Anita Hill - On
October 11 and 12, 1991, all the major television networks
pre-empted their fictional afternoon soap operas and much
of their evening and weekend schedules to broadcast the
real-life political soap opera of the Senate Judiciary
Committee's investigation of Anita Hill's accusations of
sexual harassment against Supreme Court justice nominee
Clarence Thomas. More than 40 million U.S. households
watch the two-day televised hearings and the networks lose
an estimated $15 million to $20 million in ad revenue. The
hearings were instigated by National Public Radio host
Nina Totenberg whose broadcast reported that the Judiciary
Committee had not taken Hill's charges seriously. In a
calm and dignified manner, Anita Hill, a University of
Oklahoma law professor, reported to the Committee that
while in his employ, Clarence Thomas allegedly handed her
a can of soda with a pubic hair on it, talked about
pornography and videos starring Long Dong Silver, and
repeatedly advised her of his sexual prowess. The graphic
testimony entertained, and shocked many but mostly it
brought to the forefront, the topic of sexual harassment
in the workplace. In the end, the Senate Judiciary
Committee voted to approve Clarence Thomas' nomination to
the Supreme Court, much to the chagrin of many Americans.