Summary
Highlights
Hill describes moving with Thomas to the EEOC, where harassment initially stopped but resumed in late 1982. The comments evolved to include remarks about her appearance and his displeasure at her continued refusals. She recalls an incident where Thomas made a crude comment about pubic hair on a Coke can and continued to brag about his penis size and sexual experiences. The stress from this harassment led her to seek work elsewhere, and she eventually accepted a professorship. Hill claims Thomas told her that if she ever revealed his behavior, it would ruin his career.
The video opens with a summary of the unprecedented nature of the hearing, where Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas was called back to deny sexual harassment allegations made by his former assistant, Anita Hill. Thomas, in his opening statement, categorically denies all allegations, expressing immense pain and sadness over the charges, stating he's been 'racking his brains' to understand what could have led to them. He asserts he has always condemned sexual harassment and treated Hill professionally.
Thomas describes the leaking of the confidential allegations to the media as causing enormous pain and harm to him and his family. He calls the entire process 'Kafkaesque' and 'not American,' emphasizing that he will not allow himself to be further humiliated or for his private life to be put on display. He states that no job is worth what he's been through, and he is a 'victim of this process,' calling it a 'hightech lynching' and a 'National Disgrace'.
Following Thomas's powerful denial, Republican senators react with anger when Chairman Biden states that Anita Hill did not want her affidavit made public before her testimony. Senator Simpson expresses outrage, calling it a 'travesty' if they cannot publicly discuss the FBI report and Hill's statement. The committee briefly recesses amidst this tension.
After the recess, Anita Hill is called to testify. She recounts her professional relationship with Clarence Thomas, starting at the Department of Education where their working relationship was initially positive. She details how Thomas began to ask her out socially, which she declined to protect their professional dynamic. Despite her refusals, he continued to pursue her, eventually using work situations to discuss sex in graphic detail, including pornographic films depicting bestiality, group sex, and rape, and bragging about his sexual prowess.
Hill acknowledges that telling her story is the most difficult experience of her life, and she may have used poor judgment in not speaking out sooner. She explains that she feared adverse effects on her career and did not want to burn bridges. She emphasizes that she has no personal vendetta against Thomas but felt a duty to report when asked by Senate staff, stressing that she took no initiative to inform anyone, but 'could not keep silent' once approached.
During cross-examination, Hill is pressed for explicit details of Thomas's remarks, including his reference to a pornographic character named 'Long Dong Silver' and his descriptions of his own sexual anatomy. Senator Specter questions her about reports suggesting her affidavit was intended to quietly force Thomas's withdrawal and why she didn't come forward earlier given Thomas's position as head of the EEOC. Hill states she doesn't recall being told her statement would force withdrawal and admits she 'shirked a duty' by not speaking up at the time, but it was honest judgment.
Clarence Thomas returns for his rebuttal. He unequivocally denies every single allegation, stating he never had sexual conversations or discussed pornographic material with Hill, never attempted to date her, or had any sexual interest in her. He reiterates his view of the hearing as a 'travesty' and a 'National Disgrace,' comparing it to a 'Hightech lynching' aimed at destroying him and sending a message to other 'uppity blacks'.
Thomas states he did not listen to Hill's testimony, having 'heard enough lies.' He accuses the committee of providing a forum to destroy what he took 43 years to build and creating a 'scarless' process. He firmly states he is 'incapable of proving the negative' and that the 'facts keep changing.' He asserts his denial is categorical and unchanged, irrespective of shifting allegations. Senator Hatch then questions Thomas on specific allegations made by Hill, which Thomas denies entirely, including discussions of career ruination, specific crude comments, boasting about sexual prowess, and use of the term 'Long Dong Silver'.