Tennessee Johnson (1942)

Carl Benton Reid: Congressman Hargrove

Quotes 

• Congressman Hargrove : Mister President, while the southern Senators make this place a beer garden, business north and south is at a *standstill*!

  [pounds his fist] 

  Senator : And who is to blame?

  Senator Huyler : Yes! Who is to blame?

  Congressman Hargrove : You are! You are!

  Senator : Men of the north, if you force us to fight for our liberties, then we'll fight you!

  Senator Huyler : Don't you shake your fists at us, we're not your slaves!

  [the room begins to erupt as the men begin to fight and confront one another on the center floor] 

  Mr. Secretary : [banging his gavel]  Order! Gentlemen! This is the Senate of the United States, not a pot-house. Order in the galleries! Order on the floor!

• Thaddeus Stevens : Unfortunately, the contraption you're hitched to is the United States of America, and we've got to keep it on the move.

  Andrew Johnson : Stevens, if you'll just state your case and let me state mine, I think we'll see better where we stand.

  Thaddeus Stevens : Very good Mr. President. I propose that we treat the South as an outside conquered people: that we confiscate all estates worth $10,000 and containing 200 acres. Then sir, I would give every adult colored man 40 acres of land. Sell the rest pay for the war with it.

  Lincoln's Emissary : No use vetoing that program, Johnson.

  Congressman Hargrove : We have the votes to override your veto.

  Andrew Johnson : So it comes to this: you fought a war to preserve the union. Having preserved it, now you deny that it exists. Gentlemen, my one aim is to carry out Lincoln's policies.