VERA JOHNSON
I'm not sure I understand, Professor
Franklin -- you wrote your doctoral
thesis on my husband?
TOMMY
He was a great man, Mrs. Johnson.
He did so much for my people.
VERA JOHNSON
He... did?
TOMMY
Oh, yes. I'll never forget when he
said 'Welfare is a drug -- and you
gotta kick it cold turkey.' It
was... inspirational.
VERA JOHNSON
Really... well, I'm sure...
TOMMY
And I was actually in the audience
when he said, 'If you people would
just get off your dead asses and
look for work, this country might
be fit to live in again.' Powerful
stuff.
VERA JOHNSON
It's very kind of you to say so.
And you're very kind to come all
the way from... where was it?
TOMMY
Wilson Pickett State Teachers College.
But I didn't just come to pay
respects, ma'am. I came because
your husband deserves an archive.
A place where scholars can study
his legacy. A storehouse for the
record of his remarkable career.
VERA JOHNSON
I see. So you want... his papers?
TOMMY
Oh, not just his papers, Mrs.
Johnson. Everything. Buttons,
posters, bumper stickers. All the
paraphernalia of his campaigns --
proof of his political genius. Now
I realize that you may have a
sentimental attachment to a few
items...
VERA JOHNSON
Take 'em.