Howard Hughes at Senate War Investigating Committee
Howard Hughes at Senate War Investigating Committee
Newsreel footage of Howard Hughes testifying to the U.S. Senate War Investigating Committee chaired by Owen Brewster.
Howard Hughes at Senate War Investigating Committee
LS U.S. Senate office building, automobile traffic passing in FG, Washington, D.C. Rear view TLS queue filing toward Senate office building for public hearings into Hughes H-4 Hercules flying boat project. TLS/MSs white people filing through office building. Traveling TLS/MS entrepreneur HOWARD HUGHES walking from car and toward Senate building, passing cameramen, Capitol Hill police and on-lookers. Low angle MS entrance to Caucus Room. Panning MS/CU Howard Hughes entering Caucus Room. High angle TLS U.S. Senate War Investigating Committee in session. MS U.S. Senator OWEN BREWSTER (R-ME) seated. MS/TLSs Howard Hughes being sworn in at hearings. MSs Howard Hughes speaking to committee: "Well, I charged specifically that during a luncheon at the Mayflower Hotel. The luncheon was during the week, commencing Feb 10, 1947. It was in the suite of Senator Brewster. I charged specifically that during the luncheon, the Senator, in so many words, told me that if I were to agree to merge TWA with Pan American Airways and go along on his Community Airline Bill, that there would be no further hearing in this matter."
Howard Hughes at Senate War Investigating Committee
TLS U.S. Senator OWEN BREWSTER (R-ME) being sworn in at U.S. Senate War Investigating Committee, Caucus Room, Washington, D.C. MS Senator Owen Brewster seated before committee, entrepreneur HOWARD HUGHES seated in BG. MSs U.S. Sen. Owen Brewster testifying: "At an apartment in the Mayflower where I was entraining him at lunch, for which I paid $8.80 out of my own pocket." C/A MS Howard Hughes listening. "I am quite sure that no one of any competence or experience would make such a proposal, and I can assure you that I never did." TLS committee n session. TLS/MSs U.S. Senator Brewster testifying: "And I promptly appointed the sub-committee headed by Senator Ferguson to handle this matter from then on. Let the chips fall where they may."
Howard Hughes at Senate War Investigating Committee
MSs entrepreneur HOWARD HUGHES testifying to U.S. Senate War Investigating Committee, Caucus Room, Washington, D.C., verbally sparring with committee chairman Senator Homer Ferguson (R-MI) about submitting questions to the chairman: "Now, Senator Brewster's story as related here yesterday is a pack of lies, and I can tear it apart if allowed to cross-question him. It is unfair to place me in the position of having my integrity questioned and not being allowed to cross-examine senator Brewster." TLS Howard Hughes submitting questions to subcommittee chairman, then resuming seat. Rear view MS subcommittee conferring. MS Howard Hughes speaking to committee: "Now, may I just make one very brief statement, please. Yesterday you told I would be able accorded the same privilege that the Senator from Maine or anyone else here. Now, would you give me the questions in advance that you want to ask me while I am here? Or will you give them to any neutral third party?" Crowd applauds. TLS Howard Hughes standing at the room is cleared except for the press.
Howard Hughes at Senate War Investigating Committee
High angle TLS entrepreneur HOWARD HUGHES seated before U.S. Senate War Investigating Committee, Caucus Room, Washington, D.C., being accused by Senator Homer Ferguson of trying to hijack the hearings. MS Howard Hughes listening. MS well-dressed white seated at hearings. MS Howard Hughes speaking: "Senator, we can resolve this argument and it will never arise again if you will just retract the statement that I am going to get equal treatment with Senator Brewster. Then I will take what the law gives me here and go ahead." "The chair is not retracting any statement. You are going to proceed with your testimony." TLSs Howard Hughes standing inches from committee chairman Homer Ferguson, sticking by his guns to cross-examine Senator Brewster. TLS U.S. Senator OWEN BREWSTER (R-ME) speaking to committee. Aerial shots of Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose) in dry dock in Long Beach, California.
Howard Hughes at Senate War Investigating Committee
TLSs entrepreneur HOWARD HUGHES standing inches from U.S. Senate War Investigating Committee chaired by Homer Ferguson, Caucus Room, Washington, D.C. MSs Hughes publicist JOHNNY MEYER testifying to committee. MS/TLSs Howard Hughes testifying to committee, refusing to bring in Johnny Meyer to testify again. TLS/MSs U.S. Senator Homer Ferguson signing subpoena. TLS committee in session. Aerial shot of Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose) flying boat in dry dock, Long Beach, California. TLS/LSs H-4 Hercules under construction. MSs U.S. Senator OWEN BREWSTER (R-ME) seated at hearings. TLS Howard Hughes seated before hearings, using earpiece. MS Howard Hughes standing near table post-gavel. TLS/MSs Howard Hughes flanked by crowd in Caucus Room. MS Howard Hughes speaking to committee: "When Senator Brewster realized that he was fighting a battle against public opinion-- a losing battle-- he folded up and took a run out powder. Yes, that was the tip-off. When Senator Brewster hit the road for the back roads of Maine, that meant the hearings was over. Washington was too hot for him. He couldn't take it. It's a strange thing. When this investigation began, I thought my reputation was going to be dragged through the mud. But because the American people believe in fair play, and because they have supported me, I find I have emerged with more friends than I ever had before in my life. And I want to thank the people of this country, and I want to thank the gentlemen of the press."