Performance & Workshop Schedule
Answers to
Frequently Asked Questions
When Justice William O. Douglas
retired from the United States Supreme Court in 1975, he had
served for thirty-six years, longer than 
any
other justice its history, and had helped to decide some of the
most important cases in the nation's history. He was an inveterate
traveler, prolific writer, and popular speaker, who used his
position to espouse his ideas on environmentalism and the Bill
of Rights. His public visibility and open criticism won him friends
in some places and more than a few enemies in the Congress and
the White House, some of whom actively, though unsuccessfully,
sought his impeachment.
Impeach Justice Douglas! features
Graham Thatcher in an engaging solo theatrical performance that
uses anecdote, humor and painful remembrances to explore some
of the most explosive issues of William O. Douglas' long tenure
on the Supreme Court. Through he wrestles with balancing "wilderness
mind" with the often hostile adversarial conflicts created
by his controversial opinions and his active public life. He
addresses the issues about which he was most passionate . . .
civil rights, freedom of speech, environmentalism, and the right
of the individual to non-conformity and dissent . . . as he reflects
on Brown vs. The Board of Education, the "McCarthy Era,"
and the Vietnam war. Although Douglas' life spanned the early
and middle part of this century, the issues of his day remain
major social and legal concerns of current times.
William O. Douglas left a legacy that calls for vigilance to protect human rights and action to protect the earth's environment. This production explores that legacy, provokes thought about our responsibilities as citizens and provides a provocative tool to faciliate audience discussion.
What Your Colleagues Are Saying . .
.
· "Outstanding presentation! . . . The audience
was spellbound . . . I would highly recommend your program to
others as a welcome and refreshing alternative to the more traditional
lectures and panel discussion on serious topics, like these."
Dale R. Harris, President, Colorado Bar Association
· "Simply outstanding . . . you were a big hit!"
Edward M. Patterson, Esq., Director of Programs, Alabama State
Bar
· "Congratulations on 'Impeach Justice Douglas!'
It was fantastic! A job
well done. I don't know when I have enjoyed an evening more."
Thomas G. Fritz, Past President, State Bar of South Dakota
· "'Impeach Justice Douglas!' is a stunning theatrical
and educational success. Thatcher's impressive portrayal of Bill
Douglas is on target
and highlights the passion and conscience of one of America's
uncommon champions of the Bill of Rights."
Tom Cronin, President, Whitman College (Douglas' Alma Mater)
· "One of the finest KBA CLE efforts ever! What
a show!"
Jan Clark, CLE Director , Kentucky Bar Association
· "One of the most rewarding continuing legal
education experiences I have ever enjoyed. Thank you so much
for your . . . vision."
Honorable Leland P. Anderson, District Court Judge, First
Judicial District of the State of Colorado
". . . a history lesson, a civics
class and a political debate all played out . . . as exhilirating
entertainment. You have created a dramatic biography of the highest
order."
Jeffrey Viken, Attorney at Law Rapid City, SD
© 1999, Anna Marie and Graham Thatcher
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