Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court
Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court
Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court Friday October 11, 1991 evening session. Clarence Thomas appears before Commitee after the have questioned Anita Hill about her charges of sexual harassment.
Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court
Senator Joseph Biden (D - Delaware). Senator Hatch? Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Judge Thomas, I have sat here and I have listened all day long, and Anita Hill was very impressive. She is an impressive law professor. She is a Yale Law graduate. And, when she met with the FBI, she said that you told her about your sexual experiences and preferences. And I hate to go into this but I want to go into it because I have to, and I know that it is something that you wish you had never heard at any time or place. But I think it is important that we go into it and let me just do it this way. She said to the FBI that you told her about your sexual experiences and preferences, that you asked her what she liked or if she had ever done the same thing, that you discussed oral sex between men and women, that you discussed viewing films of people having sex with each other and with animals, and that you told her that she should see such films, and that you would like to discuss specific sex acts and the frequency of sex. What about that? Judge Clarence Thomas. Senator, I would not want to, except being required to here, to dignify those allegations with a response. As I have said before, I categorically deny them. To me, I have been pilloried with scurrilous allegations of this nature. I have denied them earlier and I deny them tonight.
Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court
Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Judge Thomas, today in a new statement in addition to what she had told the FBI, which I have to agree with you is quite a bit, she made a number of other allegations and what I would like to do is - some of them most specifically were for the first time today in addition to these, which I think almost anybody would say are terrible. And I would just like to give you an opportunity, because this is your chance to address her testimony. At any time did you say to Professor Hill that she could ruin your career if she talked about sexual comments you allegedly made to her? Judge Clarence Thomas. No. Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Did you say to her in words or substance that you could ruin her career? Judge Clarence Thomas. No. Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Should she ever have been afraid of you and any kind of vindictiveness to ruin her career? Judge Clarence Thomas. Senator, I have made it my business to help my Special Assistants. I recommended Ms. Hill for her position at Oral Roberts University. I have always spoken highly of her. I had no reason prior to the FBI visiting me a little more than two weeks ago to know that she harbored any ill feelings toward me or any discomfort with me. This is all new to me. Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). It is new to me too, because I read the FBI report at least 10 or 15 times. I didn't see any of these allegations I am about to go into, including that one. But she seemed to sure have a recollection here today.
Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court
Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Now, did you ever say to Professor Hill in words or substance, and this is embarrassing for me to say in public, but it has to be done, and I am sure it is not pleasing to you. Did you ever say in words or substance something like there is a pubic hair in my coke? Judge Clarence Thomas. No, Senator. Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Did you ever refer to your private parts in conversations with Professor Hill? Judge Clarence Thomas. Absolutely not, Senator. Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Did you ever brag to Professor Hill about your sexual prowess? Judge Clarence Thomas. No, Senator. Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Did you ever use the term "Long Dong Silver" in conversation with Professor Hill? Judge Clarence Thomas. No, Senator. Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Did you ever have lunch with Professor Hill at which you talked about sex or pressured her to go out with you? Judge Clarence Thomas. Absolutely not. Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Did you ever tell - Judge Clarence Thomas. I have had no such discussions, nor have I ever pressured or asked her to go out with me beyond her work environment. Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Did you ever tell Professor Hill that she should see pornographic films? Judge Clarence Thomas. Absolutely not. Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Did you ever talk about pornography with Professor Hill? Judge Clarence Thomas. I did not discuss any pornographic material or pornographic preferences or pornographic films with Professor Hill. Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). So you never even talked or described pornographic materials with her? Judge Clarence Thomas. Absolutely not. Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Amongst those or in addition? Judge Clarence Thomas. What I have told you is precisely what I told the FBI on September 25th when they shocked me with the allegations made by Anita Hill.
Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committe on the Nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court
Senator Orrin Hatch (R - Utah). Judge Thomas, those are a lot of allegations. Those are a lot of charges, talking about sexual experiences and preferences, whether she liked it or had ever done the same thing, oral sex, viewing films of people having sex with each other and with animals, that maybe she should see such films, discuss specific sex acts, talk about pubic hair in coke