PETER APPLETON: It occurs to me there's a bigger issue than whether or not I'm a Communist. Bigger issue? There is no bigger issue. Actually, not to be contrary, I think there is. Gosh, I don't quite know what to say. Fact is, I... I've never been a man of great conviction. I never saw the percentage in it. And quite frankly I suppose I lacked the courage. See, I'm not like Luke Trimble. He had the market cornered on those things. I never met the guy, but I feel like I've gotten to know him. The thing is, I can't help wondering what he'd say if he were standing here right now. I think he'd probably tell you the America represented in this room is not the America he died defending. I think he'd say your America is bitter and cruel and small.

CHAIRMAN DOYLE: Come to order!

APPLETON: I know his America was big. Bigger than you can imagine! With a wide-open heart! Where every person has a voice! Even if you don't like what they say...

DOYLE: Enough! You are out of order!

APPLETON: If he were here, I wonder how you'd respond if you could explain to him what happened to his America.

DOYLE: Mr. Appletin, you are skating on the very thin edge of contempt.

APPLETON: That's the first thing I've heard today that I agree with!

LAWYER: My client is clearly under an enormous strain as a result of the questioning of Mr. Clyde. He's not responsible for his comments. We wish to invoke the 5th Amendment.

APPLETON: No, no, we don't.

LAWYER: We do.

APPLETON: No, Kevin, we don't, so knock it off! Shut the hell up and let me get through this. The 5th Amendment is out o teh question. But there is another Amendment I'd like to invoke. I wonder if anyone here is familiar with it. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."

DOYLE: You're out of order!

APPLETON: "Shall make no law respecting...

DOYLE: My chamber will come to order!

APPLETON: An establishment of religion or prohibiting free exercise thereof or abridging freedom of speech, or of the press or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble to petition for a redress of grievances."

DOYLE: Do not presume to lecture this Committee!

APPLETON: The First Ammendment. It's what we're about, if we'd live up to it. It's part of the contract every citizen has here. Even though the Constitution and the Bill of Rights even though are just pieces of paper with signatures on them they're the only contracts that we have that are defintely not subject to renegotiation. Not by you, Mr.Chairman.

DOYLE: Mr.Appleton!

APPLETON: Not by you, Mr. Clyde.

DOYLE: Stand down!

APPLETON: Not by anyone, ever. Too many people have paid in blood.

DOYLE: Enough, sir! You are out of order!

APPLETON: [holds up Luke's Congressional Medal of Honor] People like Luke Trimble... and all the sons of Lawson, California. And they deserve better than this.

STAN KELLER: Goddamn right! They deserve better! All you boys do...

DOYLE: I will have order or I will clear this chamber!

APPLETON: When you get right down to it, fellas... that's all I have to say to you.