ROBERT MCNAMARA (warning look to LBJ) Officially, this is a very delicate subject.
LBJ Humphrey can know! So, we were up there, messing around, and they came out with their PT Boats to give us a warning, and we knocked the hell outta ’em.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY Why are we back there?
ROBERT MCNAMARA We’re not back there, we’re in International Waters this time.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY But close?
ROBERT MCNAMARA International waters. We have drawn a line and dared them to cross it. It appears they have. (to LBJ) Mr. President, the limited air strikes that you ordered pre-selected in case of another attack are good to go.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY Air strikes?
ROBERT MCNAMARA Shall we order them in?
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY Surely this is a situation about which we ought to be more confident before we act!
ROBERT MCNAMARA There is no sense pretending that last night’s event didn’t happen. Not anymore.
LBJ rises, coldly furious.
LBJ What do you mean?
ROBERT MCNAMARA There has been a leak somewhere and the press . . .
LBJ . . . Who? Who leaked it?
ROBERT MCNAMARA We’re tracking it down.
LBJ I want his fucking head in a basket!
ROBERT MCNAMARA The point is, the press has got to it somehow and now there are domestic considerations as well.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY Such as?
LBJ Goldwater.
ROBERT MCNAMARA If you don’t retaliate, you know he will play all the angles against you.
LBJ The whole “soft on the military” bullshit. Christ, Democrats beat Hitler and Tojo, what more do we have to do?
ROBERT MCNAMARA Do you want me to call in the retaliatory strikes?
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY For an attack which may or may not have happened?!
ROBERT MCNAMARA The planes are ready to go on your command.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY This puts the President in a, uh, it puts you, Mr. President, in a terrible position. You are essentially going to have to, to . . .
ROBERT MCNAMARA . . . Mr. President . . . !
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY . . . to lie!
A Moment.
LBJ Do it.
McNamara leaves. Simultaneously, the FBI Agents slowly lift a clay-covered body—Chaney—out of the grave.
ROBERT MCNAMARA Yes, sir.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY What if it comes out?
LBJ We’ll pass it off on our South Vietnamese allies.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY Mr. President . . .
LBJ You think I like this? Puttin’ my ass in a sling just before the election when those dumb stupid sailors are maybe just shootin’ at, I don’t know what, flyin’ fish, maybe?
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY I don’t know but I certainly . . .
LBJ . . . Maybe you think Goldwater should be President! Is that it?
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY I never said that!
LBJ That maniac wants to lob an A-bomb into the Kremlin’s bathroom and start World War Three! You see how you like that.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY Mr. President, come on now.
LBJ Goldwater gets elected, you can forget about poverty; you can forget about civil rights. Is that what you want? I’m tryin’ to turn this country around and prevent a major war. Christ, why the hell did I ever consider you for my Vice President? At the first sign of trouble you cut and run!
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY I’m not running anywhere; I’m standing right here, beside you!
LBJ Precious cold comfort you are. (a moment) Congress will back me on this. An election year? I’ll get ’em to pass some kind of resolution, authorize me full authority over there, and then we can get back to the things that really matter.
Walter enters.
WALTER JENKINS Sir, they’ve found Chaney’s body.
LIGHTS DOWN on LBJ/Humphrey. Blast of Choir music as LIGHTS UP on Union Baptist Church, Meridian, Miss. Choir finishes the hymn as Chaney’s body is carried in and set down in his coffin.
MLK James Chaney gave his life to make this country live up to its forgotten promises and unfulfilled ideals. We all know the dark and savage history of Mississippi. We all know the terror and the violence you have endured here. We all know the terrible sadness that you feel today in your hearts. But we will not live in despair. We will not surrender. We will continue to respond to their violence with love and forgiveness and our struggle will succeed because you . . .
DAVID DENNIS, CORE leader in Mississippi interrupts.
DAVID DENNIS . . . As I stand here, I not only blame the people who pulled the trigger or did the beating or dug the hole with a shovel, I blame the State of Mississippi on up to the people in Washington, D.C., for what happened! You know what I’m sayin’?
CONGREGANT #1 (quiet admonishment) That’s enough of that.
MLK No, it’s alright.
DAVID DENNIS I’m sick and tired of going to funerals for black men who have been murdered by white men.
CROWD AMEN/That’s right/Tell it.
DAVID DENNIS Are you? Are you sick and tired of this stuff like I am?
CROWD Yessir!/Uh-huh!/That’s right!
DAVID DENNIS I’m not feeling sad tonight, Dr. King. I’m not feeling sorrowful. I’m not feeling forgiveness. I’ve got—I’ve got vengeance in my heart and I ask you to feel angry with me. Are you angry? Are you? You feel what I’m feeling in my heart? Cause I’m feeling VENGEANCE in my heart!
CROWD YES!
MLK watches with growing concern as the audience responds to Dennis’s anger with their own calls for retaliation.
DAVID DENNIS The white men who murdered James Chaney are never going to be punished!
CROWD NO!/THAT’S WRONG!/NO!
DAVID DENNIS I ask you to be sick and tired of that. I’m tired of people in this country allowing that to continue to happen. We’ve got to stand up.
CROWD STAND UP!/Yeah!/That’s right!/Stand up!
DAVID DENNIS We got to stand up! The best way to remember James Chaney is to demand our rights. You hear me? DEMAND our rights! Don’t just look at me and go back and tell folks you’ve been to a nice service. Your work is just beginning. If you go back home and sit down and take what these white men in Mississippi are doing to us. If you take it and don’t do something about it—then GOD DAMN YOUR SOULS! STAND UP!
CROWD STAND UP!
DAVID DENNIS WE GOT TO STAND UP IN MERIDIAN!
CROWD STAND UP!
DAVID DENNIS WE GOT TO STAND UP IN JACKSON!
CROWD STAND UP!
DAVID DENNIS AND WHEN WE GET TO ATLANTIC CITY, WHAT’RE WE GONNA DO?
CROWD STAND UP!
DAVID DENNIS WHAT’RE WE GONNA DO?!
CROWD STAND UP!
DAVID DENNIS/CROWD STAND UP! STAND UP! STAND UP! STAND UP!
As MLK walks DS into a SPOT, the TB suddenly explodes in garish neon and sparkling lights announcing: ATLANTIC CITY WELCOMES THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION!
The Mourners morph into black MFDP ACTIVISTS outside the Convention center, carrying signs, passing out leaflets reading “Seat the MFDP,” and chanting. They freeze as Humphrey joins MLK for a private conversation.
TB reads: 76 DAYS TO THE ELECTION.
MLK The Convention has got to seat our delegates!
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY It’s not that simple, Martin.
MLK Yes, it is! You don’t understand the depth of feeling out there. There are serious divisions growing in the Movement and if my people decide that non-violence is worthless, I will not be able to control them. It may already be too late.
SPOT OUT on MLK/Humphrey.
MFDP LEADER Support the MFDP!
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MFDP ACTIVISTS Support the MFDP!
MFDP LEADER Seat our delegates!
MFDP ACTIVISTS Seat our delegates!
MFDP LEADER Seat them now!
MFDP ACTIVISTS Seat them now!
SOUND of recorded version of “Hello Lyndon” begins playing as WHITE DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES begin entering the Convention Hall. The Activists descend on the Delegates, pressing leaflets into their hands and button-holing them.
A NETWORK CORRESPONDENT appears, mike in hand.
NETWORK CORRESPONDENT The Democratic Convention officially starts tomorrow but the fireworks have already begun! While President Johnson waits in the White House until the last night of the Convention, when he formally accepts the nomination, tension is building to a fever pitch. Who will his Vice Presidential candidate be? Robert Kennedy? Senator Humphrey? Or someone else?
MFDP LEADER Support the MFDP!
MFDP ACTIVISTS Support the MFDP!
NETWORK CORRESPONDENT But the big question is, will the Democratic Party seat the so-called “Mississippi Freedom” Delegates in place of the regular Mississippi Delegates?!
All sound cuts out. Everyone leaves the stage except LBJ and Walter in the Oval Office. LBJ slams the phone down just as Humphrey enters.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY You have to seat them, Mr. President.
LBJ John Connelly, the Governor of my own state, just told me, “If you seat those black buggers, not only will Texas quit, but the whole South will walk out!” My own people turning their backs on me. How is that gonna look on National TV?
Walter enters. Hesitates . . .
What?
WALTER JENKINS The ballot in Alabama, sir—apparently Governor Wallace has kept your name off it.
LBJ That little piece of shit.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY Can he do that?
LBJ ’Course he can! Goldwater must be laughin’ his ass off. We have got to hold the South and this mess with the Mississippi delegates is the key. Eastland and his bunch are insistin’ they are the true Democratic party when they won’t even say they will support me and now they’re threatenin’ to walk out of the convention!
Lady Bird enters with a sandwich on a plate which she puts in front of LBJ.
LADY BIRD JOHNSON Lyndon? Why don’t you take a break from all this, honey . . .
LBJ I’m fine, Bird.
LADY BIRD JOHNSON Well, you certainly don’t sound fine. When’s the last time you ate anything?
LBJ Go away, Bird, you’re givin’ me a goddamn headache.
LADY BIRD JOHNSON Oh, honey, I’m just worried . . .
LBJ LEAVE ME ALONE! GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE! GO ON!
Lady Bird hurries out. Walter discretely follows her. Lady Bird pauses in hallway stifling her tears. Walter offers her his handkerchief. She wipes her face fiercely.
LADY BIRD JOHNSON I just feel so sorry for him.
WALTER JENKINS I know.
LADY BIRD JOHNSON They’re all being so mean.
WALTER JENKINS It’s not fair.
LADY BIRD JOHNSON Thank God he has you, Walter.
WALTER JENKINS And you.
Lady Bird fixes her lipstick.
LADY BIRD JOHNSON People think he’s hard on me; well, he’s hard on everybody; especially himself. People don’t see that; I do. I see it all. His—lady friends. I’m the one he chose and at the end of the day, I’m the one he comes home to. My money paid for his first campaign, did you know that? Had to face down my own daddy over my inheritance to get it—and by God, it was the best investment I ever made. My lipstick OK?
WALTER JENKINS You look beautiful.
LADY BIRD JOHNSON No, I’m not, but you make do with what you got and whatever happens you don’t quit.
MFDP LEADER Seat the MFDP!
MFDP ACTIVISTS Seat the MFDP!
As Lady Bird straightens her back and exits, another AIDE hands Walter a Telegram which he quickly carries back into the Oval Office, glancing at it as he does so.
WALTER JENKINS Sir? Another telegram from Dr. King . . .
MFDP LEADER Seat them now!
MFDP ACTIVISTS Seat them now!
LBJ snatches it out of Walter’s hand and reads it.
LBJ Now he publicly “demands” that I support the MFDP. Goddamn it, what do King and these people want? I got a civil rights bill passed and I’m workin’ on a Poverty bill that will do more for them than any bullshit symbolic vote could ever hope to achieve but do they thank me for it? No. King says that come November, Black Voters might sit on their hands!
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY He actually said that?
LBJ That’s what he means! Sometimes I don’t wonder if Hoover isn’t right about King; maybe the Communists have got a hold of him.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY Look, I spoke to Dr. King personally and he’s genuinely worried that after those murders there will be a rising tide of anger in the Negro community that can’t be controlled by anybody.
LBJ So now he’s threatening me with riots, too?
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY That’s not what he means . . .
LBJ To hell with’em! Let’em all vote for Goldwater!
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY You don’t mean that.
LBJ Even as we speak, Republican groups nationwide are purging their membership of Negroes but hey, if I’m so bad, then join Barry’s little Nazi party! Just a little—respect. Love. Is that too much to ask for? Shit.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY Mr. President. What do you want to do?
LBJ You have to make them compromise.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY Me?
LBJ Hell, yes, you, you’re the big Liberal leader in the Senate. Everybody . . . .
LBJ
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY
. . . likes you.
. . . likes me.
LBJ You go down there and frankly, I don’t care what you do or how you do it, but you find me a compromise and keep the South from walkin’ out or you will never be my Vice President. You hear me? (re: the TV) Who the hell is that testifying to the Credentials Committee?
Humphrey turns up the sound on the TV.
SPOT on FANNIE LOU HAMER as she talks to the Committee on live television about her experiences in Mississippi. Simultaneously, a live streaming of her image on the TB.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY Fannie Lou Hamer. She’s one of the leaders of the MFDP.
FANNIE LOU HAMER On June 9, 1963, I went to a meetin’ to learn how to register Negro voters in Mississippi. On my way back, I was arrested by the Winona police Chief and taken to County Jail.
LBJ My God.
FANNIE LOU HAMER After I was placed in the cell, a State Highway Patrolman ordered me to lie facedown on the bunk bed saying, “You are goin’ to wish you were dead.”
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY This is awful.
LBJ It sure as hell is.
FANNIE LOU HAMER And then he ordered two male Negro prisoners to beat me with a blackjack.
Fannie takes a drink of water.
LBJ She could stampede the Liberals into seating the MFDP and the South will storm outta the Convention in droves. We gotta stop this right now. Walter! Tell the press the President has an important announcement to make in the Rose Garden. Right now!
Walter runs out.
SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY What announcement?
LBJ Hell, if I know. Anythin’ to turn those damn cameras off in Atlantic City!
LIGHTS down on LBJ/Humphrey.
FANNIE LOU HAMER And the first prisoner beat me till he was exhausted and then the Patrolman ordered the second Negro to beat me and I began to work my feet, and the Patrolman ordered the first Negro who
beat me to set on my feet to keep me from working my feet. I began to scream and one white man began to beat me in my head and tell me to hush. My dress had worked up high and I pulled it down and this other white man, he walked over and pulled my dress back up. All this on account we want to register to vote, to become first class citizens. And if the Freedom Democratic Party is not seated at this convention, I question America. Is this America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, where our lives be threatened daily because we want to live as decent human beings in America . . . ?
Static crosses TB. Fannie looks confused.
What? I don’t understand?
Fannie’s face on TB is replaced by NETWORK CORRESPONDENT.
NETWORK CORRESPONDENT We interrupt this regularly scheduled broadcast to bring you a special announcement from the President of the United States. We take you now to the Rose Garden at the White House.
LBJ appears before PRESS in the Rose Garden. Simultaneously, his face is broadcast. Image fills the TB.
LBJ Howdy. I wanta thank y’all for showing up on such short notice. I know a lot of people are still wonderin’ who my Vice Presidential candidate will be and I will be makin’ my choice very soon, I promise, but a, a lot of thought has to go into a decision like that.
LIGHTS SHIFT. LBJ steps away from the podium and pulls Hoover aside.
I need to know everything King and that Fannie Lou Person and Bob Moses and all those MFDP delegates are talking about! I want them under constant surveillance, the whole bunch of them!
J. EDGAR HOOVER Mr. President, we don’t have any warrant or . . .
LBJ . . . That never stopped you before, did it?! I don’t care what you do and I don’t care how you do it, in fact it’s better if I don’t know, but everything you get, you send it immediately to Walter.
WALTER JENKINS Mr. President? Senator Jim Eastland on Line One.
LBJ leaves. Hoover is shaken.
J. EDGAR HOOVER (quietly) Lyndon is way out of line here. There’s not a shred of legal justification for this; he’s using the Bureau for pure political advantage.
DEKE DELOACH What do you want to do?
Hoover considers carefully, then . . .
J. EDGAR HOOVER He’s the President. Give him what he wants, of course.
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