693
00:36:57,716 --> 00:37:00,152
of the preamble
to the Constitution
694
00:37:00,185 --> 00:37:01,386
of the United States.
695
00:37:02,254 --> 00:37:03,789
We, the people.
696
00:37:03,822 --> 00:37:06,425
It's a very
eloquent beginning,
697
00:37:06,458 --> 00:37:09,027
but when that document
was completed
698
00:37:09,061 --> 00:37:11,897
on the 17th of September
in 1787,
699
00:37:11,930 --> 00:37:14,533
I was not included
in that "We, the people."
700
00:37:15,701 --> 00:37:17,869
I felt somehow for many years
701
00:37:17,903 --> 00:37:20,238
that George Washington
and Alexander Hamilton
702
00:37:20,272 --> 00:37:22,107
just left me out by mistake.
703
00:37:23,542 --> 00:37:25,644
But through the process
of amendment,
704
00:37:25,677 --> 00:37:28,547
interpretation,
and court decision,
705
00:37:28,580 --> 00:37:32,084
I have finally been included
in "We the people."
706
00:37:33,485 --> 00:37:36,355
Today I am an inquisitor.
707
00:37:37,656 --> 00:37:40,225
An hyperbole
would not be fictional
708
00:37:40,258 --> 00:37:42,327
and would not overstate
the solemnness
709
00:37:42,361 --> 00:37:44,096
that I feel right now.
710
00:37:45,364 --> 00:37:47,499
My faith in the Constitution
is whole,
711
00:37:47,532 --> 00:37:49,468
it is complete, it is total.
712
00:37:50,602 --> 00:37:54,006
And I am not going to sit here
and be an idle spectator
713
00:37:54,706 --> 00:37:58,610
to the diminution,
the subversion,
714
00:37:58,644 --> 00:38:01,947
the destruction
of the Constitution.
715
00:38:03,415 --> 00:38:07,185
When I watched
this Black woman,
716
00:38:07,219 --> 00:38:10,522
so articulate, so engaging,
717
00:38:10,555 --> 00:38:13,258
she becomes me.
718
00:38:13,291 --> 00:38:15,127
She becomes my mother
and grandmother
719
00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:17,262
and every woman
that I know
720
00:38:17,295 --> 00:38:19,564
and every African American
woman
721
00:38:19,598 --> 00:38:22,300
that was privileged
to be born African American
722
00:38:22,334 --> 00:38:23,735
in this country.
723
00:38:23,769 --> 00:38:26,438
We know
the nature of impeachment.
724
00:38:26,471 --> 00:38:29,307
We've been talking about it
a while now.
725
00:38:29,341 --> 00:38:31,410
It is chiefly designed
for the president
726
00:38:31,443 --> 00:38:35,580
and his high ministers
to somehow be called
727
00:38:35,614 --> 00:38:37,249
into account.
728
00:38:37,282 --> 00:38:40,218
It is designed to bridle
the executive
729
00:38:40,252 --> 00:38:42,688
if he engages in excesses.
730
00:38:42,721 --> 00:38:45,524
It is designed as a method
of national inquest
731
00:38:45,557 --> 00:38:47,626
into the conduct
of public men,
732
00:38:47,659 --> 00:38:50,595
framers confided
in the Congress,
733
00:38:50,629 --> 00:38:53,799
the power, if need be,
to remove the president
734
00:38:53,832 --> 00:38:56,935
in order to strike
a delicate balance
735
00:38:56,968 --> 00:39:00,439
between a president swollen
with power
736
00:39:00,472 --> 00:39:03,408
and grown tyrannical
and preservation
737
00:39:03,442 --> 00:39:06,144
of the independence
of the executive.
738
00:39:06,178 --> 00:39:09,781
But impeachment must proceed
within the confines
739
00:39:09,815 --> 00:39:14,786
of the constitutional term,
high crime and misdemeanors.
740
00:39:15,854 --> 00:39:17,923
If the impeachment provision
in the Constitution
741
00:39:17,956 --> 00:39:20,325
of the United States
will not reach
742
00:39:20,358 --> 00:39:23,528
the offenses charged here,
then perhaps
743
00:39:23,562 --> 00:39:28,300
that 18th century Constitution
should be abandoned
744
00:39:28,333 --> 00:39:31,103
to a 20th century
paper shredder.
745
00:39:31,136 --> 00:39:34,339
Barbara Jordan built the case
that we're not doing this.
746
00:39:34,372 --> 00:39:36,541
The framers envisioned this.
747
00:39:36,575 --> 00:39:39,377
And they didn't envision it
for something trivial.
748
00:39:39,411 --> 00:39:42,180
They envisioned it
for something serious.
749
00:39:42,214 --> 00:39:46,384
She essentially walked America
through the Constitution,
750
00:39:46,418 --> 00:39:50,255
the amendments, the debate
over the impeachment articles.
751
00:39:51,389 --> 00:39:53,058
[Sylvia] With Nixon,
it was all about
752
00:39:53,091 --> 00:39:55,594
whether he had violated
the Constitution.
753
00:39:55,627 --> 00:39:56,928
If you're following
the Constitution,
754
00:39:56,962 --> 00:39:58,697
then you're doing
the right thing
755
00:39:58,730 --> 00:40:00,632
and you have parameters.
756
00:40:01,566 --> 00:40:06,037
It is reason and not passion
which must guide
757
00:40:06,071 --> 00:40:09,274
our deliberations,
guide our debate,
758
00:40:10,242 --> 00:40:12,043
and guide our decision.
759
00:40:12,077 --> 00:40:14,146
I yield back the balance
of my time, Mr. Chairman.
760
00:40:16,281 --> 00:40:18,216
I recognize the...
761
00:40:18,250 --> 00:40:19,918
[Dan] Barbara Jordan
was looking the camera
762
00:40:19,951 --> 00:40:21,953
right straight in the eye,
looked down the throat
763
00:40:21,987 --> 00:40:25,590
of the camera, and said,
"America,
764
00:40:25,624 --> 00:40:26,958
this is what's on the table.
765
00:40:28,493 --> 00:40:30,996
This is what we have
to decide.
766
00:40:31,029 --> 00:40:34,766
See it clearly.
Have no confusion about it.
767
00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:37,035
This, my friends,
is what it's about."
768
00:40:37,068 --> 00:40:38,170
No question.
769
00:40:38,203 --> 00:40:42,073
It was an emotional time
because so much was at stake.
770
00:40:43,141 --> 00:40:45,043
- [Chairman] Mr. Seiberling?
- [Seiberling] Aye.
771
00:40:45,076 --> 00:40:46,945
- [Chairman] Mr. Danielson?
- [Danielson] Aye.
772
00:40:46,978 --> 00:40:48,747
- [Chairman] Mr. Drinan?
- [Drinan] Aye.
773
00:40:48,780 --> 00:40:50,382
{\an8}- [Chairman] Ms. Holtzman?
- Aye.
774
00:40:50,415 --> 00:40:51,383
{\an8}[Chairman] Mr. Rangel?
775
00:40:51,416 --> 00:40:52,684
{\an8}Aye.
776
00:40:54,319 --> 00:40:56,388
{\an8}- [Chairman] Ms. Jordan?
- Aye.
777
00:40:56,421 --> 00:40:58,623
{\an8}Behind the committee
hearing room,
778
00:40:58,657 --> 00:41:00,959
{\an8}several of us cried,
779
00:41:02,394 --> 00:41:05,697
{\an8}absolutely shed tears.
780
00:41:05,730 --> 00:41:10,268
For Richard Nixon, no,
but that the country
781
00:41:10,302 --> 00:41:11,803
had come to this.
782
00:41:11,837 --> 00:41:14,139
The House Judiciary
Committee today
783
00:41:14,172 --> 00:41:16,441
recommended formally
the impeachment
784
00:41:16,474 --> 00:41:18,009
of President Richard Nixon.
785
00:41:19,277 --> 00:41:21,179
[Elizabeth] Republican
leaders, seeing that
786
00:41:21,213 --> 00:41:23,548
the midterm elections
were about to come up,
787
00:41:23,582 --> 00:41:25,817
knew that if Nixon
were going to fight this,
788
00:41:25,851 --> 00:41:28,320
that no Republicans
would have been elected.
789
00:41:29,654 --> 00:41:32,390
Therefore,
I shall resign the presidency,
790
00:41:32,424 --> 00:41:34,159
effective at noon tomorrow.
791
00:41:37,529 --> 00:41:45,770
[♪♪♪]
792
00:41:45,804 --> 00:41:47,606
[Mary] When she left
the Capitol that night,
793
00:41:47,639 --> 00:41:49,140
there were people
waiting outside
794
00:41:49,174 --> 00:41:50,642
as she got in her car
to leave.
795
00:41:50,675 --> 00:41:52,244
She couldn't believe it.
796
00:41:52,277 --> 00:41:54,713
And then in the days
following that,
797
00:41:54,746 --> 00:41:56,681
the outpouring.
798
00:41:56,715 --> 00:41:58,984
[Barbara] I'd say I got
maybe a dozen letters
799
00:41:59,017 --> 00:42:01,119
from people
who didn't agree with me.
800
00:42:01,152 --> 00:42:03,788
But you contrast that
to the hundreds
801
00:42:03,822 --> 00:42:07,292
upon hundreds of that,
that did it for me.
802
00:42:08,693 --> 00:42:12,664
It's no small thing
to be socialized
803
00:42:12,697 --> 00:42:15,901
in the state of Texas
as a black woman,
804
00:42:15,934 --> 00:42:18,403
being pushed down
the way she was,
805
00:42:19,905 --> 00:42:23,541
How do you come through that
and then present yourself
806
00:42:23,575 --> 00:42:26,778
to the nation
in such a forceful way?
807
00:42:28,713 --> 00:42:30,048
[Dick] Any of your
black friends say to you,
808
00:42:30,081 --> 00:42:31,816
{\an8} "How could you get up there
in front of the country
809
00:42:31,850 --> 00:42:33,618
{\an8} and say you had faith
in the Constitution
810
00:42:33,652 --> 00:42:36,755
{\an8} and the law of this country
when you are a descendant
811
00:42:36,788 --> 00:42:39,057
of slaves, undoubtedly?
812
00:42:39,090 --> 00:42:40,859
Um, and look what the country
has done to us,
813
00:42:40,892 --> 00:42:42,060
et cetera, et cetera."
814
00:42:42,093 --> 00:42:44,763
Well, certainly some--
a few will say,
815
00:42:44,796 --> 00:42:45,931
"How can you say that?
816
00:42:45,964 --> 00:42:48,300
And you're just you're lying
to people.
817
00:42:48,333 --> 00:42:50,402
You can't really
believe that, you said it,
818
00:42:50,435 --> 00:42:53,605
because it sounds pretty
to feel that way."
819
00:42:53,638 --> 00:42:56,741
Well, Dick,
if and I do believe
820
00:42:56,775 --> 00:43:00,879
in the basic fundamental ideas
821
00:43:00,912 --> 00:43:02,747
on which this country
was founded.
822
00:43:02,781 --> 00:43:05,050
What if I checked out,
checked out on the country,
823
00:43:05,083 --> 00:43:06,952
checked out
on the Constitution,
824
00:43:06,985 --> 00:43:11,856
decided it really doesn't
have anything to do
825
00:43:11,890 --> 00:43:15,026
with the inclusion of me
now or ever?
826
00:43:15,060 --> 00:43:18,330
Then what do I do?
Pack up my bags and go to sea?
827
00:43:21,266 --> 00:43:23,535
[Senfronia] I think
for the first time,
828
00:43:24,369 --> 00:43:27,339
she may not have been
looked upon as a black person,
829
00:43:27,372 --> 00:43:28,473
but as an American.
830
00:43:29,975 --> 00:43:32,377
[Dan] Barbara Jordan
became a media personage,
831
00:43:32,410 --> 00:43:33,878
a household name.
832
00:43:33,912 --> 00:43:35,714
Her speaking calendar
booked solid
833
00:43:35,747 --> 00:43:36,948
a year in advance.
834
00:43:39,784 --> 00:43:41,119
The fact that
she's the first this
835
00:43:41,152 --> 00:43:42,754
or the first that
isn't what's kept her
836
00:43:42,787 --> 00:43:43,955
at the top.
837
00:43:43,989 --> 00:43:46,791
It's a keen intelligence,
a voice, a presence.
838
00:43:49,027 --> 00:43:51,863
Let's talk about the mystery
of Barbara Jordan.
839
00:43:51,896 --> 00:43:55,000
Is marriage anything
that comes into your thinking?
840
00:43:55,033 --> 00:43:58,370
Oh, time to time
comes into my thinking.
841
00:43:58,403 --> 00:44:00,238
What do you do when it does?
842
00:44:00,271 --> 00:44:02,607
I look around
and see who's available.
843
00:44:02,640 --> 00:44:04,709
And I usually come up
with a blank.
844
00:44:04,743 --> 00:44:07,278
And so I-- and so then
I don't get married.
845
00:44:08,246 --> 00:44:09,948
Would you mind
if it didn't happen?
846
00:44:11,816 --> 00:44:15,854
I don't think
I'd take it to my bed over it.
847
00:44:17,522 --> 00:44:19,824
Um, as a matter of fact,
I think I could survive it.
848
00:44:22,927 --> 00:44:27,298
The press was pretty gentle
about people's sexuality.
849
00:44:27,332 --> 00:44:31,136
Uh, if they didn't come out
of the closet,
850
00:44:31,169 --> 00:44:33,505
I don't remember her
discussing it.
851
00:44:36,808 --> 00:44:38,376
[Senfronia] If Barbara Jordan
was in office
852
00:44:38,410 --> 00:44:41,546
and she had even indicated
that she was a gay person
853
00:44:41,579 --> 00:44:42,747
and tried to come out,
854
00:44:42,781 --> 00:44:44,916
she would have been
ostracized,
855
00:44:44,949 --> 00:44:47,118
first of all,
by the black community.
856
00:44:47,152 --> 00:44:49,054
She would have been
driven out of office.
857
00:44:50,221 --> 00:44:52,390
She would have lost
all her credibility,
858
00:44:52,424 --> 00:44:53,958
all her fame.
859
00:44:53,992 --> 00:44:55,794
It just would have gone
down the drain.
860
00:44:57,095 --> 00:45:01,166
You compound
homophobia and racism.
861
00:45:01,199 --> 00:45:03,334
It is a toxic combination.
862
00:45:06,371 --> 00:45:09,607
[Lisa] She had really good
reasons for keeping
863
00:45:09,641 --> 00:45:10,942
{\an8}her relationship quiet.
864
00:45:10,975 --> 00:45:13,044
At the same time,
her friends always said,
865
00:45:13,078 --> 00:45:16,948
you know, she never denied it
in personal relationships.
866
00:45:16,981 --> 00:45:19,918
It wasn't a case
of internalized homophobia
867
00:45:19,951 --> 00:45:21,619
that she pretended
to the people
868
00:45:21,653 --> 00:45:23,988
that she trusted
that she wasn't gay.
869
00:45:24,022 --> 00:45:28,126
But it wasn't information
that the public was ready
870
00:45:28,159 --> 00:45:30,462
to hear from someone
who was going
871
00:45:30,495 --> 00:45:31,596
to represent them.
872
00:45:34,265 --> 00:45:42,073
[♪♪♪]
873
00:45:42,107 --> 00:45:44,142
[Mary] Shortly after
the Watergate hearings,
874
00:45:44,175 --> 00:45:46,277
she noticed some changes
in her vision
875
00:45:46,311 --> 00:45:48,780
and some weakness
in her muscles.
876
00:45:48,813 --> 00:45:50,515
So she went in for some tests.
877
00:45:51,716 --> 00:45:55,153
The initial tests came back
as multiple sclerosis.
878
00:45:56,421 --> 00:46:00,158
The type of MS
that Barbara Jordan had,
879
00:46:00,191 --> 00:46:03,128
you'd have an attack
and then remission,
880
00:46:03,161 --> 00:46:05,530
and each attack
would leave a portion
881
00:46:05,563 --> 00:46:07,966
of your body further damaged.
882
00:46:09,234 --> 00:46:11,102
But she kept it secret.
883
00:46:13,505 --> 00:46:16,307
{\an8}[Rosemary] The family seemed
to have been the last to know
884
00:46:16,341 --> 00:46:18,643
{\an8}specifically
what the illness was.
885
00:46:20,111 --> 00:46:22,380
{\an8}She did not discuss it
with us.
886
00:46:22,413 --> 00:46:25,450
{\an8}Neither we noticed
the deterioration
887
00:46:25,483 --> 00:46:28,052
and knew that she was doing
all that was possible
888
00:46:28,086 --> 00:46:29,621
to improve it.
889
00:46:32,590 --> 00:46:35,026
[Mary] So little was known
about the disease
890
00:46:35,059 --> 00:46:37,529
at the time
or potential cures.
891
00:46:38,930 --> 00:46:41,432
There was an uncertainty
within her
892
00:46:41,466 --> 00:46:44,335
about her own life
and well-being.
893
00:46:45,370 --> 00:46:48,239
But like so many things
in Barbara's life,
894
00:46:48,273 --> 00:46:50,074
she put it aside,
'cause she was gonna go do
895
00:46:50,108 --> 00:46:51,976
what she was gonna go do.
896
00:46:52,010 --> 00:46:54,012
Right now,
I'm just very pleased
897
00:46:54,045 --> 00:46:56,181
that I've won re-election
to represent
898
00:46:56,214 --> 00:46:58,316
the 18th Congressional
District in Congress.
899
00:46:58,349 --> 00:47:00,985
A political office
isn't a destination.
900
00:47:01,019 --> 00:47:03,188
It's a tool.
901
00:47:07,358 --> 00:47:09,394
She was there to do things.
902
00:47:09,427 --> 00:47:11,629
And she had
a very impressive list
903
00:47:11,663 --> 00:47:13,865
of congressional
accomplishments.
904
00:47:13,898 --> 00:47:16,501
She helped shape hundreds
of bills.
905
00:47:20,138 --> 00:47:21,506
Barbara, congratulations.
906
00:47:21,539 --> 00:47:22,607
Thank you, Mr. President.
907
00:47:23,808 --> 00:47:25,577
I watch your commentary.
908
00:47:25,610 --> 00:47:26,611
Do you now?
909
00:47:26,644 --> 00:47:30,014
I hope that uh, they meet
with your approval
910
00:47:30,048 --> 00:47:32,417
- from time to time.
- [laughing]
911
00:47:32,450 --> 00:47:33,551
[Gerald Ford]
From time to time.
912
00:47:33,585 --> 00:47:35,286
From time to time.
913
00:47:40,291 --> 00:47:43,928
In '75, Barbara worked
to ensure that
914
00:47:43,962 --> 00:47:46,297
the Voting Rights Act
extension
915
00:47:46,331 --> 00:47:49,400
also included
Hispanic groups.
916
00:47:51,903 --> 00:47:54,038
[applause]
917
00:47:54,072 --> 00:47:56,407
[Gerald Ford] The bill
that I will sign today
918
00:47:56,441 --> 00:47:59,944
broadens the provisions
to bar discrimination
919
00:47:59,978 --> 00:48:02,380
against Spanish-speaking
Americans,
920
00:48:02,413 --> 00:48:05,683
American Indians,
Alaskan Natives,
921
00:48:05,717 --> 00:48:07,485
and Asian Americans.
922
00:48:07,518 --> 00:48:10,788
[indistinct chatter]
923
00:48:10,822 --> 00:48:11,889
[Gerald Ford]
There you are.
924
00:48:11,923 --> 00:48:12,724
- [Man 4] Thank you.
- [Gerald Ford] Okay.
925
00:48:12,757 --> 00:48:14,392
- [Man 4] All right.
- Good.
926
00:48:14,425 --> 00:48:16,628
We will be here
seven years from now.
927
00:48:16,661 --> 00:48:18,663
And if the act needs
to be extended again,
928
00:48:18,696 --> 00:48:20,031
we'll do that.
929
00:48:22,500 --> 00:48:28,072
[reel whirring]
930
00:48:30,642 --> 00:48:32,710
[Host 1] Among your detractors,
you're known as having
931
00:48:32,744 --> 00:48:36,281
{\an8}an impatience with those
not as smart as you
932
00:48:36,314 --> 00:48:39,083
an impatience bordering
on arrogance.
933
00:48:41,052 --> 00:48:42,854
Would you say that's fair?
934
00:48:42,887 --> 00:48:44,689
Oh, I think that's unfair.
935
00:48:44,722 --> 00:48:48,359
It is just my desire
to see things move along
936
00:48:48,393 --> 00:48:52,063
expeditiously without
too many missed steps.
937
00:48:53,431 --> 00:48:54,699
[Dan] The key
to moving ahead
938
00:48:54,732 --> 00:48:56,301
has been understanding power.
939
00:48:56,334 --> 00:48:58,436
That includes
knowing the rules.
940
00:48:58,469 --> 00:49:01,005
It also includes
guarding her independence,
941
00:49:01,039 --> 00:49:04,175
avoiding labels,
making alliances all right,
942
00:49:04,208 --> 00:49:06,411
but not risking too much
on them.
943
00:49:07,478 --> 00:49:09,814
[Yvonne] She was not
really very active
944
00:49:09,847 --> 00:49:10,982
in the Black Caucus.
945
00:49:11,783 --> 00:49:14,218
She was just overcome
with the responsibilities
946
00:49:14,252 --> 00:49:15,620
of her district.
947
00:49:15,653 --> 00:49:18,356
Blacks are concerned about
heat, hot water, getting jobs,
948
00:49:18,389 --> 00:49:20,858
unemployment, and uh...
949
00:49:20,892 --> 00:49:23,728
[Barbara] The politician
who is Black
950
00:49:23,761 --> 00:49:24,996
will be successful
951
00:49:25,029 --> 00:49:28,099
in the larger arena
when he can show
952
00:49:28,132 --> 00:49:31,002
and demonstrate flexibility
953
00:49:31,035 --> 00:49:34,739
on a broad spectrum of issues
954
00:49:34,772 --> 00:49:37,675
and not be a knee-jerk Black.
955
00:49:38,976 --> 00:49:42,146
I would gamble
that if you would attempt
956
00:49:42,180 --> 00:49:43,781
to ask her,
957
00:49:43,815 --> 00:49:46,184
"What did it mean to you
being a Black American?",
958
00:49:46,217 --> 00:49:47,552
that she'll find some way
959
00:49:47,585 --> 00:49:49,454
of telling you
that she was just
960
00:49:49,487 --> 00:49:51,556
an American who happened
to be Black.
961
00:49:53,324 --> 00:49:56,494
[Barbara] There is no law
which says all Black people
962
00:49:56,527 --> 00:49:58,629
who are elected
to Congress must agree
963
00:49:58,663 --> 00:50:00,898
with each other
on every point.
964
00:50:00,932 --> 00:50:01,599
[Interviewer 3]
And you don't?
965
00:50:01,632 --> 00:50:03,167
And I don't.
966
00:50:03,201 --> 00:50:04,168
[Interviewer 3]
What about women?
967
00:50:05,002 --> 00:50:07,004
Other women members
of Congress?
968
00:50:07,038 --> 00:50:09,974
This is the time
that we will make women
969
00:50:10,007 --> 00:50:12,577
and men share equally
in the greatness
970
00:50:12,610 --> 00:50:13,478
of America.
971
00:50:13,511 --> 00:50:14,479
[Man 5] She told
legislative assistant,
972
00:50:14,512 --> 00:50:15,847
Bob Alcock, of a conversation
she had
973
00:50:15,880 --> 00:50:18,683
with New York's militant
Congresswoman Bella Abzug.
974
00:50:18,716 --> 00:50:19,851
[Barbara] Did you know
that Bella wanted
975
00:50:19,884 --> 00:50:22,587
all the women to sit together
on the floor today
976
00:50:22,620 --> 00:50:25,857
while they considered
the women's rights bill?
977
00:50:26,724 --> 00:50:28,226
No, I didn't know that.
978
00:50:31,195 --> 00:50:32,063
It's very interesting.
979
00:50:32,096 --> 00:50:34,165
{\an8}[laughing]
980
00:50:34,198 --> 00:50:35,633
And I said
I wouldn't sit with 'em.
981
00:50:36,768 --> 00:50:38,169
So she said, "Well,
they would all come over
982
00:50:38,202 --> 00:50:39,103
and sit with me."
983
00:50:39,137 --> 00:50:40,605
And I told them I'd move.
984
00:50:40,638 --> 00:50:41,806
[laughing]
985
00:50:41,839 --> 00:50:43,574
She would not call
herself a "feminist",
986
00:50:43,608 --> 00:50:47,612
because it was considered
a white woman's domain.
987
00:50:47,645 --> 00:50:50,348
That is how the National
Organization of Women
988
00:50:50,381 --> 00:50:53,251
were unofficially identified.
989
00:50:53,284 --> 00:50:54,919
And Barbara Jordan
was not going
990
00:50:54,952 --> 00:50:56,954
to be pigeonholed.
991
00:50:56,988 --> 00:50:58,823
[Host 2] You've been
criticized from time to time
992
00:50:58,856 --> 00:51:02,026
by both Blacks and women
for not being more a part
993
00:51:02,059 --> 00:51:03,127
of their team.
994
00:51:03,161 --> 00:51:05,797
I think I am contributing
995
00:51:05,830 --> 00:51:09,233
to the work of the team
every time I get out of bed
996
00:51:09,267 --> 00:51:10,535
and go to work.
997
00:51:12,036 --> 00:51:13,838
There's a Black
and there's a woman
998
00:51:13,871 --> 00:51:18,176
on the job doing things,
hopefully beneficial
999
00:51:18,209 --> 00:51:20,778
to the interests
of Black people
1000
00:51:20,812 --> 00:51:21,779
and of women.
1001
00:51:22,747 --> 00:51:25,082
[applause]
1002
00:51:25,116 --> 00:51:26,918
The very first man to die
1003
00:51:26,951 --> 00:51:29,320
for the War of Independence
in this country
1004
00:51:29,353 --> 00:51:32,356
was a Black man
named Crispus Attucks.
1005
00:51:32,390 --> 00:51:33,724
Crispus Attucks.
1006
00:51:33,758 --> 00:51:38,596
[cheering, applauding]
1007
00:51:41,232 --> 00:51:42,633
He was a fool.
1008
00:51:43,568 --> 00:51:45,503
[audience laughs, cheers]
1009
00:51:45,536 --> 00:51:48,573
All but we wanted to prove
what great Americans we were.
1010
00:51:48,606 --> 00:51:50,508
We begged the white folk
to let us fight
1011
00:51:50,541 --> 00:51:52,076
in the War of Independence.
1012
00:51:52,109 --> 00:51:54,111
And they had us
fighting the Indians.
1013
00:51:54,145 --> 00:51:55,913
Like fools,
we should have teamed up
1014
00:51:55,947 --> 00:51:58,282
with the Indians
and take care of you know who.
1015
00:51:58,316 --> 00:52:01,752
[cheering, applauding]
1016
00:52:03,521 --> 00:52:07,725
[Barbara] I am militant
in my insides.
1017
00:52:11,295 --> 00:52:14,265
[Barbara] I know that
there are problems
1018
00:52:14,298 --> 00:52:17,368
which Black people face
which must be solved.
1019
00:52:17,401 --> 00:52:20,271
And even though
you seethe underneath
1020
00:52:20,304 --> 00:52:24,909
and you want to break out
in some kind of a display
1021
00:52:24,942 --> 00:52:27,812
of aggressiveness,
the truth of the matter
1022
00:52:27,845 --> 00:52:29,814
is that in the back
of your mind, you know,
1023
00:52:29,847 --> 00:52:33,451
that in the long run,
that display of aggressiveness
1024
00:52:33,484 --> 00:52:37,922
is going to retard the cause
that you're trying to fulfill
1025
00:52:37,955 --> 00:52:39,190
or to bring about.
1026
00:52:39,223 --> 00:52:41,859
So you suppress, you suppress.
1027
00:52:44,128 --> 00:52:46,063
[indistinct chatter]
1028
00:52:46,097 --> 00:52:55,506
[♪♪♪]
1029
00:52:56,641 --> 00:52:59,443
[Barbara] The last eight
years, we have seen
1030
00:52:59,477 --> 00:53:01,445
the employment suffer,
1031
00:53:01,479 --> 00:53:05,249
a recession induced
by the combination
1032
00:53:05,283 --> 00:53:08,085
of Mr. Nixon and Mr. Ford.
1033
00:53:08,119 --> 00:53:09,854
It's time
that people found out
1034
00:53:09,887 --> 00:53:11,989
that when God put us here,
he said we were equal.
1035
00:53:12,023 --> 00:53:14,892
You know, it's time
to start thinking about that.
1036
00:53:15,960 --> 00:53:21,165
I, Gerald R. Ford,
do grant a full, free,
1037
00:53:21,198 --> 00:53:24,468
and absolute pardon
unto Richard Nixon
1038
00:53:24,502 --> 00:53:27,471
for all offenses
against the United States.
1039
00:53:27,505 --> 00:53:29,307
[Barbara] For the past
eight years,
1040
00:53:29,340 --> 00:53:33,344
Washington, D.C. has been
under a pollution alert,
1041
00:53:33,377 --> 00:53:35,880
because of the stench
of republicanism
1042
00:53:35,913 --> 00:53:39,116
accompanied
by some other foul odors.
1043
00:53:39,150 --> 00:53:40,585
[laughter]
1044
00:53:40,618 --> 00:53:45,356
And those other foul odors
may be labeled dishonor,
1045
00:53:45,389 --> 00:53:48,559
disgrace, betrayal of trust.
1046
00:53:48,593 --> 00:53:50,695
The only way
that we are going
1047
00:53:50,728 --> 00:53:53,264
to be able to purify the air
1048
00:53:53,297 --> 00:53:56,601
is to elect
that rational, compassionate,
1049
00:53:56,634 --> 00:54:00,304
depth of intellect man
by the name of Jimmy Carter.
1050
00:54:00,338 --> 00:54:02,373
[cheering, whistling]
1051
00:54:02,406 --> 00:54:06,177
[♪♪♪]
1052
00:54:06,210 --> 00:54:09,547
My name is Jimmy Carter
and I'm running for president.
1053
00:54:14,218 --> 00:54:17,521
[Barbara] I made a decision
to help Carter get elected,
1054
00:54:17,555 --> 00:54:20,257
because the two terms I served
in Congress,
1055
00:54:20,291 --> 00:54:23,027
I had Richard Nixon
and Gerald Ford.
1056
00:54:23,060 --> 00:54:26,664
And I thought one experience
that you've got to have
1057
00:54:26,697 --> 00:54:30,501
is to serve in Congress
with a democratic president.
1058
00:54:30,534 --> 00:54:35,473
[♪♪♪]
1059
00:54:52,757 --> 00:54:56,127
I was gonna get a chance
to hear Barbara Jordan speak.
1060
00:54:56,160 --> 00:54:58,396
And that was
a big deal for her
1061
00:54:58,429 --> 00:54:59,830
being the first
African-American
1062
00:54:59,864 --> 00:55:01,298
speaking there.
1063
00:55:01,332 --> 00:55:03,067
[Bob] Ladies and gentlemen.
1064
00:55:03,100 --> 00:55:04,001
[applauding, cheering]
1065
00:55:04,035 --> 00:55:05,569
[Bob chuckles]
1066
00:55:07,805 --> 00:55:09,573
[Bob] Ladies and gentlemen.
1067
00:55:15,413 --> 00:55:17,581
[Rodney] When Bob Strauss
introduced her,
1068
00:55:17,615 --> 00:55:20,985
he didn't go through
a litany of firsts.
1069
00:55:21,018 --> 00:55:23,754
He just said,
"The Honorable Congresswoman
1070
00:55:23,788 --> 00:55:25,089
Barbara Jordan from Houston."
1071
00:55:25,122 --> 00:55:26,357
...Of Houston, Texas.
1072
00:55:26,390 --> 00:55:31,495
{\an8}[applauding, cheering]
1073
00:55:33,931 --> 00:55:36,100
{\an8}[Barbara] Thank you,
ladies and gentlemen.
1074
00:55:37,334 --> 00:55:40,905
144 years ago,
1075
00:55:40,938 --> 00:55:43,407
members of the
Democratic Party
1076
00:55:43,441 --> 00:55:46,210
first met in convention
to select
1077
00:55:46,243 --> 00:55:48,546
a presidential candidate.
1078
00:55:48,579 --> 00:55:50,948
And our meeting
is a continuation
1079
00:55:50,981 --> 00:55:52,783
of that tradition.
1080
00:55:52,817 --> 00:55:55,486
But there is something
different about tonight.
1081
00:55:55,519 --> 00:55:58,089
There is something special
about tonight.
1082
00:55:59,557 --> 00:56:01,759
What is different?
What is special?
1083
00:56:02,727 --> 00:56:06,430
I, Barbara Jordan,
am a keynote speaker.
1084
00:56:06,464 --> 00:56:11,502
[applauding, cheering]
1085
00:56:13,671 --> 00:56:15,372
And my presence here
1086
00:56:15,406 --> 00:56:18,609
is one additional bit
of evidence
1087
00:56:19,710 --> 00:56:24,281
that the American dream
need not forever be deferred.
1088
00:56:24,315 --> 00:56:29,386
[applauding, cheering]
1089
00:56:29,420 --> 00:56:32,823
We have a positive vision
of the future
1090
00:56:32,857 --> 00:56:36,994
founded on the belief
that the gap
1091
00:56:37,795 --> 00:56:41,632
between the promise
and reality of America
1092
00:56:41,665 --> 00:56:45,536
can one day be finally closed.
1093
00:56:45,569 --> 00:56:46,904
We believe that.
1094
00:56:46,937 --> 00:56:51,675
[applause]
1095
00:56:51,709 --> 00:56:56,781
Let there be no illusions
about the difficulty
1096
00:56:56,814 --> 00:56:59,950
of forming this kind
of a national community.
1097
00:56:59,984 --> 00:57:03,754
It's tough, but a spirit
of harmony will survive
1098
00:57:03,788 --> 00:57:07,792
in America only if
each of us remembers
1099
00:57:07,825 --> 00:57:12,496
when self-interest
and bitterness seem to prevail
1100
00:57:12,530 --> 00:57:15,766
that we share
a common destiny.
1101
00:57:16,867 --> 00:57:20,738
I have confidence
that we can form this kind
1102
00:57:20,771 --> 00:57:22,606
of national community.
1103
00:57:23,541 --> 00:57:27,244
I am going to close
my speech by quoting
1104
00:57:27,278 --> 00:57:29,880
a Republican president.
1105
00:57:30,681 --> 00:57:33,851
And I ask you
that as you listen
1106
00:57:33,884 --> 00:57:36,353
to these words
of Abraham Lincoln,
1107
00:57:37,087 --> 00:57:42,560
relate them to the concept
of a national community
1108
00:57:42,593 --> 00:57:48,065
in which every last one
of us...
1109
00:57:49,500 --> 00:57:51,135
participates.
1110
00:57:52,837 --> 00:57:55,806
"As I would not be a slave...
1111
00:57:58,342 --> 00:58:03,080
so I would not be a master."
1112
00:58:05,115 --> 00:58:06,183
This...
1113
00:58:06,217 --> 00:58:11,822
[applause]
1114
00:58:11,856 --> 00:58:17,127
This, this expresses
my idea...
1115
00:58:18,696 --> 00:58:20,264
of democracy.
1116
00:58:21,265 --> 00:58:26,537
Whatever differs
from this to the extent
1117
00:58:26,570 --> 00:58:30,207
of the difference is no...
1118
00:58:32,509 --> 00:58:34,144
democracy.
1119
00:58:34,178 --> 00:58:34,845
Thank you.
1120
00:58:34,879 --> 00:58:39,984
[applauding, cheering]
1121
00:58:45,189 --> 00:58:54,365
[♪♪♪]
1122
00:59:04,475 --> 00:59:08,879
[♪♪♪]
1123
00:59:12,850 --> 00:59:14,752
[Dan] After Jimmy Carter was
elected
1124
00:59:14,785 --> 00:59:16,520
there was
all this speculation
1125
00:59:16,553 --> 00:59:18,155
who was gonna be
appointed what.
1126
00:59:19,957 --> 00:59:22,259
[Mary] Barbara had one spot
she wanted.
1127
00:59:23,427 --> 00:59:24,595
She wanted to be
Attorney General
1128
00:59:24,628 --> 00:59:26,196
of the United States.
1129
00:59:27,197 --> 00:59:30,267
She could do a lot
on the issues she cares about,
1130
00:59:30,301 --> 00:59:33,404
anti-discriminating,
voting rights, civil rights.
1131
00:59:34,204 --> 00:59:36,006
[Jewell] Was it possible
for Barbara Jordan
1132
00:59:36,040 --> 00:59:41,245
to become Attorney General
under Jimmy Carter in 1976?
1133
00:59:41,278 --> 00:59:42,746
No.
1134
00:59:42,780 --> 00:59:45,349
Society was not prepared.
1135
00:59:45,382 --> 00:59:48,085
We were still gathered
around the television set
1136
00:59:48,118 --> 00:59:52,356
if a black person
was on television in the '70s.
1137
00:59:52,389 --> 00:59:54,058
I don't think that I'm trapped
1138
00:59:54,091 --> 00:59:56,660
in representing the 18th
Congressional District
1139
00:59:56,694 --> 00:59:57,761
for the rest of my life.
1140
00:59:57,795 --> 01:00:00,030
I may want
to do something else.
1141
01:00:00,064 --> 01:00:03,267
[Paul] One of your colleagues
said Barbara Jordan
1142
01:00:03,300 --> 01:00:06,103
has a gothic preoccupation
with power.
1143
01:00:06,136 --> 01:00:08,973
Politics, Paul,
is about power.
1144
01:00:09,006 --> 01:00:13,510
And to say that it's not,
I think, is to deny
1145
01:00:13,544 --> 01:00:15,879
the reality of-- of politics.
1146
01:00:15,913 --> 01:00:18,382
I don't yearn
for power for myself,
1147
01:00:18,415 --> 01:00:22,686
but I certainly yearn
for power to get things done
1148
01:00:22,720 --> 01:00:25,356
for the people I represent.
1149
01:00:25,389 --> 01:00:27,925
Tonight, Carter interviews
Representative Barbara Jordan,
1150
01:00:27,958 --> 01:00:30,361
who is in the running
for Attorney General.
1151
01:00:30,394 --> 01:00:33,464
Barbara was excited to go
to the meeting with Carter.
1152
01:00:35,299 --> 01:00:36,700
[Dan] On her way
into Blair House,
1153
01:00:36,734 --> 01:00:39,169
Representative Jordan said
she hadn't the faintest idea
1154
01:00:39,203 --> 01:00:41,305
what post she was being
considered for,
1155
01:00:41,338 --> 01:00:42,973
but sources said
that it was indeed
1156
01:00:43,007 --> 01:00:44,875
Attorney General.
1157
01:00:44,908 --> 01:00:47,378
The Texas congresswoman
left 45 minutes later
1158
01:00:47,411 --> 01:00:49,980
before the hour allotted
for the interview had ended.
1159
01:00:53,484 --> 01:00:56,353
I personally, as a reporter
covering the story,
1160
01:00:56,387 --> 01:00:59,423
thought that President Carter
considered her seriously.
1161
01:00:59,456 --> 01:01:05,229
[♪♪♪]
1162
01:01:05,262 --> 01:01:07,831
[Elizabeth] He had his guy,
Griffin Bell,
1163
01:01:09,833 --> 01:01:12,469
because people
put their guys in.
1164
01:01:14,471 --> 01:01:17,307
{\an8}[Barbara] I felt that the
black and the woman stuff
1165
01:01:17,341 --> 01:01:20,511
{\an8}were just side issues
and that people
1166
01:01:20,544 --> 01:01:22,813
{\an8}were going to ignore that.
1167
01:01:22,846 --> 01:01:25,416
{\an8}Now that was naiveté
on my part.
1168
01:01:29,420 --> 01:01:31,622
[Interviewer 4] You were
reported as being arrogant
1169
01:01:31,655 --> 01:01:33,190
in saying that you would
only consider
1170
01:01:33,223 --> 01:01:35,426
the cabinet position
of Attorney General.
1171
01:01:35,459 --> 01:01:36,827
I suppose I was.
1172
01:01:37,628 --> 01:01:38,862
Uh, that is...
1173
01:01:38,896 --> 01:01:42,866
I don't know that there
is any sin to be attached
1174
01:01:42,900 --> 01:01:45,469
to one being arrogant
if one has a reason
1175
01:01:45,502 --> 01:01:46,970
to be arrogant.
1176
01:01:47,004 --> 01:01:48,572
I do not apologize.
1177
01:01:51,442 --> 01:01:53,911
[Mary] Andrew Young
ultimately got the appointment
1178
01:01:53,944 --> 01:01:56,213
as ambassador
to the United Nations.
1179
01:01:56,246 --> 01:01:59,049
And there were a number of
key African-American leaders
1180
01:01:59,083 --> 01:02:01,618
who also served
in his administration.
1181
01:02:01,652 --> 01:02:03,153
But Barbara was not
one of them.
1182
01:02:04,088 --> 01:02:06,156
We've got to take that risks,
Senator.
1183
01:02:06,190 --> 01:02:09,526
In my judgement the 14th
and 15th ammendments
1184
01:02:09,560 --> 01:02:13,130
to the constitution
demand that we take that risks
1185
01:02:13,163 --> 01:02:15,099
if those provisions
of the constitution
1186
01:02:15,132 --> 01:02:16,667
are supposed to mean anything.
1187
01:02:17,301 --> 01:02:21,371
Politics is not easy
for a woman.
1188
01:02:21,405 --> 01:02:24,908
And that is period,
no semi-colon.
1189
01:02:26,110 --> 01:02:29,279
There is a sense still
1190
01:02:29,313 --> 01:02:33,217
that woman are not quite up to
the job
1191
01:02:33,250 --> 01:02:37,988
when it comes to deciding on
difficult issues
1192
01:02:38,021 --> 01:02:40,924
that is perception,
that is not reality.
1193
01:02:49,299 --> 01:02:53,837
I shall not seek
elective office
1194
01:02:53,871 --> 01:02:55,806
in 1978.
1195
01:02:56,440 --> 01:02:58,475
I am going to serve out
my term.
1196
01:02:59,476 --> 01:03:02,913
I trust that there will be
something for me to do
1197
01:03:02,946 --> 01:03:05,349
with the rest of my life.
1198
01:03:05,382 --> 01:03:09,353
I believe that I uh, I have
a contribution to continue
1199
01:03:09,386 --> 01:03:13,090
to make in either the public
or the private sector, but...
1200
01:03:13,123 --> 01:03:17,461
I felt that
I had made an impact.
1201
01:03:17,494 --> 01:03:20,597
And frankly,
I couldn't think of any way
1202
01:03:20,631 --> 01:03:23,066
I could do more
1203
01:03:23,100 --> 01:03:26,470
or get the attention
of more people
1204
01:03:26,503 --> 01:03:29,439
or command the attention
of more people
1205
01:03:29,473 --> 01:03:31,275
or get them to listen
1206
01:03:31,308 --> 01:03:35,279
that I had done that
and given the structure
1207
01:03:35,312 --> 01:03:38,882
of the body as large
and lumbersome
1208
01:03:38,916 --> 01:03:41,051
and cumbersome as it is.
1209
01:03:41,084 --> 01:03:44,888
In that setting,
I felt that I had run out
1210
01:03:44,922 --> 01:03:46,156
of my strength.
1211
01:03:47,457 --> 01:03:48,625
[Rodney] If you think
of that speech
1212
01:03:48,659 --> 01:03:50,160
that Barbara Jordan gave
1213
01:03:50,194 --> 01:03:52,462
at the Watergate impeachment
proceedings,
1214
01:03:53,263 --> 01:03:56,767
that was someone
teaching a lesson.
1215
01:03:56,800 --> 01:03:58,435
And then what does she do?
1216
01:03:58,468 --> 01:04:01,271
She ends up
becoming a teacher.
1217
01:04:01,305 --> 01:04:03,173
It's Professor
Barbara Jordan now,
1218
01:04:03,207 --> 01:04:05,442
not Congresswoman
Jordan anymore.
1219
01:04:05,475 --> 01:04:08,345
Her audience now
is 14 graduate students
1220
01:04:08,378 --> 01:04:09,980
at the Lyndon B. Johnson
School
1221
01:04:10,013 --> 01:04:12,382
of Public Affairs
at the University of Texas.
1222
01:04:12,416 --> 01:04:14,384
Well, we're in new quarters
here today,
1223
01:04:14,418 --> 01:04:15,485
and I hope that--
1224
01:04:15,519 --> 01:04:16,119
Morning, Dan.
1225
01:04:16,153 --> 01:04:17,554
[Dan] Morning.
1226
01:04:17,588 --> 01:04:21,258
[Barbara] I want to test
your powers of concentration.
1227
01:04:21,291 --> 01:04:25,762
Ignore the lights.
Ignore the camera.
1228
01:04:25,796 --> 01:04:27,331
Ignore the star.
1229
01:04:28,232 --> 01:04:29,600
And just, that is,
that star, not this one.
1230
01:04:29,633 --> 01:04:32,703
[laughing]
1231
01:04:32,736 --> 01:04:35,239
[Mary] She loved to challenge
those students.
1232
01:04:38,075 --> 01:04:40,077
[Barbara] I no longer have
any interest
1233
01:04:40,110 --> 01:04:41,878
in elective office.
1234
01:04:41,912 --> 01:04:44,548
I think my future
is in seeing to it
1235
01:04:44,581 --> 01:04:47,451
that the next generation
is ready to take over.
1236
01:04:48,518 --> 01:04:51,555
[Annise] She had so much reach
into places
1237
01:04:51,588 --> 01:04:55,259
that desperately needed
another image of someone.
1238
01:04:55,292 --> 01:04:57,127
We went
into the AIDS epidemic,
1239
01:04:57,160 --> 01:04:58,962
the deaths, and the isolation.
1240
01:04:58,996 --> 01:05:02,933
We so much needed
role models, and heroes,
1241
01:05:02,966 --> 01:05:04,334
and heroines to step up.
1242
01:05:04,368 --> 01:05:06,870
And the question
was posed to her,
1243
01:05:06,903 --> 01:05:10,040
why she was so silent
on LGBT issues.
1244
01:05:10,073 --> 01:05:11,375
And she said
there are only so many banners
1245
01:05:11,408 --> 01:05:12,709
she can carry at one time.
1246
01:05:14,177 --> 01:05:16,313
And I understand.
1247
01:05:16,346 --> 01:05:17,948
And it still makes me
sad today.
1248
01:05:17,981 --> 01:05:19,916
[♪♪♪]
1249
01:05:19,950 --> 01:05:22,319
A mystery disease known as
the gay plague
1250
01:05:22,352 --> 01:05:24,254
has become
an epidemic unprecedented
1251
01:05:24,288 --> 01:05:26,423
in the history
of American medicine.
1252
01:05:26,456 --> 01:05:28,225
[Politician] Why haven't
the bathhouses,
1253
01:05:28,258 --> 01:05:31,128
whose sole purpose
is to provide a setting
1254
01:05:31,161 --> 01:05:33,597
for casual, promiscuous
homosexual sex,
1255
01:05:33,630 --> 01:05:35,032
been closed down?
1256
01:05:35,065 --> 01:05:36,400
[Ronald Reagan] To add
the AIDS virus
1257
01:05:36,433 --> 01:05:38,869
to the list
of contagious diseases
1258
01:05:38,902 --> 01:05:40,270
for which immigrants
and aliens
1259
01:05:40,304 --> 01:05:42,072
can be denied entry.
1260
01:05:42,105 --> 01:05:46,910
[audience making noise]
1261
01:05:46,943 --> 01:05:49,012
We'll make America
great again.
1262
01:05:49,046 --> 01:05:50,247
[cheer]
1263
01:05:50,280 --> 01:05:51,515
♪ It's like
a jungle sometimes ♪
1264
01:05:51,548 --> 01:05:54,117
♪ It makes me wonder
how I keep going under ♪
1265
01:05:59,756 --> 01:06:02,626
[crowd chanting]
1266
01:06:02,659 --> 01:06:05,228
[Barbara] We have failed.
1267
01:06:05,262 --> 01:06:08,465
People who come to power
have been more concerned
1268
01:06:08,498 --> 01:06:11,968
with exacerbating
our divisions
1269
01:06:12,002 --> 01:06:15,072
rather than healing
our wounds.
1270
01:06:15,105 --> 01:06:18,442
If we are
the inclusive society,
1271
01:06:18,475 --> 01:06:21,878
the inclusive government
we say we are,
1272
01:06:21,912 --> 01:06:24,214
then everybody
ought to have a say.
1273
01:06:24,247 --> 01:06:27,117
Freddie, you're buying
into this system.
1274
01:06:27,150 --> 01:06:29,019
And you used to be
about something.
1275
01:06:29,052 --> 01:06:30,454
I am about something.
1276
01:06:30,487 --> 01:06:32,322
I am about
studying this system,
1277
01:06:32,356 --> 01:06:34,257
understanding it,
so I can change it.
1278
01:06:34,291 --> 01:06:36,026
Goodbye, Tracy Chapman.
1279
01:06:36,059 --> 01:06:38,095
Hello, Barbara Jordan.
1280
01:06:38,128 --> 01:06:40,497
[laughter]
1281
01:06:42,666 --> 01:06:46,103
{\an8}[birds chirping]
1282
01:06:47,571 --> 01:06:49,773
[DeAnn] Nancy and she
had designed their house
1283
01:06:49,806 --> 01:06:52,509
that they wanted to have
out in the country.
1284
01:06:52,542 --> 01:06:57,080
There was this huge public area
for entertaining.
1285
01:06:57,114 --> 01:06:59,149
[indistinct chatter]
1286
01:06:59,182 --> 01:07:02,519
[Rosemary] She would have
plenty of food
1287
01:07:02,552 --> 01:07:05,756
and a lot of group singing.
1288
01:07:05,789 --> 01:07:14,164
[♪♪♪]
1289
01:07:14,197 --> 01:07:16,333
[Rosemary] And of course,
Barbara would do solos
1290
01:07:16,366 --> 01:07:17,834
every now and then.
1291
01:07:19,136 --> 01:07:20,404
[Jody] It was just so special.
1292
01:07:20,437 --> 01:07:22,572
And the older we got,
the more special it became.
1293
01:07:25,709 --> 01:07:28,412
Of course, there was food
and there was fun.
1294
01:07:28,445 --> 01:07:33,283
But she started to have
an annual party for the team.
1295
01:07:33,316 --> 01:07:42,292
[♪♪♪]
1296
01:07:42,325 --> 01:07:44,528
[Mary] One of the pleasures
that Barbara had
1297
01:07:44,561 --> 01:07:47,497
as she came back to Austin
was to go support
1298
01:07:47,531 --> 01:07:50,400
the Lady Longhorns,
the wonderful women's
1299
01:07:50,434 --> 01:07:52,836
basketball team
at the University of Texas.
1300
01:07:54,004 --> 01:07:56,306
She became an instant expert.
1301
01:07:56,339 --> 01:07:59,242
So uh, she gave a lot
of coaching advice.
1302
01:07:59,276 --> 01:08:03,513
I asked her to refrain
from berating the officials.
1303
01:08:03,547 --> 01:08:05,882
[Cecile] Barbara would yell
at these young women,
1304
01:08:05,916 --> 01:08:10,086
"Can we not shoot?"
It was like, "Oh my God."
1305
01:08:10,120 --> 01:08:11,955
And Barbara
never missed a game.
1306
01:08:15,659 --> 01:08:17,294
[Ann] Barbara Jordan and I
were good friends
1307
01:08:17,327 --> 01:08:18,195
for many years.
1308
01:08:18,228 --> 01:08:20,130
We were friends
other than being
1309
01:08:20,163 --> 01:08:21,565
political friends.
1310
01:08:21,598 --> 01:08:25,235
We sat together
at the Lady Longhorn
1311
01:08:25,268 --> 01:08:28,371
basketball games
at the University of Texas.
1312
01:08:30,073 --> 01:08:32,108
And oftentimes,
you'd be frustrated
1313
01:08:32,142 --> 01:08:33,844
with Barbara
because you couldn't get her
1314
01:08:33,877 --> 01:08:35,345
to relax.
1315
01:08:35,378 --> 01:08:38,849
You know, you couldn't get her
to not be Barbara Jordan.
1316
01:08:38,882 --> 01:08:40,450
[laughing]
1317
01:08:40,484 --> 01:08:43,220
[Mary] And they like to tell
dirty jokes to each other.
1318
01:08:45,055 --> 01:08:48,492
[Ann] I'm delighted to be here
with you this evening,
1319
01:08:48,525 --> 01:08:50,827
because after listening
to George Bush
1320
01:08:50,861 --> 01:08:53,730
all these years,
I figured you needed to know
1321
01:08:53,763 --> 01:08:56,299
what a real Texas accent
sounds like.
1322
01:08:56,333 --> 01:08:58,168
[cheering]
1323
01:08:58,201 --> 01:09:04,608
[♪♪♪]
1324
01:09:04,641 --> 01:09:06,610
[Cecile] When mom
was elected governor,
1325
01:09:06,643 --> 01:09:09,679
she was trying
to change state government.
1326
01:09:09,713 --> 01:09:12,249
Barbara said, "Yeah, I'm--
I'm there with you."
1327
01:09:12,282 --> 01:09:16,319
And Ann appointed Barbara
as her ethics counsel.
1328
01:09:18,188 --> 01:09:21,825
I cannot tell you
how intimidating it was
1329
01:09:21,858 --> 01:09:25,862
to walk into that room
and be with the voice of God.
1330
01:09:25,896 --> 01:09:29,933
And then immediately how warm
and loving she was.
1331
01:09:29,966 --> 01:09:32,969
She said, "You can make money
or you can do public service,
1332
01:09:33,003 --> 01:09:34,671
but you're not gonna
intermingle the two."
1333
01:09:36,706 --> 01:09:39,976
[Rodney] She pretty much
carved out that niche,
1334
01:09:40,010 --> 01:09:42,679
America's ethics advisor.
1335
01:09:43,480 --> 01:09:44,648
[Ronald Reagan] It's with
great pleasure
1336
01:09:44,681 --> 01:09:47,317
that I today announce
my intention to nominate
1337
01:09:47,350 --> 01:09:49,452
United States Court
of Appeals Judge,
1338
01:09:49,486 --> 01:09:50,987
Robert H. Bork,
1339
01:09:51,021 --> 01:09:54,024
to be an associate justice
of the Supreme Court.
1340
01:09:54,057 --> 01:09:57,694
Robert Bork's America
is a land in which women
1341
01:09:57,727 --> 01:10:00,597
would be forced
into back alley abortions.
1342
01:10:00,630 --> 01:10:03,733
Blacks would sit
at segregated lunch counters.
1343
01:10:03,767 --> 01:10:06,303
Rogue police could break down
citizens' doors
1344
01:10:06,336 --> 01:10:07,904
in midnight rage.
1345
01:10:07,938 --> 01:10:11,174
And schoolchildren could not
be taught about evolution.
1346
01:10:11,207 --> 01:10:13,243
Writers and artists
would be censured
1347
01:10:13,276 --> 01:10:14,344
at the whim of government.
1348
01:10:14,377 --> 01:10:15,745
You don't get converted
and become...
1349
01:10:15,779 --> 01:10:17,314
[Newscaster] Civil rights
leaders who have been
1350
01:10:17,347 --> 01:10:19,282
standing in line
to denounce his nomination
1351
01:10:19,316 --> 01:10:20,951
today got their chance.
1352
01:10:23,420 --> 01:10:25,288
{\an8}Hearing will come to order.
1353
01:10:25,322 --> 01:10:26,556
{\an8}It's an honor
to have you here.
1354
01:10:26,590 --> 01:10:28,358
{\an8}And I would ask you
to raise your right hand
1355
01:10:28,391 --> 01:10:30,360
{\an8}if I may,
Congresswoman, to be sworn.
1356
01:10:30,393 --> 01:10:31,628
{\an8}Do you swear
to tell the whole truth
1357
01:10:31,661 --> 01:10:33,129
{\an8}and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?
1358
01:10:33,163 --> 01:10:34,164
I do, Mr. Chairman.
1359
01:10:34,197 --> 01:10:36,533
{\an8}And thank you very much,
Mr. Chairman.
1360
01:10:36,566 --> 01:10:39,769
{\an8}My opposition
to this nomination
1361
01:10:39,803 --> 01:10:45,609
is really a result
of living 51 years
1362
01:10:45,642 --> 01:10:50,580
as a Black American
born in the South
1363
01:10:50,614 --> 01:10:56,286
and determined to be heard
by the majority community.
1364
01:10:56,319 --> 01:10:58,321
He has disagreed
with the principle
1365
01:10:58,355 --> 01:11:00,657
of one person,
one vote many times.
1366
01:11:01,324 --> 01:11:02,926
This is what he said.
1367
01:11:02,959 --> 01:11:05,428
{\an8}"I do not think
1368
01:11:05,462 --> 01:11:10,400
{\an8}there is a theoretical basis
for it."
1369
01:11:10,433 --> 01:11:12,569
{\an8}My word.
1370
01:11:12,602 --> 01:11:14,004
I'll tell you this much.
1371
01:11:15,071 --> 01:11:17,474
There is a common sense...
1372
01:11:18,441 --> 01:11:22,779
natural, rational basis
1373
01:11:22,812 --> 01:11:25,081
for all votes
counting equally.
1374
01:11:25,982 --> 01:11:28,151
It will be very dangerous to
have someone sitting
1375
01:11:28,184 --> 01:11:29,586
on the supreme court
1376
01:11:29,619 --> 01:11:32,422
who doesn't take individual
rights seriously.
1377
01:11:32,455 --> 01:11:35,792
[Barbara] The Supreme Court
of the United States
1378
01:11:35,825 --> 01:11:39,896
{\an8}is the last bulwark
of protection
1379
01:11:41,031 --> 01:11:42,499
{\an8}for our freedoms.
1380
01:11:44,134 --> 01:11:45,669
[Chairman] Senator Humphrey.
1381
01:11:45,702 --> 01:11:48,004
[Humphrey] Which title
do you prefer?
1382
01:11:48,038 --> 01:11:50,206
[Barbara] Whichever
is comfortable for you.
1383
01:11:50,240 --> 01:11:51,675
[laughs]
1384
01:11:51,708 --> 01:11:54,210
You throw it back
every time, don't you?
1385
01:11:54,244 --> 01:11:56,846
Um. All right.
1386
01:11:56,880 --> 01:12:00,517
Congresswoman Jordan,
was the Senate wrong
1387
01:12:00,550 --> 01:12:02,419
in confirming Robert Bork
1388
01:12:02,452 --> 01:12:04,587
to the D.C. Circuit
Court of Appeals?
1389
01:12:05,488 --> 01:12:06,356
I don't know
whether you were wrong.
1390
01:12:06,389 --> 01:12:07,757
You might have been.
1391
01:12:07,791 --> 01:12:08,525
[Humphrey] Well,
in your opinion.
1392
01:12:08,558 --> 01:12:09,826
I'm asking in your opinion.
1393
01:12:09,859 --> 01:12:12,295
[Barbara] I know, I know,
I know what you're asking.
1394
01:12:12,328 --> 01:12:15,732
{\an8}The Senate,
in its collective wisdom,
1395
01:12:15,765 --> 01:12:19,602
{\an8}apparently decided
it was the correct thing
1396
01:12:19,636 --> 01:12:20,837
for the Senate to do,
1397
01:12:20,870 --> 01:12:22,772
and I would not
second guess it.
1398
01:12:23,673 --> 01:12:27,043
Well, but really,
you're evading
1399
01:12:27,077 --> 01:12:28,578
the question outrageously.
1400
01:12:28,611 --> 01:12:31,414
First, you accuse Robert Bork
of violating the law--
1401
01:12:31,448 --> 01:12:32,782
He did violate the law.
1402
01:12:32,816 --> 01:12:34,050
[Humphrey] Very well, then,
in your opinion,
1403
01:12:34,084 --> 01:12:36,152
what possible reason
could the Senate have
1404
01:12:36,186 --> 01:12:38,888
{\an8}for confirming unanimously
someone you claim
1405
01:12:38,922 --> 01:12:40,557
{\an8}violated the law?
1406
01:12:40,590 --> 01:12:44,327
{\an8}The Senate maybe felt
that that was not
1407
01:12:44,360 --> 01:12:47,630
a serious enough
aberration for them
1408
01:12:47,664 --> 01:12:49,432
to deny confirmation.
1409
01:12:49,466 --> 01:12:52,135
[Humphrey] Oh, you really
can't be serious.
1410
01:12:52,168 --> 01:12:53,369
You can't be serious on that.
1411
01:12:53,403 --> 01:12:55,105
Of course, I can be.
1412
01:12:55,138 --> 01:12:56,039
[audience chuckles]
1413
01:12:56,072 --> 01:12:58,508
I've never seen
you humorous, I must say.
1414
01:12:58,541 --> 01:13:01,511
So uh, maybe
this is the first time,
1415
01:13:01,544 --> 01:13:03,113
tongue in cheek.
1416
01:13:03,146 --> 01:13:06,116
Um, you're very good.
1417
01:13:07,117 --> 01:13:09,853
[laughter]
1418
01:13:09,886 --> 01:13:12,388
[Humphrey] Professor,
I believe
1419
01:13:12,422 --> 01:13:14,023
I'll call you, "Professor".
1420
01:13:14,057 --> 01:13:15,158
All right.
1421
01:13:18,762 --> 01:13:20,230
I could get
a lesser person really
1422
01:13:20,263 --> 01:13:20,997
over a barrel.
1423
01:13:21,030 --> 01:13:22,932
I can't get you over
that barrel.
1424
01:13:22,966 --> 01:13:25,502
Um, let's talk about
another point.
1425
01:13:25,535 --> 01:13:27,804
You said something about
you personally saw
1426
01:13:27,837 --> 01:13:31,040
the Supreme Court as
the guardian of your rights.
1427
01:13:31,074 --> 01:13:33,676
I think here is the nub
of this controversy.
1428
01:13:33,710 --> 01:13:36,646
I view the Constitution,
and not judges,
1429
01:13:36,679 --> 01:13:39,048
{\an8}as the guardian
of our freedom,
1430
01:13:39,082 --> 01:13:40,583
{\an8}our rights, our liberty.
1431
01:13:41,851 --> 01:13:43,319
You're right.
This is the nub of the issue.
1432
01:13:43,353 --> 01:13:44,621
[Humphrey] Whew. Got one.
1433
01:13:46,489 --> 01:13:48,124
Finally, you're right.
1434
01:13:48,158 --> 01:13:51,861
[laughter]
1435
01:13:51,895 --> 01:13:56,232
The nub
of the issue is this.
1436
01:13:57,667 --> 01:14:02,939
{\an8}Many people,
particularly weak people,
1437
01:14:03,907 --> 01:14:07,911
{\an8}underprivileged,
unrepresented,
1438
01:14:07,944 --> 01:14:10,947
underrepresented,
minority people,
1439
01:14:10,980 --> 01:14:16,853
particularly the outs,
have looked
1440
01:14:16,886 --> 01:14:19,022
to the Supreme Court.
1441
01:14:19,055 --> 01:14:19,722
[Humphrey] Yes.
1442
01:14:19,756 --> 01:14:22,025
As the rescuer.
1443
01:14:22,058 --> 01:14:22,959
Mmhmm.
1444
01:14:22,992 --> 01:14:26,729
The Supreme Court
will throw out a lifeline
1445
01:14:27,764 --> 01:14:31,067
when the legislators,
and the governors,
1446
01:14:31,100 --> 01:14:35,939
and the everybody else
refuses to do so.
1447
01:14:37,006 --> 01:14:39,209
[Ashley] I think Jordan
can see down the road
1448
01:14:39,242 --> 01:14:42,712
how Supreme Court appointments
can not only roll back
1449
01:14:42,745 --> 01:14:45,548
some of those measures
that helped catapult her,
1450
01:14:45,582 --> 01:14:48,251
but also concerns
about the punitive nature
1451
01:14:48,284 --> 01:14:49,619
of lawmaking.
1452
01:14:49,652 --> 01:14:52,989
We do not want
to see an articulate
1453
01:14:53,022 --> 01:14:57,727
and persuasive voice
on the Supreme Court saying,
1454
01:14:57,760 --> 01:14:59,696
"That's not your function."
1455
01:15:00,530 --> 01:15:02,298
Congress suffered
when you left us,
1456
01:15:02,332 --> 01:15:03,933
but it's a delight
to have you back here today.
1457
01:15:03,967 --> 01:15:05,034
[Barbara] Thank you, Senator.
1458
01:15:05,068 --> 01:15:06,903
I remember when you were
a member of Congress,
1459
01:15:06,936 --> 01:15:09,339
you were one of the most
articulate members
1460
01:15:09,372 --> 01:15:12,742
{\an8}I had the pleasure of serving
on the conference committee
1461
01:15:12,775 --> 01:15:15,678
{\an8}with you,
and I knew you in other ways.
1462
01:15:15,712 --> 01:15:17,247
{\an8}And of course,
I differ with you
1463
01:15:17,280 --> 01:15:18,214
{\an8}on this nomination,
1464
01:15:18,248 --> 01:15:20,850
{\an8}but I hope you're getting
along nice in Texas
1465
01:15:20,884 --> 01:15:22,018
and enjoying your work
1466
01:15:22,051 --> 01:15:23,586
at the Lyndon Johnson
School of Government.
1467
01:15:23,620 --> 01:15:24,654
I am.
1468
01:15:24,687 --> 01:15:26,823
There's an old uh,
English expression
1469
01:15:26,856 --> 01:15:29,292
that says, "Character brings
forth character."
1470
01:15:30,493 --> 01:15:32,695
You brought forth
in this body,
1471
01:15:32,729 --> 01:15:34,097
{\an8}when you were here,
1472
01:15:34,130 --> 01:15:36,132
{\an8}and hopefully,
in this committee.
1473
01:15:36,165 --> 01:15:45,642
[♪♪♪]
1474
01:15:45,675 --> 01:15:48,878
There was a long time,
for me, 15 years,
1475
01:15:48,912 --> 01:15:50,880
with Barbara
where we didn't know
1476
01:15:50,914 --> 01:15:52,949
what was going on
with her health.
1477
01:15:54,250 --> 01:15:56,819
[Sylvia] I never heard exactly
what it was.
1478
01:15:56,853 --> 01:15:58,454
We were just shocked
when she had a cane,
1479
01:15:58,488 --> 01:16:01,224
and then we shocked more
when she had her wheelchair.
1480
01:16:02,425 --> 01:16:05,161
I think we all just hoped
that there was nothing wrong.
1481
01:16:08,765 --> 01:16:11,167
[DeAnn] Barbara and Nancy
were deeply devoted
1482
01:16:11,200 --> 01:16:12,235
to each other.
1483
01:16:14,137 --> 01:16:18,141
As Barbara needed more
and more help, physically.
1484
01:16:18,174 --> 01:16:19,909
That was a test.
1485
01:16:19,943 --> 01:16:22,345
Because any time
a relationship changes
1486
01:16:22,378 --> 01:16:25,982
from being partners, friends,
to caretaker,
1487
01:16:26,883 --> 01:16:28,718
that was some rough years.
1488
01:16:29,852 --> 01:16:31,220
And all of us tried to help.
1489
01:16:33,122 --> 01:16:36,492
I watched her becoming
more and more disabled,
1490
01:16:36,526 --> 01:16:38,928
but it didn't affect her mind.
1491
01:16:38,962 --> 01:16:42,065
She was still blowing
and going and making speeches.
1492
01:16:42,098 --> 01:16:44,400
{\an8}the American dream
is not dead.
1493
01:16:45,735 --> 01:16:49,105
{\an8}It is not dead.
1494
01:16:50,073 --> 01:16:53,209
{\an8}It is gasping for breath.
1495
01:16:53,242 --> 01:16:55,578
But it is not dead.
1496
01:16:55,611 --> 01:16:57,013
[crowd cheering]
1497
01:16:57,046 --> 01:17:00,450
The things that I was
part of didn't change.
1498
01:17:00,483 --> 01:17:04,120
And not one time ever
did I hear Barbara complain.
1499
01:17:05,788 --> 01:17:07,357
There was no self-pity.
1500
01:17:07,390 --> 01:17:08,391
{\an8}[birds chirping]
1501
01:17:25,241 --> 01:17:28,311
[laughter]
1502
01:18:02,445 --> 01:18:04,847
Barbara Jordan,
the former Congresswoman
1503
01:18:04,881 --> 01:18:06,916
and memorable political
orator,
1504
01:18:06,949 --> 01:18:09,185
died today
at the age of 59.
1505
01:18:09,218 --> 01:18:11,521
Today,
Texas lost a pioneer.
1506
01:18:13,656 --> 01:18:15,024
I have this morning asked
1507
01:18:15,058 --> 01:18:16,993
that the state flags
be lowered
1508
01:18:17,026 --> 01:18:19,862
{\an8}to half-staff
in memory of a great Texan.
1509
01:18:20,997 --> 01:18:23,132
{\an8}Life is not always fair.
1510
01:18:24,700 --> 01:18:26,636
And the people
who have the most
1511
01:18:26,669 --> 01:18:31,074
to contribute, why,
I don't know why,
1512
01:18:31,107 --> 01:18:33,209
they are the ones we lose.
1513
01:18:34,177 --> 01:18:37,146
{\an8}[Cicely] My dear
Barbara Jordan,
1514
01:18:37,180 --> 01:18:42,218
{\an8}if I were sitting
on a porch across from God,
1515
01:18:42,251 --> 01:18:46,289
{\an8}I would thank him
for sending you to us.
1516
01:18:46,322 --> 01:18:49,559
{\an8}[Ann] Well, Nancy, um,
the truth is
1517
01:18:49,592 --> 01:18:52,528
{\an8}I'd counted on Barbara
preaching my funeral.
1518
01:18:53,996 --> 01:18:56,799
{\an8}She always could make things
sound a lot better
1519
01:18:56,833 --> 01:18:58,234
{\an8}than they were.
1520
01:18:58,267 --> 01:19:00,203
[laughter]
1521
01:19:00,236 --> 01:19:02,171
[Bill Clinton] Last time
I saw Barbara Jordan
1522
01:19:02,205 --> 01:19:04,874
was when Liz Carpenter
talked me into coming
1523
01:19:04,907 --> 01:19:07,276
to the University of Texas
to give a speech
1524
01:19:07,310 --> 01:19:11,881
on race relations on the day
of the Million Man March.
1525
01:19:14,283 --> 01:19:16,619
I was nervous enough
as it was.
1526
01:19:16,652 --> 01:19:19,422
[audience chuckles]
1527
01:19:19,455 --> 01:19:22,558
And I walked out
into that vast arena.
1528
01:19:23,860 --> 01:19:27,029
And there were
17,000 people there.
1529
01:19:27,063 --> 01:19:31,167
But I could only see one,
Barbara Jordan,
1530
01:19:32,034 --> 01:19:33,503
smiling at me.
1531
01:19:35,037 --> 01:19:38,074
And there I was
about to give a speech to her
1532
01:19:38,107 --> 01:19:41,944
about race
and the Constitution.
1533
01:19:41,978 --> 01:19:45,481
[audience laughs]
1534
01:19:45,515 --> 01:19:47,083
[applause]
1535
01:19:47,116 --> 01:19:48,885
It was
the nearest experience
1536
01:19:48,918 --> 01:19:52,455
on this earth to the pastors
giving a sermon
1537
01:19:52,488 --> 01:19:53,789
with God in the audience.
1538
01:19:53,823 --> 01:19:58,461
[laughter]
1539
01:19:58,494 --> 01:20:00,963
[Bill Clinton]
When Barbara Jordan talked,
1540
01:20:01,831 --> 01:20:03,199
we listened.
1541
01:20:03,232 --> 01:20:05,268
She took to heart
what her Grandpa Patton
1542
01:20:05,301 --> 01:20:07,870
told her when she was
a little girl.
1543
01:20:07,904 --> 01:20:10,706
You just trot your own horse
and don't get
1544
01:20:10,740 --> 01:20:12,575
into the same rut
as everyone else.
1545
01:20:12,608 --> 01:20:14,010
[audience laughs]
1546
01:20:14,043 --> 01:20:17,180
Well, she sure trotted
her own horse.
1547
01:20:17,213 --> 01:20:20,550
And she made her own path
wide and deep.
1548
01:20:20,583 --> 01:20:23,219
[horse neighs]
1549
01:20:24,353 --> 01:20:31,794
[♪♪♪]
1550
01:20:31,827 --> 01:20:33,930
[DeAnn] Barbara's death
and her wishes
1551
01:20:33,963 --> 01:20:36,232
for her death came up
fairly often,
1552
01:20:36,265 --> 01:20:39,168
because she wanted
everyone to understand
1553
01:20:39,202 --> 01:20:41,871
that she wanted
to be buried
1554
01:20:41,904 --> 01:20:45,141
on the highest hill
in the state cemetery
1555
01:20:45,174 --> 01:20:48,110
next to Stephen F. Austin,
who's the Father of Texas.
1556
01:20:49,779 --> 01:20:51,414
So where's Barbara Jordan
buried?
1557
01:20:53,149 --> 01:20:55,618
On top of the highest hill
on the corner
1558
01:20:55,651 --> 01:20:57,520
of Stephen F. Austin.
1559
01:20:57,553 --> 01:21:00,590
And there's only one word
on the backside
1560
01:21:00,623 --> 01:21:02,091
of that gravestone.
1561
01:21:05,194 --> 01:21:08,364
She wanted to be remembered
as a teacher.
1562
01:21:08,397 --> 01:21:13,035
[birds chirping]
1563
01:21:13,069 --> 01:21:14,337
[Barbara] I'm a patriot.
1564
01:21:14,370 --> 01:21:17,006
And I don't feel that
I need to apologize for that.
1565
01:21:17,039 --> 01:21:20,142
I'm not willing
to abandon patriotism
1566
01:21:20,176 --> 01:21:22,645
to what is called,
"the right wing".
1567
01:21:24,146 --> 01:21:28,618
It sounds so old fashioned
for a representative to say,
1568
01:21:28,651 --> 01:21:31,988
I am going to protect
the rights and secure
1569
01:21:32,021 --> 01:21:33,990
the liberties
of the American people.
1570
01:21:34,023 --> 01:21:36,025
But that's what we're going
to have to become.
1571
01:21:36,058 --> 01:21:38,928
Old fashioned watchdogs
of the civil liberties
1572
01:21:38,961 --> 01:21:40,496
of American citizens.
1573
01:21:40,529 --> 01:21:49,639
[♪♪♪]
1574
01:21:57,980 --> 01:22:04,053
[♪♪♪]
1575
01:22:04,086 --> 01:22:05,254
[Student 1] Growing up
in Houston, Texas,
1576
01:22:05,288 --> 01:22:08,491
I feel like I've always known
the name.
1577
01:22:09,558 --> 01:22:11,727
I found more about her
once I joined
1578
01:22:11,761 --> 01:22:14,330
the Texas Southern University
debate team.
1579
01:22:14,363 --> 01:22:17,233
[Student 2] Her voice,
the way she speak,
1580
01:22:17,266 --> 01:22:21,704
her speeches are something
you can get drawn into.
1581
01:22:21,737 --> 01:22:24,674
It's kind of like hearing
the voice of God speaking.
1582
01:22:25,641 --> 01:22:28,077
"Earlier today,
we heard the beginning
1583
01:22:28,110 --> 01:22:30,212
of the preamble
to the Constitution
1584
01:22:30,246 --> 01:22:32,081
of the United States.
1585
01:22:32,114 --> 01:22:33,215
-We, the people."
-"We, the people."
1586
01:22:33,249 --> 01:22:35,618
"We, the people."
1587
01:22:35,651 --> 01:22:37,953
[Student 4] "It's a very
eloquent beginning.
1588
01:22:37,987 --> 01:22:40,156
But when that document
was completed
1589
01:22:40,189 --> 01:22:43,259
on the 17th of September
in 1787..."
1590
01:22:43,292 --> 01:22:46,295
"I was not included
in that 'We, the people.'"
1591
01:22:46,329 --> 01:22:49,598
"I felt somehow
for many years
1592
01:22:49,632 --> 01:22:53,235
that George Washington
and Alexander Hamilton
1593
01:22:53,269 --> 01:22:58,207
had just left me out
by mistake."
1594
01:22:58,240 --> 01:23:00,376
"But through
the process of amendment,
1595
01:23:00,409 --> 01:23:03,179
interpretation,
and court decision..."
1596
01:23:03,212 --> 01:23:04,080
"I have finally
been included..."
1597
01:23:04,113 --> 01:23:05,181
"I have finally
been included..."
1598
01:23:05,214 --> 01:23:06,649
"I have finally
been included..."
1599
01:23:06,682 --> 01:23:09,085
"In, 'We, the people.'"
1600
01:23:09,118 --> 01:23:12,288
"Today,
I am an inquisitor."
1601
01:23:12,321 --> 01:23:15,224
"Today,
I am an inquisitor."
1602
01:23:15,257 --> 01:23:17,293
"Today,
I'm an inquisitor."
1603
01:23:17,326 --> 01:23:18,160
-"Today..."
-"Today..."
1604
01:23:18,194 --> 01:23:19,161
-"Today..."
-"Today..."
1605
01:23:19,195 --> 01:23:20,663
"I am an Inquisitor."
1606
01:23:20,696 --> 01:23:21,397
"I am an Inquisitor."
1607
01:23:21,430 --> 01:23:22,298
"I am an Inquisitor."
1608
01:23:22,331 --> 01:23:24,533
"Today,
I am an Inquisitor."
1609
01:23:29,305 --> 01:23:38,214
[♪♪♪]
1610
01:23:46,422 --> 01:23:48,791
[Announcer] We thank you
for joining us as we dedicate
1611
01:23:48,824 --> 01:23:52,261
the first building
in the Texas Capitol Complex
1612
01:23:52,294 --> 01:23:55,765
to bear the name
of a black woman,
1613
01:23:55,798 --> 01:23:56,932
Barbara Jordan.
1614
01:23:56,966 --> 01:23:59,201
[cheering, applauding]
1615
01:23:59,235 --> 01:24:02,405
♪ We rise above the sorrow ♪
1616
01:24:04,306 --> 01:24:08,911
♪ We find a way
to shine in the dark ♪
1617
01:24:09,612 --> 01:24:13,482
♪ We're the heartbeat
of tomorrow ♪
1618
01:24:13,516 --> 01:24:16,519
♪ No mistaken identity ♪
1619
01:24:16,552 --> 01:24:19,288
♪ We know who we are ♪
1620
01:24:19,321 --> 01:24:22,124
♪ Our voices echo
like thunder ♪
1621
01:24:22,158 --> 01:24:24,960
♪ As we break the chains ♪
1622
01:24:24,994 --> 01:24:27,163
{\an8} ♪ You can't hurt us anymore ♪
1623
01:24:27,196 --> 01:24:29,698
{\an8} ♪ We've gotten
used to the pain ♪
1624
01:24:29,732 --> 01:24:35,237
{\an8} ♪ And when we stand,
we're unstoppable ♪
1625
01:24:35,271 --> 01:24:40,543
♪ When we stand,
nothing's impossible ♪
1626
01:24:40,576 --> 01:24:45,848
♪ When we stand, strength
in numbers amplified ♪
1627
01:24:45,881 --> 01:24:48,617
♪ Side by side,
shoulder to shoulder ♪
1628
01:24:48,651 --> 01:24:53,456
♪ Hand in hand
when we stand ♪
1629
01:24:54,890 --> 01:24:59,195
♪ The songs of freedom
we're singing ♪
1630
01:24:59,228 --> 01:25:00,463
♪ Wooh ♪
1631
01:25:00,496 --> 01:25:04,366
♪ Words that will show us
the way back home ♪
1632
01:25:05,634 --> 01:25:08,204
♪ And when it's us
we believe in ♪
1633
01:25:08,237 --> 01:25:09,672
♪ We believe ♪
1634
01:25:09,705 --> 01:25:15,244
♪ No matter what they say,
you will never walk alone ♪
1635
01:25:15,277 --> 01:25:18,280
♪ Our voices echo
like thunder ♪
1636
01:25:18,314 --> 01:25:21,016
♪ As we break the chains ♪
1637
01:25:21,050 --> 01:25:23,118
♪ You can't hurt us anymore ♪
1638
01:25:23,152 --> 01:25:25,621
♪ We've gotten used
to the pain ♪
1639
01:25:25,654 --> 01:25:31,260
♪ And when we stand,
we're unstoppable ♪
1640
01:25:31,293 --> 01:25:36,565
♪ When we stand,
nothing's impossible ♪
1641
01:25:36,599 --> 01:25:41,837
♪ When we stand, strength
in numbers amplified ♪
1642
01:25:41,871 --> 01:25:44,640
♪ Side by side,
shoulder to shoulder ♪
1643
01:25:44,673 --> 01:25:48,077
♪ Hand in hand
when we ♪
1644
01:25:48,110 --> 01:25:49,812
♪ Stand up ♪
1645
01:25:49,845 --> 01:25:53,182
♪ There's no mountain
we can't climb ♪
1646
01:25:53,215 --> 01:25:54,717
♪ Stand up ♪
1647
01:25:54,750 --> 01:25:58,687
♪ Long as we stand together,
we'll be fine ♪
1648
01:25:58,721 --> 01:26:00,289
♪ Stand up ♪
1649
01:26:00,322 --> 01:26:04,159
♪ We can make the world
a better place ♪
1650
01:26:04,193 --> 01:26:06,262
♪ Like nothing and nobody
1651
01:26:06,295 --> 01:26:07,229
♪ Nobody ♪
1652
01:26:07,263 --> 01:26:08,664
Coming between us ♪
1653
01:26:08,697 --> 01:26:09,465
♪ Oh ♪
1654
01:26:09,498 --> 01:26:10,966
♪ Stand up till they see us ♪
1655
01:26:11,000 --> 01:26:12,468
♪ When we stand ♪
1656
01:26:12,501 --> 01:26:16,205
♪ Oh, we're unstoppable ♪
1657
01:26:16,238 --> 01:26:17,806
♪ When we stand ♪
1658
01:26:17,840 --> 01:26:21,610
♪ Oh, we can do
the impossible ♪
1659
01:26:21,644 --> 01:26:27,316
♪ When we stand, strength
in numbers amplified ♪
1660
01:26:27,349 --> 01:26:29,885
♪ Side by side,
shoulder to shoulder ♪
1661
01:26:29,919 --> 01:26:31,987
♪ Hand in hand
1662
01:26:32,021 --> 01:26:35,157
♪ When we stand ♪
1663
01:26:35,190 --> 01:26:37,293
♪ Ooh ♪
1664
01:26:37,326 --> 01:26:39,328
♪ When we,
when we stand ♪
1665
01:26:39,361 --> 01:26:41,964
♪ When we, when we,
when we, when we ♪
1666
01:26:41,997 --> 01:26:43,198
♪ When we, when we ♪
1667
01:26:43,232 --> 01:26:44,800
♪ When we stand ♪
1668
01:26:45,935 --> 01:26:48,637
♪ Ooh ♪
1669
01:26:50,873 --> 01:26:53,976
[♪♪♪]