Keep the Faith, Baby (2002) - full transcript

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( women sobbing )

REPORTER:
Congressman Adam Clayton Powell,

Harlem's controversial
preacher politician,

was laid to rest today after
a well-attended ceremony

at his own Abyssinian
Baptist Church.

As chairman of the Education
and Labor Committee,

Congressman Powell,
a charismatic,

self-styled activist,

became the most powerful
black elected official

in United States history.



He was 63 years old.

( church bell tolls )

SCHILLER:
I never finished the story
while Powell was alive

because it was too easy
to get wrong.

The man was complex.

Now that he was dead, I sure as
hell didn't want to mess it up.

His enemies would love it.

Mr. Speaker.

SPEAKER McCORMACK:
For what purpose

does the gentleman
from California rise?

Mr. Speaker, it is
upon my responsibility

as a Member Elect
of the 90th Congress

that I make a motion that
the gentleman from New York,

Mr. Powell,
not be sworn in at this time



as a member of this Congress.

Does the gentleman demand

that the gentleman from
New York step aside?

Yes, Mr. Speaker,
and I further move

that a special bipartisan
committee be appointed

to determine ultimately how
Mr. Powell should be dealt with.

This committee should report
its findings back

within five weeks in order
that we, at that time, can, uh,

find a more permanent solution
to the Powell matter.

SCHILLER:
Adam, Adam, Adam.

We both know a measly little
newspaper article--

even if it is the front page--

doesn't come close, man.

Impossible, but I had to try.

Adam Clayton Powell Jr.,
of New York,

is excluded from his seat
in this house...

( light applause )

...until such time as the
bipartisan subcommittee

delivers its report.

( gavel pounding )

The sons of bitches.

They really did it.

Congress threw away
the Constitution

to railroad
Adam Clayton Powell today.

I had too much power
for a Negro.

( reporters clamoring )

First they stole away

the Education and Labor
Committee Chairmanship

I worked fair and hard to get,

and gave it to Carl Perkins
of Kentucky.

Then, to underline
their contempt for me

and the people
who voted me into Congress,

they kicked me out
of Congress itself.

With this whole thing, we're
going to say it just like it is.

Any Congressman
with a conscience

won't be sleeping well tonight.

( congregation laughs )

They say it's a question
of character and ethics.

They say your congressman,

your pastor, lacks in both.

MAN:
That's not true!

That's what my distinguished
colleagues say about me.

They say it's my absenteeism,

relatives on the payroll

and the way that I flaunt
the use of public funds

to travel first-class,
some of it for pleasure.

Of course I have pleasure
when I travel.

And of course I travel
first class, baby. They do.

My esteemed colleagues say
I gall the American people.

Do I gall y'all?

MAN:
No.

That I gall the people.

That's like the sheet
calling the pillowcase white.

Amen!

The people,
not Congress, decides

who represents them.

Nowhere in the Constitution
that I read

does it stipulate that
the House of Representatives

has the right to dictate who
represents the people of Harlem.

Why, if it was up
to those hypocrites

I never would have been elected
in the first place.

Well, they would have
excluded me long ago

when I first introduced
the Powell Amendment.

They would have excluded me

for holding their feet
to the fire

to provide the type of
leadership and representation

provided for us
in the great document

the Constitution of
the United States of America.

What sort of leadership
do we have in this country

when there are people who have
fought and died for this country

that there are still places
that we can't go

and sit down
and order a cup of coffee

in a cheap little
lunch counter?!

If these men, our leaders, can't
lead us to a better nation,

can't themselves provide
the type of democracy

that they are preaching,

then all of them,
each and every one,

should just sit down
and shut up!

WOMAN:
Congressman,
you can't just go...

I want my seat back, baby.

MCCORMACK:
Adam, we-we were
just discussing you.

Please join us.

MAN:
Congressman.

MCCORMICK:
Uh, Manny Cellar here is
chairman of the committee

to evaluate the
charges against you.

John Conyers, a friend.

He'll be on it.

I was elected
by the people of Harlem

to be their representative
in Congress.

I fit all the criteria
in the Constitution

to be their congressman.

My colleagues can't
just kick me out

because they don't like
the truth I speak

or the way I speak it.

You're not being
kicked out, Adam.

You're being temporarily
excluded, pending the findings

of the investigation.

Don't patronize me,
Mr. McCormack.

I want my seat back.

I'm right.

And in the end, I'll be
proven right, I guarantee it.

Good to see another black face
in the Congress

Mr. Conyers.

Keep the faith, baby.

SCHILLER:
It was, uh, June 8, 1969,
when I landed in Bimini.

Adam went down there so often
they called it Adam's Island.

I had done all my research,

and as a result of which, I had
absolutely no idea

what manner of man
I was going to encounter.

Everybody had
a different story.

The only consistent thing
was that Adam Clayton Powell

was smart, slick and liked
the finer things in life.

Damn.

Congressman Watson
from South Carolina

said Adam Powell lived
down here in paradise

with a drink in one hand
and a woman in the other.

I don't know what they consider
paradise in South Carolina,

but where I come from,
this is a raggedy-ass shack.

And maybe I took the wrong road.

Mr. Powell?

Adam Clayton Powell?

Congressman Powell?

Hello?

( typing )

Door wide open.

Scotch laid out on the table
with three glasses.

I figured Powell
knew I was coming

and he wanted me
to feel comfortable...

make myself at home.

So I did.

But I learned, like so many
others, never assume anything

with Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

Mister, what are you
doing in my house?

Drinking my liquor?

Reading my books?

I'm a reporter,
Congressman Powell.

For The Defender.

Joe Schiller?

We exchanged letters.

Did I tell you
you could take over my house?

Having a drink after working
my way through your jungle

trying to find this place

hardly constitutes
taking over your house.

But if I offended you

I apologize.

You sound pretty damn proper.

An educated Negro.

Relax, man.

What did you say
your name was?

Schiller.

Joe Schiller.

I hear you're... working
on a book about your colleagues

in Congress.

You mean the textbook
I'm working on?

General information.

I hear it's information about
who's done what and to whom.

Sounds like a get-even
book to me.

I'd have to go backward
to get even.

My intentions are merely
to provide insight

to the population on how
their representatives

do the business
of government.

Want to help me clean
these fish, Mr. Schiller?

Not really.

Then you don't get to eat.

You sure you've never
done this before?

Positive.

Would've never known.

If I wasn't starving
from trying to find this place

I wouldn't be doing it now.

What kind of story
are you after, Mr. Schiller?

I just want to know
what's true and what isn't.

You know... who you are.

A lot of that
depends on who you are

wouldn't you say?

Do you mind if we go back
to your formative years

when you were
an activist?

I still am.

Well, I know that
as a young man, you...

Well, young is relative,
Mr. Schiller.

A state of mind.

Well, when you were
younger in years,

you organized protests
and boycotts in New York
to get black folks jobs.

That was more as a
religious leader, right?

There's no separation
of church and state

in the black community,
Mr. Schiller.

You should know that, brother.

Well, then, what caused you

to leave the pulpit
and go into politics?

I never left.

I'm still a pastor
of Abyssinian Baptist Church.

♪ Drop me off in Harlem ♪

♪ Anyplace in Harlem ♪

♪ There's someone
waiting there ♪

♪ Who makes it seem
like heaven... ♪

♪ Up in Harlem... ♪

No rent, no room!

All right, that's it!

Break it down!
I want him out!

I want him out!

Ease up, baby.

No need to go breaking
down people's doors, now.

I'm Reverend Adam
Clayton Powell Jr.

I'd like a word in private
with Mr. O'Malley.

Mr. O'Malley?

Unless you got
my money, Powell

we got nothing
to talk about.

I got eviction papers here.

I do have your
bread, daddy.

I think you want
to talk to me.

Give me the money first.

Uh-uh, baby. Talk.

You've been making
out like a fat rat

in a cheese factory, my man.

We need to discuss that.

Just give me my money, Powell.

I don't want to talk.

Oh, that's no way
to negotiate, daddy-o.

Be cool or all
rent will stop.

That means no money.
Zero.

You can't do that.

I've done it
all over Harlem.

And your colleagues
have discovered

that it's good business
to do business with me.

Here's the deal:

you get half the rent
until you've delivered

on the list of repairs
that need to be done
in this building.

Meanwhile, we'll negotiate
fair rents across the board.

It's your best bet, Big O.

And God will look
kindly on you, too.

Let's go.

Mr. O'Malley,
one more thing:

The first thing
on your list...

fix Shackelford's door.

O'MALLEY:
Let's get out of here!

( crowd murmuring )

MAN:
God bless you,
Reverend Powell.

Thank you,
Reverend.

WOMAN:
Thank you,
Reverend Powell!

WOMAN 2:
I'll see you Sunday,
Reverend!

MAN 2:
Amen!

I saved your hide, Shack.

I expect to see you
in church this Sunday

so we can work
on your soul.

Yes, sir,
Reverend Powell.

I'll be in church Sunday.

Definitely.

And bring the family.

Yes, sir.

The rest of y'all colored folks
in this building

y'all come too, now.

The Lord is our Shepherd, y'all.

CHOIR:
♪ While on others
Thou art calling ♪

♪ Do not pass me by ♪

♪ Savior, Savior ♪

♪ Hear my humble cry ♪

♪ While on others
Thou art calling ♪

♪ Do not pass me by ♪

♪ While on others
Thou art calling ♪

♪ Do not pass me by. ♪

( applause and shouting )

Sister Gwen Jones,
you and that choir

make even those among us
who are faking

singing with you
sound good.

Marvelous.
Really marvelous.

WOMAN:
Amen!

Good morning to you,
members of Abyssinian.

CONGREGATION:
Good morning.

I said "Good morning!"

CONGREGATION:
Good morning!

Ah...

( laughing )

Good people of Abyssinian,

every time I look around
this beautiful church

and see the beautiful people,

I am compelled to have
to bring to the attention

of people who are newcomers,
the chief reason

that we are here
in this beautiful structure,

and that is primarily
through the efforts of my father

Adam Clayton Powell Sr...

( applause )

...the loving devotion of his
wife, my mother, Mattie Powell.

( applause )

And, of course,
my lovely wife,
as well-- Isabel.

Please stand up.

( applause )

And, of course, through
the efforts of all of you.

Brothers and sisters,

we have with us today
very distinguished guests,

members of New York City's
political hierarchy.

Powerful men
who make things happen.

We have our fine mayor,
and former Congressman,

Fiorello La Guardia

the "Little Flower."

Please stand,
Mr. Mayor.

No, I said,
"Please stand, Mr. Mayor."

All of his political
associates--

these distinguished gentlemen
who have come down.

( applause continues )

Brothers and sisters,
today we're going to have a...

"Sunday,
come to meeting."

It is Sunday,
and you have
come to meeting.

( chuckling )

My father always taught me,

he always taught me
to preach

with all your heart,
your mind and your soul

the old-time simple gospel.

That's right.
That's right.

Given the fact that
we have the powerful men

who do make things happen
in this city...

we're going to use as our text
Matthew 23, verse 21.

( congregation agreeing )

It says,
"Render therefore to Caesar

"the things that are Caesar's

and to God
the things that are God's."

Brothers and sisters,
our message today:

"Sharing the Wealth."

LA GUARDIA:
Reverend Powell, I think
the root of our problem is

that you don't understand
how government works.

Well, perhaps if I came up there

and joined the City Council,
Mr. Mayor,

I could learn.

( laughing )

No, no, no, no, no.

Your place is right here

in the community,
in front of

your people...

on Sunday mornings...

attending their spiritual needs.

POLITICO:
Besides...

even if you got
all the votes in Harlem,

you still wouldn't
have enough

to make City Council.

You'll need some white votes
to win citywide.

You deliver us
the Negro votes
that we need

and we may find
a little extra something...

just for you.

I appreciate this
donation to my
congregation

but I, uh...

I had something
a little more equitable in mind.

Arnold...

Arnold, give this
to Hattie, over
at the church.

Tell her it's a
municipal contribution.

ARNOLD:
I'll do it now.

Now, gentlemen, let's get
down to the brass tacks.

When I spoke
of sharing the wealth,

I meant in terms of jobs,
opportunity,

opening up the city

to all the people.

Frankie...

Mm-hmm?

Another round.

I always find that scotch
warms a conversation, don't you?

To sharing
the wealth.

( laughing )

So these three yachts
I read about

were actually a dinghy,
a small motorboat

and an old fishing
boat that belonged
to your father?

You know how the press
exaggerates.

You're one of them.

Basically, you're telling me
it's all smoke and no fire.

Now, brother,
I didn't say all that.

I go first-class
every chance I get,

just like my colleagues,

only I refuse to be
a sneak and a liar

like them.

So you don't mind admitting

that you took money
off the record,

under the table,
so to speak?

Who'd you say you work for
again, J. Edgar Hoover?

No...

Black Reporter.
Black newspaper.

Ultimately, I serve
the same people you represented

when you weren't
down here fishing.

POWELL:
I've been serving the people

since before you were born,
Mr. Schiller.

Sit down.

Would you like
an Irish whiskey?

If you're joining me.

Certainly.

A lot of your people
ride the city buses

that my transport workers union
is striking against.

Mr. Quill...

your union has a total workforce
of 3,202 members.

Only 14 are Negroes

and all of them are
low-end porters.

I want drivers and mechanics.

That'll take time.

There's a seniority system

that must be
honored.

I can't take that
back uptown with me.

Negro passengers

pay the fares and all they see

are white people
in the drivers' seats?

If that's all
they're going to see

after helping you
attain your goals

why the hell bother?

I'm prepared

to offer you apprentice
situations as a start.

When the older workers retire

then the younger people
will be capable of moving

into their positions.

Not good enough.

If we help you
get what you want

we need to see Negroes
in some of those drivers' seats.

Let me think about it.

I'll see what

I can come up with.

The bus company will meet
your demands in no time

if we can come to an agreement.

I guarantee empty buses

rolling through
Harlem.

I wish I had you
working for me

in my union,
Mr. Powell.

If I were in your union,
Mr. Quill,

you'd be working for me.

( laughing )

Well, then a fine battle we'd
have on our hands, my friend.

We'll have to be keeping
an eye on that one.

Weren't you the one who told me
that any church

that was inactive
in the community was worthless?

Will you quit

using my words
to fit your purposes?

I said "active"

not hooked up with a bunch
of radical hoodlums

attacking everything in sight.

My radical hoodlums
have gotten jobs

for Negroes all
over New York.

Department stores,
the electric company
or phone company.

Even those Negroes who've been
talking behind my back.

Will you two lower your voices?

It took me years

to build up my congregation.

I did it by not leaving

anyone behind.

Negroes are basically
conservative, son.

At least the ones
you can count on.

You can't leave
your base support behind

and be running
all up and down the streets

acting wild and crazy.

Our "Don't Buy
Where You Can't Work" campaign

has gotten Negroes hired
where their money

was taken for granted.

When the board agreed
to let you take my place

they trusted that
you would continue things

the way they were,
and I thought you would, too.

Well, it's a new age,
Father P.

Maybe it calls
for new strategies.

Hush, now, Adam.

Listen to your father.

FATHER:
Son...

I don't think it's a good idea

for you to get all involved in
white people's union problems.

To be most effective, a Negro
leader must be independent.

I'll always stay independent,
Father P.

But in order to put out fires

you got to deal with the people
who own the water.

And until I can get up in there

that's white unions, white
government, and white people.

You can lead this church,

or you can get
involved in politics.

But if you fight
too many battles

on too many fronts,

you just may lose the war.

POWELL:
Let those hypocrites downtown

know that we here at home...

( people shouting )

PEOPLE ( chanting ):
Don't ride the buses!

( horn honking )

Miss Scott, I should have taken
another route.

Troublemakers.

Oh, on the contrary,
they're heroes.

It's just too bad they don't
know how to get out of the way

so we won't be late
this afternoon.

Are we going to ride that lousy

stinking, nasty bus?!

PEOPLE ( chanting ):
Don't ride the buses!
Don't ride the buses!

Don't ride the buses!
Don't ride the buses!

( horn honking )

( chanting continues )

Don't ride the buses!

You see that, uh,
well-dressed, nosy one?

Obviously,
Mr. Powell himself.

Excuse me, uh...

can we get through?

You're Hazel Scott.

It's a pleasure
to meet you.

And who are you?

You don't know who I am?

I'm the big bad wolf.

Oh. Well, nice to meet you,
Mr. Big Bad Wolf.

Now, can you clear a path
for us?

Maybe I should detain you
for a while.

Make you picket
with us proletariat

for a minute or two.

It'd be great for morale.

Now, Mr. Wolf, you are not
that big and bad.

( sighs )

Open up a path
here! Open!

Miss Hazel Scott
is coming through.

I have no problem
picketing

with my people,
Mr. Big Bad Wolf.

I just have to be somewhere
this afternoon.

The name's
Adam Clayton Powell, Junior.

I'll pretend like
I believe you've
never heard of me.

Either way, I promise you'll be
more aware of me in the future.

( all chanting ):
Don't ride the buses!

Open up!

Open up a path!

( chanting continues )

Hold up, cats.

Got to make sure
you get my best side.

...beating the forces of New
York City that did not want you

to have control of your own
lives and your own unions!

( crowd talking )

What? Let me hear you!

Let them hear
you downtown!

Let them hear
you uptown!

Let them hear you
all over this town!

Powell for City Council!

All right, y'all.

Right there, baby.

( all chanting ):
Powell for City Council!

One more time.

Amen, baby, amen.

Do you remember when

there were no Negro workers
in those stores?

I do solemnly swear to abide by

the charter
of the city of New York

so help me God.

It was so boring.

Actually I couldn't believe
that I was raised there.

Could you?

( classical music playing )

( applause )

( starts playing
classical music )

( stops playing )

( starts playing jazz )

( audience murmurs
in appreciation )

( applause )

You know who
I am yet?

Hmm...

( chuckles )

New York's first
Negro city councilman.

Congratulations.

I get your drink right?

Shouldn't you be out
kissing babies

or at home with your wife?

Something suitable

for a city councilman.

I belong to the people.

Not being naughty now, are we?

I'm trying
to be nice.

Who knows?

Maybe I could, uh,
win your vote.

May I?

Suit yourself.

You know, we have
a lot in common.

Do we?

We're both very interested in
getting to know each other.

You are a hoot
and a scoundrel.

Glad I made a
good impression.

( chuckles )

Garçon, more champagne.

MAN:
Right away,
Mr. Councilman.

There really ought to be
a warning label

on men who belong
to the people first.

Some manage.

A lot less than people
care to admit.

Your father did.

My father wanted
to be a congressman

but he never got on
the political boat like I did.

He did his work
through the church.

So, you went
beyond the church
and the family

and into politics
because you
felt the need

to accomplish more
than your father?

And I did this because
I was in competition

with my father for the love
of my mother.

Make good copy.

Domino.

( groans )

Thank you, my friend.

You know how to play dominoes?

Uh, no.

Well, sit down, let me
baptize you a little bit.

Ferdinand, why don't you...

you and Mike go over
to the bar, belly up.

My friend Joe's going
to buy you a drink.

In fact, Joe's buying drinks
for everybody in the bar!

Another round.

( cheers )

Look, um, you know,
I don't work for the Times.

Not yet, my
friend, not yet.

So, uh, when exactly
did you decide

you were going to go

for the new congressional seat
for Harlem?

The minute I heard
there might be

a new congressional
district created
for Harlem.

White people had been
representing Harlem
for too long.

Or should I say
they'd been

taking Harlem for
granted long enough.

I couldn't think of a
better man for the job.

Most people figured
A. Philip Randolph deserved it,

and, uh, some say
you stole it.

If I remember correctly,

I was voted into Congress
by the people of Harlem.

But you did know
there was a big movement

to draft A. Philip Randolph.

I can think of no other man
I respect more for his efforts

in the same struggle as I

as the man we honor tonight,
Mr. A. Philip Randolph,

founder and president

of the Brotherhood
of Sleeping Car Porters!

( cheering and applause )

Find Reverend Powell
and tell him.

Have you got that?

( people talking in background )

The order's
been changed.

Ray Jones doesn't trust
Powell to go first

So, we got to find Powell
before he goes on stage.

Reverend Powell...

Reverend Powell, sir.

Is there a problem?

There's been a slight
change of plans.

Instead of introducing
Mr. Randolph

we would like you

to close
the prayer.

That means we'll throw away
the speech I've been working on

for the past two weeks.

Whose bad idea is this anyway?

Unless Mr. Randolph
tells me personally

that he wants things
to go differently,
I'm on next.

But, sir...

Ray Jones.

Hello, Adam.

Sure looks like
they're ready for
A. Philip tonight.

Yes, it does.

Better go warm up the
stage for him, shall I?

Wait a minute, Adam,
I think there's been
a change in the order.

No, no, not at all.

You know, we should
work together sometime

you and me.

I like the way
you think.

And I have a feeling
that history--

political history-- will be
changed by some of the things

that may be put in motion
here tonight.

( cheering )

Well, wish me luck.

( band playing march )

( talking in background )

( cheering and applause )

A. Philip Randolph!

( cheering and whistling )

A. Philip Randolph,
we welcome you.

My City of New York.

My kingdom of Harlem!

( cheering and stomping )

We have important business...
to discuss tonight--

important business--

and I, your humble
little parish priest

will make sure that that
business is done correctly.

I shall try to
keep my remarks

down... but nonetheless,

I shall try to make them
like a woman's skirt--

long enough to be respectable,

but short enough
to be interesting.

( laughing )

Many people
may wonder why

from time to time

we must come together
as a Negro people

at events such as these
to protest the unfair treatment

that is being heaped
upon Negroes

throughout this country
and throughout the world...

( cheering )

...but I say
the protest has a purpose.

I say there are measurable gains
to be made when a person says,

"Get off of my neck."

I say it's because we protested
that we Negro people in New York

have the first Negro councilman
in City Hall.

( crowd roaring )

It is because we protested

that we desegregated
all the stores

on 125th Street in Harlem...

but it is now time

for the first Negro congressman
from New York.

( cheering and whistling )

Therefore...

I must...

in spite of time, energy
and prior commitments...

I must run for the Congress

of the United States
of America...

( cheering and stomping )

( cheering and stomping
continue )

...so that we, Harlem,
may have a national voice

speaking
from your national capital!

( cheering )

"Why the Negro?"
many of you will ask.

I, Adam Powell,
am in a position to answer that

because I, Adam Powell,
may belong to a group of people

that some others may think
are inferior

but I belong
to a group of people that God--

omniscient, omnipresent God,
God of all power--

says, "You're my children,

and you're the same
as anyone else,"

and with that kind of faith
in me and courage in me

I know I can be as good,
if not better

than anyone who walks
the halls of Congress.

( roaring )

Doesn't matter what ticket
or what party--

my people demand a forthright,
militant, anti-Uncle Tom

congressman!

( crowd roaring )

My cry today
and until the day I die

is, "Let my people go, now!"

( cheering and whistling )

( piano playing )

What do you want,
Mr. Powell?

A better world
for all.

And where, may I ask,
do you think I fit in?

I don't know yet.

( piano notes clunk )

( chuckles )

Your wife must have
the commitment of Job.

She knows who I am.

Does she?

Really?

Some people know me,
Miss Scott.

Would you like to?

Depends on what kind
of student you are.

A very good student,
Miss Scott.

How good of a teacher
are you?

I'm a very good teacher.

Prove it to me.

Well, let's start with,
uh, some "Chopsticks."

"Chopsticks"?

That's advanced.

It's still early.

I always go to bed early.

My father insisted if
I didn't get enough rest,

I'd end up with bags
like Duke Ellington.

Um... my, uh,
my bag's at your place.

Well, send somebody by
and bring it to you.

You're not going to invite me
to spend the night?

My dear, new, best friend

I have absolutely no interest
in you spending the night.

You're the wrong gender.

That's cold, man.

You realize you spent
a good deal of my money

on drinks for your friends,
who seem to be everybody?

Thank you very much.

Very generous of you.

See you tomorrow,

I'm sure.

Good night,
Mr. Schiller.

Bon soir, Freddy.

Bye. Nice party.
Good night.

You realize we're causing
a scandal.

Tongues are beginning
to wag.

I hadn't notice anything...
except you.

You notice.

You notice everything.

Are you willing
to hurt anyone

to get what you want?

I'm willing to be honest.
Are you?

I'm always honest.

Then, tell me honestly
what you want.

What I have... and a family.

Are you proposing to me?

( laughing )

You are a politician...

an already very-married
politician, lest we forget.

And for you, sir.

When it comes to women,

you are definitely
not to be trusted.

Oh, I can be trusted

once I'm understood.

I will admit, uh,
being Mrs. Adam Clayton Powell

isn't always easy.

I wouldn't think being
Mrs. Adam Clayton Powell

would be any harder
than being

Mr. Hazel Scott,
actually.

Touche.

( chuckling )

Touche.

( laughing )

Fishing is like women.

Once you develop the touch,
the fish find you.

( chuckles )

Of course, you don't want
every fish to find you.

So, when you broke up
with Isabel

you were free
to see Hazel openly.

Well, actually, it was
Isabel who was let free.

That's one way of looking at it
without feeling guilty.

No, I feel guilty about it.

She was given a raw deal.

This is the end,
bunny girl.
I'm sorry.

Why?

Because once upon a time,
you were ahead of me.

Then I caught you,

then I passed you.

I can't sustain
the distance.

( crying )

But she hated politics.

I was moving
into the big time.

( horn honking )

( chanting ):
Powell! Powell! Powell! Powell!

( chanting continuing )

Who do we want
in Congress?

Powell!

Now, I want all of you
to take every one of those signs

and walk throughout
the entire City of New York.

Are we willing
to work together?
Yeah!

To fight together?
Yeah!

To worship together?
Yeah!

To win together?
Yeah!

To vote together?
Yeah!

Walk together, children.
Don't you get weary.

POWELL:
While the talk of New York City

was the spectacular
wedding reception we had

at cafe society

Hazel and I chose
to have our actual wedding be

a small, private affair
out of town.

The king had his queen
and was ready to roll.

MAN ( over newsreel ):
The preacher from Harlem
arrives in Washington!

POWELL:
I was elected to Congress
by Harlem

but I was the representative
in government

for every black person
in America.

Thank you.

All these love letters.

And there's more
in your office,
in Odell's office

in Waldo and
Maxine's office

and in the downstairs
post office.

I want information
on every congressman...

every congressman's staff.

I want to know every bill

that's been passed
the last ten years

and how those bills
got passed.

I want to know who's who,
what who wants

and how they think.

Yes, Adam.

Gossip, skeletons...
weaknesses, strengths, dirt--

we need every advantage
we can get.

I want to move so fast
we make half the Congress dizzy,

the other half pass out
from exhaustion.

Everybody knows there's
a bad Negro in Congress now.

I want you all to be known
as my bad Negro staff.

WOMAN:
Yes, sir.

( phone ringing )

( chuckles )

( speaking
indistinctly )

Hey, boy...

you seen that new Negro
Congressman Powell yet?

No, sir, not
that I know of.

Oh, you'll know him--

Colored man
with a big mouth.

Thinks he's going
to come down here

and raise hell.

That boy's got
some big surprises

in store for him.

Congressman Rankin
from Mississippi.

Senator Bilbo.

I recognize you boys, too.

I think it's a damn disgrace
you got elected, Powell.

Now, don't you sit
anywhere near me, hear?

You better
watch yourself.

This ain't New York.

( elevator bell dings )

Southern rules govern
this city.

( elevator bell dings )

My, my, Grandma...

what a red neck you have.

A lot of folks think

I'm the first and only
Negro up in here.

Now, now, Adam,
that's not fair

to Congressman Dawson
from Chicago.

Now, he may
not be as...

Cool.

My, you do wonders
for a size four.

Parisian?

Actually, confrontational
was what I had in mind.

But I hear he makes
progress... quietly.

Nonsense.
Keep walking, Hattie.

Progress is
a bloody guerrilla war.

You have to keep pushing,
plotting, scratching, fighting.

Never let them rest.

Keep them squirming.

Be a burr in their saddle.

Otherwise, they control
and define your progress--

you crawl after scraps.

Well, I don't think
I'll be able to eat

with all these people
staring at me.

Think of it this
way, Hattie, you're
not just eating to eat.

You're eating to help
the whole human race.

You're eating to help
these poor souls evolve.

Adam, I'm eating
'cause you're
dragging me.

That, too.

...lobster bisque
for miles away.

My father cooked it
almost every...

( room grows quiet )

MAN:
Good afternoon.

I'm sorry, there's
absolutely no seats
anywhere, sir.

Oh, no, no,
not at all.

We'll just take
those chairs there.

Please, sir.

Please.

Congressman Rankin

how nice of you
to stand.

Yes, I know that
Congressman Dawson

and other Negroes aren't
allowed to eat here, but...

things will be changing.

Bye, y'all.

Ah, my good friend.

Yes, sir?

Listen, brother, I
know with all these
good old boys around

there's got to be
some fried chicken

and collard greens around.

We need to fatten
her up...

I'm kidding.

Whatever's the
chef's special and
two house salads.

Yes, sir.

Make sure they
don't spit in it.

Lunch smells good.

( knocking )

Come in.
It's not locked.

Compliments of Miss Hazel Scott.

Thank you, Walter.

Since I was in
the neighborhood

I thought I'd drop by

and give you dinner...

and a show.

Since you did forget
our dinner date tonight.

I'm sorry, baby.

I'm sure you are.

Why don't you come
here, brown sugar.

No, no, no.

You just keep on working.

Just tell me what
I can do.

( chuckles )

You know, I do believe
in accomplishment.

Even though I loathe
DC politics.

It's horse manure.

What did I do right?

You're a dream.

I know.

Don't wake me.

What's the matter with
me forgetting dinner

with a beautiful
creature like you.

I don't know.

But...

Don't let it happen again.

Or what?

Or I'll have
to punish you.

Is that a promise?

Yeah.

You know, I actually
think Hazel

hated the game of politics
more than Isabelle.

She was a natural activist.

Smartest woman I ever met...

and the least tolerant.

Of what?

Hazel's West Indian.

Like Ray Jones.

Proud as hell,
sensitive to slights.

They come from a place
where being black is the rule

not the exception.

Add to that the complexity
of the British influence--

aloof and slightly superior--

I think there were damn few
white Americans

Hazel met she didn't feel
superior to.

So, did Hazel's
superior attitude

ever give you any problems
as an American black?

Are you crazy?

I loved her for it.

She was as bold
as I was.

Well, almost.

( piano playing )

( dramatic piano music )

Bravo.

Magnificent.

What, baby?

What did I do now?

Nothing, Adam.

Absolutely nothing.

First time I ever got
in trouble for that.

Lady, you're
polishing silverware.

You don't do chores.

I may as well start.

Get on my knees,
scrub the floor

walk around with
my head down,

don't look at anybody
in the eye.

Sure as hell
doesn't mean anything

to be a Congressman's wife
around here.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Wait.

What's going on?

Is this about
Constitution Hall?

How did you know
that, Adam?

Did you know
those witches

were going to look
at me in the face

and say I was
not allowed?

No.

They did that to
Marion Anderson
five years ago.

I thought for sure
they would let you...

It's a policy
that has to
be addressed.

You used me.

You set this up

knowing that I was
going to be turned away.

You couldn't be a pawn
on your worst day.

Oh, don't touch me.

Hazel, I'm sorry.

Please forgive me.

Those nothings had the nerve
to tell me, Hazel Scott

who has performed for
crowned heads of Europe

that I was not welcome
to perform at Constitution Hall.

It was humiliating.

You have every right
to perform

at that hall.

Don't you ever do that
to me again.

( door slams )

The President
will see you now.

Thank you.

Congressman Powell.

Mr. President.

Thank you for granting me
an unofficial visit.

You have been busy.

Thank you, sir.

It was not a compliment.

This, uh, Powell Amendment

I hear you intend to attach
to bills in Congress

will mean nothing but trouble.

The Powell Amendment
expresses my belief

that any money collected
from the public at large

should not be
redistributed to
support in any way

any group that would
discriminate.

Such a system
is unacceptable

to any thinking person.

To expect compliance
is stupid, really.

It's like expecting someone
to pay for a house

that they can't set foot in.

Are you talking about
the concert your wife

was prevented from doing
at Constitution Hall?

The Daughters
of the American Revolution

had no right to deny my wife
the right to perform there

because of her color.

Not to mention the fact
that Crispus Attucks, a Negro

was one of the first...
the first

to die in the very
American Revolution they base

their name on.

I know how you feel about that.

I've read it

in every damn newspaper
that would listen to you.

We pay taxes like everyone else.

Those taxes help support
that hall

and taxation without
representation is tyranny, sir.

Well, even though you called
my wife--

what was it--
"the last lady of the land"

and anointed Eleanor Roosevelt

as the "first..."

Excuse me, sir.

Please let me clarify.

I made that distinction
because, as you know

when the great singer
Marion Anderson

was denied the right to perform
at Constitution Hall

Mrs. Roosevelt resigned
her position in the DAR.

Whereas,
with all due respect, sir

your wife attended

one of their tea parties.

You, sir, are playing politics.

You knew the policy.

You set this
whole thing up

to cause trouble.

I want to make one thing clear--

my wife Bess bears no ill will
toward your wife or Negro people

with her membership
in the DAR.

You well know that neither of us

have any control over management
or policy of private enterprise.

Forgive me, sir

but that's
precisely the point.

It is not private enterprise
when public money is used

to support the very institutions
that insult us.

You're as stubborn
as I've heard.

I prefer to think of it as...

proper determination.

Well...

Thank you for the visit,
Congressman Powell.

Thank you,
Mr. President.

The pleasure
was all mine.

Tell him that this is precisely
the same problem...

HAZEL:
Did you get
an apology?

Hattie, will you excuse us?

An invitation to perform
that I can turn down?

No.

No, the best I could get was, uh

was to get him to say
that his wife didn't bear

any ill will toward you.

No ill will...

Ill will.

Adam, you could've lied to me
and told me

the man said
he was sorry.

Does anyone in Washington
have sense?

That includes you, Adam.

I wonder how you can hear
your fellow congressmen

use the word "nigger"

on the Congress
floor, and then

you shake their hands

and you smack them
on the back

as if they're friends.

Doesn't it drive you crazy?

No.

What drives me crazy
is when there's anybody

who thinks that they have
the right to tell us no.

Who thinks
that they can tell us--

who helped build this country--

that there's any place
that we can't go.

So they can call me nigger,

they can call me
anything they want to

on the floors of that Congress,

but I'll be damned
if I'm going to let them treat

the future Hazel Scotts
of this world

the way that they
treated you.

And I don't
like it, baby.

I don't like the rules
any more than you do.

I'm going to shove
those goddamned rules

down their throats

until they change them.

That's just what
I'm going to do.

I'm going to die trying.

Well, you can't die yet.

I still need you.

What do you need me for?
You make more money than I do.

Well, I, uh, might

have to take some
time off pretty soon.

For what?

Don't you notice
anything about me
different?

A little, uh, weight gain?

An aura? Glow maybe?

Are you sure?

( chuckles )

Positive.

Oh, baby, that-that's
wonderful.

That's wonderful news.

Now I'm going to need
a lot more of your time,
Mr. Powell, a lot more.

Every second I can spare.

( up-tempo jazz music plays )

( scatting )

( laughing )

REPORTER:
Protests continue to come in
from around the world,

as Julius and Ethel Rosenberg,

convicted for giving atom bomb
secrets to the Russians,

were the first U.S. civilians
to be executed for espionage.

Proving that no one
is above suspicion,

Senator Joseph McCarthy turned
his Communist hunting expertise

toward our own Secretary of
the Army, Robert T. Stevens,

for allegedly
hampering attempts

to uncover Communists
in the military.

White House news--
President Eisenhower

leads the first Republican
administration in 24 years...

( slow jazz horn plays )

( whistle blowing )

( whistle blows )

What made you change your mind
and invite me to stay?

Well, you behaved
yourself,

relatively speaking.

And you act like a man

that's running
out of money.

Sensitivity?

No.

Pity.

It's the most useless emotion
in the universe.

That medallion...

that was a gift

from Haile Selassie, right?

Yes.

The great emperor gave me
this medallion

when he came to visit me
at Abyssinia.

It's the oldest dynasty
in the world

started by King Solomon,
Makeda, Queen of Sheba.

He also gave me
a solid gold cross

that hangs
in Abyssinia.

What was your greatest
accomplishment in life?

Ah, it's no question...

my two sons.

My oldest son

my first born,
Adam III.

You already know about him.

He's a fine man

his own man.

This one...

Adam IV...

Had him with
my third wife Yvette.

Think he's going to follow
in my footsteps.

Look at those eyes.

See that fire.

Who is she?

That's my sister Blanche...

the light of my formative years.

She died when I was 17.

I'm sorry.

Obviously, she meant
a lot to you.

Yes, she did.

Good-looking family.

But I meant
in your work.

What is your greatest
accomplishment in your career?

My career?

It's not over yet, my friend.

Well, you are at the age
where most folks retire.

And you do seem
somewhat retired

down here.

Well, my accomplishments
are like my children.

I can't pick one
over the other.

Every successful
rent strike,

every job I was
able to pry loose
for a black person,

every appointment I
enabled myself to make,

every bill I got passed,

every employer
I forced

to give his workers
a minimum wage,

every cracker I pissed off
because I out-slicked

his ass...

I'll let
the history books decide.

Nights are bringing a little bit
more chill of late.

My greatest
accomplishment may be

that I survived
for so damn long.

Mr. Speaker,
I'm sure you'll fully

appreciate the irony

of my having to come
to the halls of Congress

to sue for the right
for Negro criminals

to have a fair shot at crime
in their own communities.

The fact of the matter is,

that corruption involving
organized crime, the Mob,

and the New York Police
Department is unacceptable.

The white Mob takes money

from the hardworking Negroes
of Harlem and put nothing back.

Meanwhile, the white
New York Police Department

busts only the Negro numbers men

in attempt to help
their white Mafia friends

keep their competition down.

Now, it's a damn shame
when the law

discriminates in corruption,
don't you think?

I'm as comfortable with that

as I am with the Knights
of the Ku Klux Klan

working with Southern Democrats

to pass Negro civil rights
legislation.

( murmuring )

Although I'm sure that
my esteemed colleagues

from the great South
would never participate

with such a hateful, hurtful
band of cowardly thugs.

( telephone ringing )

( ringing continues )

Hello.

MAN:
Hazel...

tell your husband to do himself
and his family a favor

and keep his nose the hell out
of Harlem's numbers business.

Who is this?

I don't know what
you're talking about

and I don't want you
to call here anymore.

( telephone rings )

( ringing continues )

Thank God you're home.

Baby, what's wrong?

The phone's been
ringing all night.

Someone's threatening us.

I think it has to do
with that numbers thing.

( phone ringing )

Can't we just go away,
me, you and Skipper?

This really scared me.

Can't go fishing
on this one, baby.

What exactly
did they say?

What does the Mob
always say?

If it's not one crisis, it's
another and another and another

and if there isn't one,
you create one.

Can't... can't you just let
this one go, please?

This has nothing to do with you
getting ahead in Congress.

It has everything to do
with my doing anything.

I can't stand by and watch
my people get fleeced

by New York cops working
with New York mobsters.

Do you remember what
your father said about
trying to fight

too many battles
on too many fronts?

Don't quote my father to me.

I know what my father said

and I know what I got to do
to get where I'm going.

I was elected
to serve the people.

Baby, I got to
serve the people.

Maybe you should've
married the people.

I did, baby.

Way before I met you.
I told you that.

I thought I made it
very clear.

It is very clear.

I care for the people, too,
but I put my family first.

( telephone rings )

( telephone thuds )

I'm Lester Wolff
of Between the Lines,

and we have with us
the controversial

outspoken Congressman
from Harlem,

Congressman Adam
Clayton Powell, Jr.

We will speak with
Congressman Powell
about corruption

between the Mob and the
New York Police Department

the alleged politically-
motivated tax fraud charges

Congressman Powell faces

and death threats
from a misguided mobster.

Welcome, Congressman Powell.

You said on the floor
of Congress

that there is
an alleged bagwoman.

No, she's very real.

A woman who delivers
money payoffs

from the Mob to the police
named Esther James.

Is that correct?

Yes, and everyone in Harlem
knows it.

Adam Clayton Powell
said in a statement today

that he refuses to pay
the civil judgment

in the defamation lawsuit
brought against him,

bringing the very real
possibility of his arrest.

This is a victory not just
for Adam Clayton Powell.

The victory bell
that you hear ringing

is a victory for the people
of Harlem,

for the people of my district,

for all throughout the Congress
of the United States of America.

There will be no railroading
of Adam Clayton Powell

in this instance.

I think it is not just
a victory for me,

it is a victory for you.

And please print
what I say, baby.

I am saying exactly what
I mean and I mean what I say.

MINISTER:
When the Lord said,
"Turn the other cheek"

he didn't mean stick your face
out there and get knocked down.

Nothing wrong with rolling
with the punch.

The Lord wasn't a fool.

Anything you want
is yours.

No, it isn't.

Why Paris?

What the hell is in Paris?

Why not here in New York?

Because that's where
I want to go

and that's what I want to do.

You go where you want to go
and you do what you want to do.

I'm not usually at a loss
for words, but I...

Thank you, Hazel,
for everything.

"Thank you"?

"Thank you," Adam?

I'm not one of your colleagues.

This is not some pleasant
political disagreement.

I am your wife and I'm angry.

Will you...?

I'm going to miss you, lady.

I'm going to miss you bad.

Well, I hope you get
your chairmanship
or your speakership

or whatever the hell
it is you want

before they get you.

I'm not so easy to get.

Skipper.

You got to be a man now.

Got to take care
of your mom and yourself.

You hear?

I'll see you
in a little bit.

Yes, sir.

Remember, head up,
shoulders back

palms out.

You're a Powell man.

Go on.

I got some chores
to do around here.

Want to earn your keep?

Well, if you're willing
to keep answering questions.

What are you
smiling about?

Talk is cheap.
You're a bargain.

Let's get to work.

Hold on.

Let me ask you
a question.

So, after Eisenhower,
you supported Kennedy?

Didn't want to
particularly, right off.

Nixon had the boy Kennedy
on my committee.

He supported the
southern Dixiecrats
on most issues.

But, yeah,
I worked with him

after the better man
at the time, Johnson,

didn't get
the nomination.

Now, Adam, I don't care
what presidential candidate

Symington and Kennedy
come around selling.

Lyndon here is going

to be the man
to beat.

You just tell Speaker Sam
what you want for your backing.

He'll let you know

if it's possible.

My seniority protected
from the Dixiecrats

and the Republicans.

Done.

And I want the chairmanship

of the Education
and Labor Committee.

You should

rightfully have
what is rightfully yours,

according to seniority.

I will support that fully.

Mr. Jones?

The best way
to go about this is quietly.

I will deliver on behalf
of Congressman Powell and myself

at least half the delegate votes

that Senator Johnson
will get on the first ballot.

If he wins
the presidential nomination

we will throw our full support
behind him.

If not,

we must be free

to do what's best for the party.

Your reputation is well earned,
Mr. Jones.

No matter who ends up being
the Democratic nominee,

Congressman Powell will get

full Democratic
support for the

Education and
Labor chairmanship

which he rightfully deserves.

( chuckles )

Deal.

POWELL:
Through all the politicking
and backroom dealing,

it ended up
JFK against Nixon,

but as I promised my father,
I had to remain independent.

Are you ready?

I was born
ready, Ray.

Bobby...
Ray.

the Congressman
will see you.

Bobby, baby.

Offer you a cigar?

Thanks.

Ray smoked half
my stash.

I'm going to give
it to him anyway.

I think it's brilliant
what you boys are doing

with Jack's campaign.

Any chance of getting
Sinatra and Sammy up here

to help me campaign
in Harlem?

I'll see what I can do.

Well, Bobby,
as we discussed earlier--

and Adam agrees
with me--

the only way we're going

to get an Irish Catholic
into the White House

is if the base of the Democratic
party comes together.

That's right, but just one
question, Congressman.

Why did you ask
the other Negro delegates

not to support Jack
at the convention?

Jack accepted the support

of the segregationist Governor
John Patterson from Alabama.

He refused to vote

to censure Joe McCarthy,
he's got a lousy record

on civil rights.

Now you boys beat Lyndon Johnson
for the Democratic nomination,

but there's no way you're going
to beat Nixon for the presidency

if I don't help, I guarantee it.

JONES:
So if we can work
something out,

maybe Jack can become president
after all.

Well, that depends
on what you want, Congressman.

First topic is
the Education

and Labor Committee
chairmanship.

When I'm chair, I don't want
any interference

with my authority
or my seniority.

I want Jack
to back me.

And second, you and your brother

are going to have to change
your ways on civil rights

and the Negro.

JONES:
Well, Bobby?

What about it?

I don't know.

I'll have to take that
back to Jack.

But I'll tell you one thing--

Jack Kennedy will be
a lot better

for the Negro people than Nixon.

Well, he's got to get
elected first.

REPORTER:
Martin Luther King says
that neither Republicans

nor Democrats address
the needs of the Negro,

and that his people must do
something to address this

in the upcoming election.

Who is this
Southern Negro minister?

Thank you, darling.

Who gives Martin
Luther King the right

to speak for all Negroes?

This cat's trying
to take my job.

I just found out that
he and A. Philip Randolph

and Bayard Rustin plan
to protest

both the Democratic
and Republican parties.

What?

No, I made a deal
with Bobby Kennedy
there weren't going

to be any demonstrations
during the campaign.

I traded for power that's
going to benefit all Negroes,

and now these bush leaguers
are going to mess it up?

You tell those amateurs
Adam Clayton Powell says,

"Call it off."

Already put out that feeler.

"No."

No?

You tell Martin Luther King
that if he doesn't call it off

I'm going to spread
the word

that his chief aide
Rustin is a homosexual.

Rustin's a homo, yeah?

Yes. He doesn't deny it.

You tell King
if he doesn't call it off

I'm going to tell the world
that he and his friend,

Bayard Rustin, are having
a homosexual affair.

You can't do that, Adam.

It isn't true.

Neither is most of the stuff
out there about me

but I have to carry the weight.

I negotiated for power
that's going to benefit

all Negroes and I'm not going
to have that jeopardized

by Martin Loser King

or anybody else.

What is this?

Demonstrations and marches?

I did that
20 years ago.

So you were shooting

for as high up as you could go
in government?

No.

I was shooting
for as much power

as I could gain in government

because that's how changes
are made in Washington.

Marching and protesting
eventually get

on people's nerves;
get very little done.

Get an education,
learn a profession,

go into business,
politics.

Go after the
real power, baby.

Gentlemen, I've been waiting
for the last 15 minutes

for all of you to arrive.

My expectations are simple:

we don't come late.

We work as long and as hard
as we have to get bills drafted

and passed,

quickly.

Now let's get to work.

It is now 15 minutes after
the hour.

The meeting will officially
come to order.

I doubled everything
of my predecessor,

Graham Barden,
and his staff.

Give me that hammer,
young blood.

Graham Barden believed
the earth am flat

and the sun do move.

I doubled the meetings,
budget requests

and more than quadrupled
his results.

Come on, baby,
keep moving.

Time's a-wasting.

In one 14-month period,
I was responsible

for the passage of 14 bills.

Now, that is a record

that no chairman in the history
of the United States Congress

has before or since achieved.

In the six years
I was committee chairman,

I never lost one bill once
it reached the House floor.

That's why it was important
I keep getting reelected.

Congress operates by seniority,
relationships, experience.

It takes years
to acquire all three.

So the woman says

"I thought you were
a man of the cloth."

I said, "I am, baby. Silk."

I'll see you fellas later.

Thanks. I appreciate the vote.

Over time I was
able to maneuver
even my worst enemies.

I was most proud of
taking Congress to
the streets of Harlem.

♪ ...release your hold
and I will set you free ♪

♪ The monkey looked the buzzard
right dead in the eye ♪

♪ And said, "Your story's so
touching, sounds like a lie." ♪

All cameras will have to stop.

The meeting will officially come
to order.

What got me was how, over time,

eventually my most reluctant
colleagues learned to like it.

This is America
for whom we serve!

REPORTER:
Over half a million people
were in attendance

in this historic march
on Washington.

Martin Luther King stirred
the passions of the crowd,

if not the nation,
with a rousing speech

about his dreams
of what America can be.

It is generally agreed
that King's words

made this a day that will
long be remembered.

And now we go to a live report
from the Washington Monument.

Martin Luther King
may have just made

the speech
of the century.

Anybody can have
a dream.

The question is

whether or not
you can turn

that dream into
a reality.

Maybe we should have stayed
in the stands.

To do what, Ray?

Be part of the crowd?

Part of King's audience?

Man, that ought to be my show.

My speech would have been
"I have a plan."

I can't believe
my good friend Martin

would have an event like this
in my town

and not invite me to speak.

You didn't exactly
endear yourself

with that homosexual ploy

between him
and Bayard.

It's politics, Ray.

Besides, he's a pacifist.

He turns the other cheek.

Let's white folks
slap him around.

He's supposed to be
above all that.

This is history, baby!

I ought to be right
in the center of it!

Would you invite you to speak
if you were him?

Are you kidding? No way.

Besides, everybody knows

Powell would probably steal
the whole goddamn show.

Early '60s, in spite
of the schemes of
all my enemies

things were
looking pretty good

for me to get things done.

Jack Kennedy and I
became pretty close.

Ain't nothing jumpin'
but the peas in the pot

and they wouldn't be jumpin'
if the water wasn't hot.

Ow!

( laughing )

Finally won one, young blood.

That's right.

Changing of the guard.

New blood on the block.

( clears throat )

Um... you were saying

about Jack Kennedy...?

I was saying Jack Kennedy and I
became very close.

He kept his word.

I had full access
to the White House.

I had his complete support.

About a year later,
it finally hit me.

I think I cried
for the better part of a night.

A lot of things have been said
about Jack Kennedy.

I wasn't always a fan, but...

The man I came to know

had the milk of human kindness
in his veins.

In my opinion,
Kennedy's assassination

was the result of a conspiracy.

Oswald was a patsy.

I know there were unseen hands
planning the death

of King, Malcolm and Bobby,

burning cities, riots
and chaos,

but, through it all,
I had to stay focused

on what I was fighting against:

Inequality, injustice...

the trampling
of basic human civil rights.

Now, these are not the goals

set down
by the Founding Fathers

reaching for the best
of what was inside of them.

Lyndon Johnson
was a skilled ally.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON:
Dear Adam...

the fifth anniversary
of your chairmanship

of the House Education
and Labor Committee

reflects a brilliant record
of accomplishment.

It represents the successful
reporting to Congress

on 49 pieces
of bedrock legislation

and the passage
of every one of these bills

attests to your ability
to get things done.

The poverty program is rapidly
paving new pathways to progress

for those whom the economic
vitality of this land

had previously bypassed.

There's a glass; there you are.

The education measures

are being translated
into fuller opportunities

for all our citizens

to develop
their God-given talents

to their fullest potential.

Minimum wage-- long a guarantee

of a fair return
for an honest day's work--

has been increased
and greatly extended,

and the problems of juvenile
delinquency are being met

and curtailed by positive
and determined action.

Only with progressive
leadership

could so much have been
accomplished by one committee

in so short a time.

I speak for millions
of Americans

who benefit from these laws

when I say I am truly grateful.

Sincerely yours,
Lyndon B. Johnson.

Even though you were
such a good chairman

they still
went after you?

Think, young blood.

It was precisely
because I was

an active and
successful chairman

that the enemies
of civil rights

and progressive
government came
after me.

If I'd done nothing
and spoke softly,

they would've
left me alone.

CONGRESSMAN:
He considers himself
above the law

and above the
House of Representatives.

And I guess he was down
in Bimini, as I stated,

he was down there
with a glass in one hand

and a woman in the other hand,

and I don't think
it's incumbent upon us

as responsible members
of the House

to belabor ourself with a man
with an attitude such as that.

He has demonstrated over
and over again, in my judgment,

that he is not a suitable person
to participate

in enacting laws to govern
the people of this country.

Adam Powell is a symbol

that all black people
can organize around!

( cheering and applause )

There is no black man in America
bigger than Adam Clayton Powell.

( cheering )

( chanting ):
We want Powell! Now!

Back in the chair! Right now!

We want Powell!

Back in the chair!

POWELL:
The Celler Committee

during their so-called
investigation of me

even dragged my third wife
Yvette in front of them.

I know this committee
wants to be fair

and I hope its report will be
favorable to my husband.

Miss Scott,
you recently got back

from a concert tour
of Europe and the Middle East.

How long have you
been back now?

Yes, uh, altogether,
just about six months.

Six months-- so you've obviously
been back long enough

to have heard about
the difficulties

that your ex-husband,
Congressman Powell

has been going through.
How do you feel about that?

Well, I think it's
eminently unfair

what's happening
to him, I really do

the fact that
he's been charged
for something

that other congressmen
consider everyday
occurrences.

As a matter of fact,
in a Life magazine article

which I read last week

where this Congressman Hays

was a chairman
of a special subcommittee

to investigate Federal
printing and paperwork,

and between May and June
of 1958,

Congressman Hays took 52 trips

that cost over $1,000 each

out of funds allocated
by Congress for NATO.

I gather you're quite angry
about that.

I have to ask you this:

what is your evaluation
of him as a Congressman?

I'm just a private citizen,
so my evaluation doesn't matter.

But let's ask Lyndon Johnson
for his evaluation of him;

late President Kennedy
what his evaluation of his...

uh, Speaker John McCormack--

they said that he was
the best chairman on the Hill

and that's good enough for me.

You know,
I can't help noticing

you speak about
Congressman Powell,
your ex-husband

with such affection
and loyalty.

I have to ask this:
is there any chance

that you two might
get back together again?

Oh, no.

No, no.

We are friends;
we remain friends

and we have a son together
who we're very proud of,

but no, not at all.

Mr. Speaker.

You know,
the number of congressmen

who want to deny Adam Clayton
Powell his seat in Congress

is no longer a few good ol'
boys in backroom card games.

It's becoming a crusade.

Mm-hmm.

And I been thinking:

if we were to strip him
of his chairmanship

in Education and Labor--

which essentially
reduces him to nothing--

this might satisfy
the Republicans

the Southern Democrats

and the others that want
to run him out of Congress.

I'm not sure
that'll be enough, John.

Well, for heaven's sakes,

if you strip a man
of all his power,

what else could
they possibly want?

Well, there is one thing
he could give his colleagues

that might help--

something that none of us
have ever seen before.

What could that be?

Humility.

( chuckles )

( bells tolling outside )

Adam...

J. Raymond Jones.

What can I do for you?

I need to talk to you.

Please sit down.

I'm not here for me, Adam.

King, Randolph, Farmer,

every black leader,
every black newspaper,

every black person, is doing
everything they can to help you,

but you have to help yourself.

When have you known me not to?

All who see this are agreed that
you've written a great speech.

The tone is right.

Contrite?

Diplomatic.

There's a lot more at stake
than your pride, Adam.

You owe the people

who put you here.

I'll be the judge
of who I owe and what.

I've made it my point to study

those men out there,
my fellow congressmen,

who now sit in
judgment of me,

and if all the lying, shameless
hypocrites were to leave,

there wouldn't be enough men
left in that room to vote.

You still have to give
the speech.

I don't have to do a damn thing

except for stay black and die.

Adam, please.

Sit down.

You're one of the most powerful
black men of this century

maybe the most ever

and I know you like

the distinction

but if you don't do this,
100 years from now

most people
are not going to know

who you are.
But I will.

Save that for
the lecture circuit, Adam.

I know better.

You can't have it all
this time!

And I don't care
how many congressional
hypocrites you can point to

who have done
the same or worse

you bet your career
on righteous indignation

and you're going to lose.

McCORMACK:
The Speaker at this time
would like to acknowledge

the Representative
from New York, Emmanuel Celler

who has been chairing
the bipartisan committee

which was investigating
the allegations

against Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.

and they, at this time,

are ready to make their
recommendations to the House.

Mr. Celler.

Thank you,
Mr. Speaker.

Except for three instances
of treason,

and that was
during the Civil War,

resolutions of expulsion
either failed to receive

the necessary two-thirds vote
or lost,

and a resolution of censure
was substituted and approved.

Mr. Powell's wrongdoing

does not rise to the heights
of malevolence such as treason.

This bipartisan committee
recommends:

First, that the duly elected
Mr. Powell

be administered
the oath of office.

( murmurs of approval )

Second, that Adam Clayton
Powell be publicly censured

by the Speaker
in the name of the House.

Third, that Adam Clayton Powell
pay the Clerk of the House

$40,000 to offset
his civil liabilities.

Thank you.

( clamoring )

( gavel pounding )

The Speaker recognizes the
gentleman from Iowa, Mr. Gross.

Mr. Speaker, I have
a reasonably strong stomach

but it will revolt at the aroma
that will arise in this chamber

if today, Adam Clayton Powell
is offered a seat

in this chamber!

Hear! Hear! Mr. Speaker!

( gavel pounding )

The Speaker recognizes from Ohio
the gentleman, Mr. Devine.

Censure is sufficient
humiliation?

Who are we kidding?

Humility does not appear

to be one
of the gentleman's virtues.

( congressional members
murmuring )

( gavel pounding )

The Speaker recognizes Mr. Hall,
the gentleman from Missouri.

Mr. Speaker,
Powell is uncensurable

unembarrassable

and irresponsible.

Thank you.

MAN:
Yes! Yes!

Mr. Speaker!

The Speaker acknowledges
from West Virginia

the gentleman, Mr. Moore.

My fellow Congressmen, if we
reject the recommendation

that the committee you appointed
has so carefully delivered

we will all be
on a collision course

with the courts of this land.

Hear! Hear!

( gavel pounding )

( scattered applause )

The Speaker at this time
would like to acknowledge

the presence of Adam Clayton
Powell, Jr. of New York

in the House, and I call him
forward to speak to the House.

( congressional members
murmuring )

( scattered applause )

Mr. Speaker...

my esteemed colleagues...

everyone here in Congress knows
that there are many among us

who have done far, far worse
than that which I am accused of.

Some of the truly guilty
have spoken out against me.

There is no one here

who does not have skeletons
in his closet

and I know
who owns what skeletons.

( congressional members
murmuring )

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MAN:
Mr. Speaker!

( gavel pounding )

Mr. Speaker!

The Speaker acknowledges
the gentleman

from California,
Mr. Van Deerlin.

Mr. Speaker,
the unbelievable arrogance

that has just been demonstrated
by Mr. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.

without a single regret
expressed, no apologies,

calls for a motion on this floor
that this gentleman

be expelled from this House

and a special election called
for his replacement.

MAN:
Absolutely.

Mr. Speaker
I gladly second that motion.

SPEAKER:
The results of the resolution

to exclude Adam Clayton Powell
from this House are

yeas: 248

nays: 176

zero abstentions.

Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
of New York

is excluded from this,
the 90th Congress.

( gavel pounding )

What are you
going to do, Adam?

Kunstler, Reid, Reeves,
Kinoy, Carter, Delaney

Covington, the two Williamses,
Henry and Bennet

they're all on the way over.

I think I've got
enough lawyers.

I'm going to take this
miscarriage of justice

to the Supreme Court.

But in the meantime?

Well, they're going to hold
a special election

in Harlem to replace me.

I'm going to win it
by a landslide

while I'm fishing
down in Bimini.

The irony of it
is, is that Wayne Hays,
of the Hays Committee

who led the charge
I misused funds--

one of the two main charges

they booted me out
of Congress for--

was himself the center
of a White House scandal

because he took a House
headwaiter on a junket to Paris.

Adam, you were guilty.

I mean, you did do the things
they accused you of.

You did use travel vouchers
improperly.

You did have relatives
on the payroll

and you did not settle
the libel suit

brought against you
by Esther James

for calling her a "bagwoman"

in public.

Well, she was, damn it!

You can't count that
as a reason to boot me out.

That only shows how desperate
they were to get me.

And it's not illegal

or improper for congressmen
to have relatives on the payroll

if they're working.

And on the "misuse
of funds charge"

now, when I was asked
to appear before
the Hays Committee

I stipulated
I would only do so

if I were allowed
to cross-examine witnesses

including congressmen--

the basic right of
the American judicial system--

but my fellow congressmen...

they knew if I were
allowed to question them

we could easily wind up
drawing lots to see

who was the guilty congressman
who ought to be punished.

Everybody had some so-called
"questionable" travel items.

I know I was far
from the worst.

Hell, I could ask Hays
himself who it was

that paid
for the almost 50 trips

between Washington
and his home in Ohio.

But, still, man, you took
yourself out of the game.

Leaders have to
conduct themselves in a way

in which they don't get busted.

Leaders have to live, too,
young blood.

Leaders have to make mistakes.

And when you're more mature,

you will know that's one
of the most important

parts about being honest
about who you are.

Naw, man.

You have to hold yourself
to a higher standard,

'cause when you mess up,

you mess up everybody
who was counting on you.

I found this laying
around the house.

You might get some
mileage out of it.

Thank you.

You know, if you were
a better fisherman

we might have had some fun.

It's getting a little late.

Aren't you concerned about
those Duke Ellington eyes?

No.

Not as much as I used to be.

You'd better get off
this island, Adam.

Catch up with the times.

You're wrong again, kid.

It's the times that need
to catch up to me.

What time's your
plane tomorrow?

My plane leaves at noon.

Well, I'll see you
in the morning.

Sweet dreams, kid.

( knocking )

Hey, wake up.

What?

We're here to see
Congressmen Powell.

Who are you?

We're newspaper reporters.

So?

We're here to get
Congressman Powell's

reaction to the
Supreme Court ruling.

What did they rule?

He won.

That's right.

He won.

He won.

( whistles )

Mr. Powell!

Sir...

Hey, there he is!

Mr. Powell...

Adam...

Do you have a quote
for the press, sir?

Adam!

Could we get a statement,
please, sir?

Right.

Sir, what's your reaction
to the Supreme Court's decision?

Two things happened today:
One, I was vindicated,

but more importantly,
this decision proves

that there is still justice
in the United States.

REPORTER:
What about your
salary and fines?

That came to
how much, sir?

$80,000 or
thereabouts.

Well, if they wrongly
took away my seat

I think it only
stands to reason

they wrongly took
away my salary,
wouldn't you say?

What about your seat
and seniority?

I think they should
give that back, too.

Believe me, my lawyers
will be making every effort

to see that these
issues are resolved.

REPORTER:
Do you harbor
any ill feelings?

No.

No, dear boy,
of course not.

Life is too short for that.

I pray each and every night

for those shameless hypocrites
who took away my seat.

SCHILLER:
That was the last I saw
of Adam Clayton Powell.

Someone told me that
if you look closely,

you can see death
on a man's face.

I went down to Bimini

and saw a great man dying
and didn't know it.

I think of all those nights
I was there

and all the questions
I should have asked but didn't.

Now I never can.

And just like he said he would

Adam was reelected
by the people of Harlem

while he was in Bimini.

He served again in Congress

and even though he was
vindicated by the Supreme Court

he never got back his seniority,
his money nor his chairmanship.

Someone ransacked his home
the night after he died.

The textbook he was working on,
along with his journals

writings and the gold medallion

bestowed upon him
by Haile Selassie disappeared.

I finished the story.

Did I get it right?

I don't know.

All I can think is
what Adam would have said.

Keep the faith, baby.

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