Let Bartlet Be Bartlet (1.19)

Chairman Fitzwallace: We’re discussing gays in the military, huh?

Major Thompson: Yes sir.

Fitzwallace: What do you think? I said, what do you think?

Thompson: Sir, we’re here to help the White House form a possible -

Fitzwallace: I know. I’m asking you what you think.

Major Tate: Sir, we’re not prejudiced toward homosexuals.

Fitzwallace: You just don’t want to see them serving in the Armed Forces?

Tate: No, sir, I don’t.

Fitzwallace: Cause they pose a threat to unit discipline and cohesion.

Tate: Yes sir.

Fitzwallace: That’s what I think too. I also think the military wasn’t designed to be an instrument of social change.

Tate: Yes sir.

Fitzwallace: The problem with that is that what they were saying to me fifty years ago. Blacks shouldn’t serve with whites, it would disrupt the unit. You know what? It did disrupt the unit.

The unit got over it. The unit changed. I’m an admiral in the U.S. Navy and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Beat that with a stick.

5 months ago  /  208 notes  /  Source: westwingquotes