ABC NEWS: TURNING POINT: ANITA HILL VS. CLARENCE THOMAS: THE UNTOLD STORY (TV)
Summary
One in this series of news magazine programs that takes an in-depth look at a specific topic. This installment, anchored by Forrest Sawyer, focuses on the "untold story" of the 1991 hearings of Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill, who accused him of sexual harassment. Michel McQueen reports on the story that began when Thurgood Marshall stepped down as a Supreme Court judge and Thomas was nominated by President George H.W. Bush. The report focuses on the debate that arose over whether the conservative Thomas's nomination should be confirmed as sexual harrassment allegations arose from Hill, University of Oklahoma law professor and former assistant to Thomas. Hill details how she became involved in the "political rumor mill." According to Jane Mayer, co-author of "Strange Justice: The Selling of Clarence Thomas," Hill initially asked not to testify. Meanwhile, Thomas's confirmation hearings were ongoing, spurring some controversy when he denied having ever debated against the Roe vs. Wade case during a grilling from Senator Patrick Leahy. Eventually, Hill fully detailed her allegations against Thomas, sending shockwaves all the way to the White House. On September 27, 1991, as the Senate Judiciary Committee prepared to vote, chairman Joseph Biden praised Thomas's character, having neglected to tell his fellow senators of the newly released information on the nominee. After a seven-to-seven deadlock, the vote was moved to the entire Senate, who by now finally learned of Hill's allegations as the story hit the national press. Immediately, Hill was at the center of a political firestorm, as she spoke to the media on October 7, 1991. By that evening, the Senate had agreed to delay their vote in order to officially hear from Hill. Meanwhile, a young assistant city editor for the Charlotte Observer, Angela Wright, was watching the events unfold with great interest -- for she, too, had once been employed by Thomas and had encountered similar sexual overtones from the Supreme Court nominee. She declined to testify, but was eventually subpoenaed. Jill Abramson, co-author of "Strange Justice," details how the confirmation hearings had now become a battle between the pro-Thomas Republicans and the "in disarray" Democrats. Then, on October 11, 1991, the Judiciary Committee reconvened as Thomas finally addressed -- and vehemently denied -- Hill's allegations. Hill's testimony followed, during which she described highly graphic comments which she said Thomas made to her. McQueen speaks with Hill about how she was able to remain so composed at the hearing. A former Thomas friend from his undergraduate years at Holy Cross, Edward P. Jones, details not being surprised by Hill's revelations. Soon, Thomas defenders began playing a "game of chicken" by releasing their own allegations against Hill. Next, Sawyer notes that neither Thomas or Biden agreed to participate in the program. It then looks at three other women -- besides Hill and Wright -- who made allegations toward Thomas, though were unable to testify for the Senate. One of these was Kay Savage, a former Thomas co-worker, stunned upon once seeing his extensive Playboy collection, organized by year and by month. Meanwhile, Thomas was addressing the hearings as "a circus, a national disgrace," "a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks" At that point, Republicans worked to undermine Hill's testimony and credibility. Senator Arlen Specter discusses his raising the point that Hill may have perjured herself with her testimony. Meanwhile, Wright, along with her corroborating witness Rose Jourdain, sat around Washington, attempting to testify, though were unable to do so. Also waiting in the wings was Sukari Hardnett, who years later held the same position with Thomas that Hill had filled. Hardnett comments that she knew Thomas was lying and that he often called her at home -- during which he continually tried to socialize with her. Ultimately, Thomas was confirmed as a Supreme Court judge. Wright contends that had she been allowed to testify, Thomas would never have been confirmed. Sawyer ends the program by detailing how reverberations from the Thomas/Hill conflict are still felt in the present day. Includes commercials. This program is closed-captioned.
("Turning Point" became a series of irregularly scheduled specials beginning in 1995.)
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 2, 1994 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:27
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:34939
- GENRE: News magazine
- SUBJECT HEADING: News magazine; Talk/Interview; Sexual harassment; Supreme Court Justices
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1994-
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CREDITS
- Betsy West … Executive Producer
- Janice Tomlin … Co-Executive Producer
- Wendy Roth … Coordinating Producer
- Rudy Bednar … Senior Producer
- Kerry Smith Marash … Producer
- Martin Phillips … Producer
- Peter Bull … Producer
- Ann Reynolds … Producer, Writer
- Keris Salmon … Associate Producer
- Stuart Schwartz … Production (Misc.), Senior Broadcast Producer
- Bret Marcus … Production (Misc.), Broadcast Producer
- Lisa Soloway … Production (Misc.), Editorial Producer
- Doug Wythe … Production (Misc.), Special Segment Producer
- Roger Goodman … Director
- Forrest Sawyer … Anchor
- Michel McQueen … Reporter
- Jill Abramson
- Joseph Biden
- George Bush
- Sukari Hardnett
- Anita Hill
- Edward P. Jones
- Rose Jourdain
- Patrick Leahy
- Thurgood Marshall
- Jane Mayer
- Kay Savage
- Arlen Specter
- Clarence Thomas
- Angela Wright