BUSH ON TRIAL

JACKSON

THE PEOPLE REST

JUDGE

MR. DARROW DO YOU WISH TO MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT?

DARROW

YOUR HONOR, WE REQUEST THAT YOU DISMISS ALL CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT BUSH, THE PROSECUTION HAS NOT PROVEN THEIR CASE.

JUDGE

YOUR MOTION IS DENIED; DO YOU WISH TO MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT?

DARROW

YES, YOUR HONOR WE DO.

DARROW THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD HAVE A FEW DAYS TO MAKE HIS OPENING STATEMENT, THE TURN OF EVENTS HAVE SHAKEN HIM.

DARROW

HONORED MEMBERS OF THE JURY, I SHARE MR. JACKSON’S ADMIRATION OF YOU AND I ALSO SPENT A GOOD PART OF MY LIFE TRYING TO LIVE UP TO YOUR VALUES. THE CASE BEFORE YOU IS BASED ON THE CONCEPT THAT AN ELECTED LEADER CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTS HE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE COMMITTED DURING HIS TERM OF OFFICE. YOU HAVE SET UP A SYSTEM IN OUR CONSTITUTION TO ADDRESS THIS VERY QUESTION, AND THAT IS CALLED IMPEACHMENT. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS WHERE THIS CASE BELONGS AND NOT THIS COURT. FOR YOU TO FIND PRESIDENT BUSH GUILTY YOU WOULD HAVE TO BELIEVE A MAN WHO SOLD HIS SOUL FOR THE PRICE OF FREEDOM. MR. CHENEY, ONCE A GOOD FRIEND OF THE PRESIDENT, HAS SOLD HIM OUT. HE ASKS THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT HE WAS TOTALLY INNOCENT OF ALL THINGS, YET CUTS A DEAL WITH THE PROSECUTION. YOU MUST ASK YOURSELF WHY HE WOULD CUT A DEAL IF HE HAD NOTHING TO HIDE?

WE WERE GOING TO CALL MANY WITNESSES; HOWEVER, PRESIDENT BUSH WANTS TO TESTIFY ALONE. HE BELIEVES IN AMERICA AND WILL PUT HIS FAITH IN THE HANDS OF OUR GREAT LEADERS WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO OUR BELOVED LAND; THEREFORE, I WILL CALL ONLY ONE WITTNESS.

THE DEFENSE CALLS PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, THE 43RD PRESIDENT OF THESE UNITED STATES.

JUDGE

MR. PRESIDENT, WILL YOU TAKE THE WITNESS STAND.

MARSHAL

DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH AND THE WHOLE TRUTH?

BUSH

UNDER GOD, I DO SO SWEAR.

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, LET’S GET TO THE HEART OF THESE CHARGES. WHEN DID YOU MAKE THE FINAL DECISION TO INVADE IRAQ?

BUSH

IT WAS AFTER 911, WHEN WE GAVE THE DICTATOR EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLY WITH THE UN RESOLUTIONS.

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, WHY DID YOU GO BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS AND ASK THEM TO ACT ON THEIR RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING IRAQ?

BUSH

MY ADVISORS THOUGHT THAT IF I MADE A PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT THE UN THEN WE STOOD A GOOD CHANCE OF GETTING THE UN TO MOVE AGAINST THE DICTATOR OF IRAQ.

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, DID YOU EVER SAY TO VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY THAT YOU WERE GOING TO INVADE IRAQ BEFORE YOUR APPEARANCE AT THE UN?

BUSH

NO, I WAS FRUSTRATED WITH THE UN, THAT IS NO SECRET, AND MAY HAVE SAID SOMETHING LIKE -------I’D LIKE TO GET HIM, BUT THE DECISION WAS NOT MADE UNTIL ALL OPTIONS WERE GONE. ALL MY ADVISORS AGREED THAT WE HAD TO GO INTO IRAQ TO PROTECT AMERICA.

DARROW

DID YOU EVER TELL SEC. RUMSFELD TO GET READY TO GO TO WAR BEFORE 911?

BUSH

NO, WHAT I DID TELL HIM WAS CHECK TO SEE IF ALL OUR OPTIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST WERE UPDATED, SO WE WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IN THE FUTURE.

DARROW

AFTER 911, WHAT DID YOU TELL YOUR NATIONAL SECURITY STAFF CONCERNING AFGHANISTAN?

BUSH

I TOLD THEM TO GET TOGETHER ALL OPTIONS, WE HAD TO GO AFTER AL-QAIDA AND BIN LADEN, AND IF THE TALIBAN DID NOT GIVE HIM UP, I WANTED TO GO INTO IRAQ AND GET THAT MURDERER.

DARROW

SIR, I THINK YOU SAID IRAQ, DID YOU MEAN AFGHANISTAN?

BUSH

YES OF COURSE, BIN LADEN WAS IN AFGHANISTAN AND THAT IS WHERE WE WERE GOING, AFGHANISTAN.

DARROW

WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR GOING INTO IRAQ?

BUSH

WELL, WE KNEW HE HAD WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, WE KNEW HE WAS SHOPPING AROUND THE WORLD TO GET NUKES, WE NEW THAT HE HATED ALL AMERICANS AND WOULD ATTACK US IF HE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY AND I WAS NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN. WE KNEW HE KILLED MILLIONS IN IRAQ BY GAS, AND SLAUGHTERED HIS OWN PEOPLE, THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS GUY.

DARROW

DID YOU AT ANY TIME CONSIDER THAT SOME OF YOUR STAFF ,INCLUDING THE VICE PRESIDENT, WOULD MAKE MONEY OFF THIS WAR?

BUSH

NO, I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. WE HAD TO KEEP THE PROMISES I MADE TO THOSE BRAVE FIREFIGHTERS IN NEW YORK WHEN I MET WITH THEM JUST AFTER 911. THAT WAS THE ONLY REASON FOR GOING INTO IRAQ, IT WAS FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS.

DARROW

YOUR HONOR, MAY WE TAKE A SHORT RECESS?

DARROW KNOWS HE IS NOT GETTING THE ANSWERS HE HAD TOLD THE PRESIDENT TO GIVE, HE NEEDS A BREAK SO HE CAN GET THE PRESIDENT BACK ON TRACK.

JUDGE

WE WILL TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK, PLEASE BE READY TO GO AT THAT TIME.

DARROW

THANK YOU YOUR HONOR.

THE JURY MOVES AROUND AND TALKS TO EACH OTHER. DARROW IS WITH BUSH TRYING TO TELL HIM WHAT TO SAY, BUT IT MAY BE TOO LATE, SO HE TELLS THE PRESIDENT JUST TO ANSWER YES OR NO TO HIS QUESTIONS, AND THAT HE MUST ANSWER YES OR NO WHEN HE IS CROSS-EXAMINED BY JACKSON. BUSH LOOKS UPSET BUT AGREES.

JUDGE (AFTER EVERYONE IS SEATED)

YOU MAY CONTINUE MR. DARROW WITH YOUR DIRECT.

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, IS IT TRUE THAT YOU DID NOT KNOW THAT PRISONERS WERE BEING TORTURED AT CAMP X-RAY?

JACKSON

OBJECTION, MR. DARROW IS LEADING THE WITNESS TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT HE MAY WELL WANT TO JUST GIVE US THE ANSWERS AND SAVE SOME TIME.

JUDGE

MR. JACKSON, THE LAST PART OF YOUR STATEMENT WAS UNCALLED FOR, HOWEVER MR. DARROW, TRY TO ASK QUESTIONS WITHOUT LEADING THE WITNESS.

DARROW

YES, YOUR HONOR.

MR. PRESIDENT, DID YOU EVER INDICATE TO ANYONE THAT YOU CONDONED THE TORTURE OF PRISONERS?

BUSH

NO

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, DID YOU MAKE ANY PROFIT FROM THE WARS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ?

BUSH

NO

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, DO YOU HAVE ANY DIRECT TIES TO THE CARLYLE GROUP?

BUSH

NO

DARROW

DID YOU EVER TELL ANY OF YOUR SUBORDINATES TO LIE TO CONGRESS?

BUSH

NO

DARROW

MR. PRESIDENT, DID YOU-----------------THAT IS ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR PRESIDENT BUSH, YOUR HONOR.

JUDGE

MR. JACKSON, YOU MAY CROSS-EXAMINE PRESIDENT BUSH.

JACKSON ( GETS UP AND TAKES THE PODIUM, LOOKS OVER AT THE JURY AND SAYS

YOUR HONOR, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES IN A POSITION THAT TO CROSS EXAMINE PRESIDENT BUSH WOULD BRING MORE SHAME ON THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY, WE WILL NOT CROSS EXAMINE THIS WITNESS.

DARROW

OBJECTION----------THIS STATEMENT IS OUTRAGEOUS AND MUST BE STRUCK FROM THE RECORD.

JACKSON

YES, YOUR HONOR, THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND I WITHDRAW MY STATEMENT,

HOWEVER, IN RESPECT FOR THE JURY MEMBERS WE DO NOT WISH TO CROSS EXAMINE THIS WITNESS.

JUDGE

PLEASE SIT DOWN MR.DARROW AND MR. JACKSON.

JUDGE

MR. JACKSON YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR CLOSING ARGUMENT.

CLOSING ARGUMENTS

BY ROBERT H. JACKSON

THIS IS A SAD DAY FOR ME, I LOVE THIS COUNTRY CALLED AMERICA SO MUCH THAT I SPENT MY LIFE DEFENDING OUR VALUES. THE CASE YOU HAVE TO DECIDE IS MOST DIFFICULT. NO ONE HERE WANTS TO SAY THAT OUR PRESIDENT LIED ABOUT GOING TO WAR. NO ONE HERE WANTS TO SAY THAT MANY INCLUDING THE HIGHEST ELECTED OFFICALS IN OUR LAND DID TAKE LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY WHEN OURSOLDIERS WERE BEING KILLED. NO ONE WANTS TO SAY THAT ELECTED AND APPOINTED HIGH RANKING OFFICALS OF OUR GOVERNMENT LIED TO CONGRESS. I DO NOT WANT TO SAY------FROM THE PRESIDENT ON DOWN, THEY KNEW ABOUT PRISONERS BEING TORTURED AND DID NOTHING. I WISH I DID NOT HAVE TO SAY THESE THINGS BECAUSE EVEN AS I SAY THEM I SHUDDER AT THE IMAGE OF IT ALL.

SOME SAY I HAVE THE MOST DIFFICULT JOB, I SAY YOU HAVE THE MOST DIFFICULT JOB---------MAYBE OF ALL TIME.

I WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS AND WILL ACCEPT YOUR WISDOM, AS I TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOUR ARE HERE TO SEE JUSTICE DONE, THANK YOU.

JACKSON SITS DOWN, BUT YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT A GOOD DAY FOR HIM, HE IS VERY SAD-------NOT FOR BUSH BUT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY.

JUDGE

MR DARROW, YOU MAY NOW GIVE YOUR CLOSING.

BY CLARENCE DARROW

I AGREE WITH MR. JACKSON. THIS IS A SAD DAY, WHEN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES CHOOSES NOT TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT, BUT A COURT DECIDES THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MUST HAVE A TRIAL----- THAT IS A SAD DAY IN OUR HISTORY.

TO CONVICT PRESIDENT BUSH YOU MUST BELIEVE DICK CHENEY, A JUDAS WHO SOLD HIS FRIEND FOR A FEW PIECES OF SILVER. THIS MAN IS A COWARD AND WILL NOT STAND UP AND SAY WHAT IS TRUE, HE CUT A DEAL AND PROTECTED HIS OWN ASS. PRESIDENT BUSH DOES HAVE FAULTS, LIKE ALL OF US, HE IS FALLIBLE, HE MAKES MISTAKES-------BUT YOU MUST ASK YOURSELF, WHO PROFITED FROM THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN?

WHO MADE A FINANCIAL KILLING IN IRAQ? NOT PRESIDENT BUSH, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT HE MADE A DIME ON EITHER WAR. PRESIDENT BUSH HAS TESTIFIED THAT HE WENT INTO IRAQ TO MAKE SURE IRAQ DID NOT ATTACK US. SOUNDS A LITTLE FAR-FETCHED UNTIL YOU FACTOR IN THAT A BACKWARD COUNTRY CALLED AFGHANISTAN CAUSED TWO OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS BUILDINGS TO FALL AND BECOME RUBBLE. I PUT IT TO YOU THIS WAY -----IF A BACKWARD COUNTRY LIKE AFGHANISTAN COULD ATTACK US, WHAT COULD A COUNTRY THAT HAD WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION DO TO US. THIS IS WHAT PRESIDENT BUSH WAS FACED WITH; WOULD YOU TAKE THE CHANCE OF ANOTHER ATTACK OR WOULD YOU ASK YOUR ADVISORS WHAT IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION AND THEN MAKE A DECISION. THAT IS WHAT PRESIDENT BUSH DID, YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH HIS DECISION BUT DON’T CONDEMN HIM FOR MAKING IT.

THE TORTURE OF PRISONERS IS MOST DISTURBING. DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AFTER PUTTING IN WRITING THAT ALL PRISONERS WOULD BE TREATED HUMANELY, WOULD ALLOW HIS SUBORDINATES TO GO BEYOND WHAT HE HAS ORDERED, IF HE KNEW WHAT THEY WERE UP TO------I SAY NO!

I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT I PRAY THAT YOU WHO SAT IN THE SEAT OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES WILL TELL THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE JURY WHAT IT IS LIKE TO MAKE LIFE AND DEATH DECISIONS EVERY DAY, NOT JUST ONCE IN A WHILE------BUT EVERY DAY, WITH THE HOPE YOU HAVE MADE THE BEST DECISIONS POSSIBLE.

I JOIN WITH MR. JACKSON AGAIN IN SAYING THAT YOU WERE BROUGHT HERE FOR A SPECIAL REASON, TO RENDER JUSTICE, AND JUSTICE DEMANDS THAT YOU BRING BACK A VERDICT OF INNOCENT OF ALL CHARGES-----I THANK YOU AND WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS.

JUDGE

THANK YOU SIR

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, NORMALLY I WOULD GIVE LONG INSTRUCTIONS TO THE JURY; HOWEVER, LOOKING OVER AT YOU IT WOULD BE ARROGANT OF ME TO INSTRUCT YOU IN THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE. YOU WILL RECEIVE THIS CASE IN A FEW MINUTES. I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT IN THIS COURT THERE IS NO “NOT GUILTY” VERDICT, YOU MUST COME BACK WITH A VERDICT OF INNOCENT OR GUILTY.

PRESIDENT BUSH LIES IN A COMA. WHAT YOU SAW HERE TODAY WAS HIS SOUL, AND YOU ARE ONLY DECIDING HIS INNOCENCE OR GUILT IN THESE MATTERS. I WILL DECIDE THE PUNISHMENT, IF THERE IS ANY TO BE CONSIDERED.

JUDGE

YOU MAY RETIRE TO THE JURY ROOM AND DECIDE THIS CASE.

END OF ACT TWO