Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster quotes from The Aviator (2004)

You want to go to war with me?

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

It's not me, Howard. It's the United States Government. We just beat Germany and Japan. Who the hell are you?

I'll put this very simply. On February 12th, at the Mayflower Hotel, did you or did you not tell me that if I were to sell TWA to Pan Am that this entire investigation would be called off?

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

No, I did not, and I have asked you repeatedly to submit your questions in writing.

How long have you known Juan Trippe, Senator?

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

I've known Mr. Trippe for some time now, and that's not the question here.

Is it not true that Juan Trippe donated $20,000 to your last campaign? I mean, he spoke to me as if you worked for him!

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

I have a personal friendship with Mr. Trippe, but--

Is it not true you accept free tickets from Pan Am, so you can circle the globe in support of your C.A.B. bill?

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

No, no, it is not true.

Well, who wrote that bill, Senator?

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

No, we're asking questions--

Who actually wrote the C.A.B. bill? The actual words in the bill. Did you write them?

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

This is not how these hearings are going be conducted, Mr. Hughes--

I have it right here. Maybe it'll refresh your memory. "Bill S-987 to amend the Civil Aeronautics Act." Now, you introduced this bill to the Senate. [looking through the pages] Lotta words. You write all of them? Did you write any of them, Senator?

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

Now, look, Mr. Hughes--

Now, this entire bill was written by Pan Am executives and designed to give that airline a monopoly on international travel. And you've been flogging this bill all around the world on their behalf, have you not?

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

I have duties that take me all over the world, Mr. Hughes.

Oh, what the hell does a senator from Maine need to visit Peru for?

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

I was-- I was seeking outlets for our trade-- our trade goods.

Ah. Buy a lotta lobsters down there, do they?

Senator Brewster, how many times have you visited Juan Trippe's office in New York in the last three months? Huh? Would you like me to tell you, Senator?

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

All right, this has gone on long enough. Juan Trippe is a great American. His airline has advanced the cause of commercial aviation in this country for decades. Juan Trippe is a patriot. Juan Trippe is not a man who is interested in making money.

Hm. Well, I'm sure his stockholders would be happy to hear that.
[People laugh again]

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

Mr. Hughes, did you receive $43 million to manufacture one hundred XF-11 spy planes for the United States Air Force?

I did.

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

How many functional planes did you deliver to the United States Air Force.

None.

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

Would you lean a little closer to the microphone, sir?

None!

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

Did you receive $13 million to manufacture a prototype of a flying boat known as the Hercules?

I did.

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

And did you deliver that plane?

I did not.

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

So, by your admission in this chamber, Mr. Hughes, you have received $56 million from the United States government...for planes you never delivered?

That is correct.

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

Well, excuse me for asking, Mr. Hughes, but where did all that money go?

Well, it went into the planes, Mr. Senator, and a lot more.

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

More? [chuckles] Do tell, Mr. Hughes. What other larcenies did you commit?

I mean, I put my money into these planes, Senator. My money. See, the thing is–

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

Mr. Hughes, your personal finances are–are not–

Let him speak.

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster

Alright, proceed, Mr. Hughes.

See, the thing is, I care very much about aviation. It has been the great joy of my life. That's why I put my own money into these planes and I've lost millions, Senator Brewster, and I'll go on losing millions. It's just... what I do. Now, if I've lost a lot of the government's money during the war, well, I hope folks will put that into perspective. You see, more than 60 other airplanes ordered from such firms as Lockheed, Douglas, Northrup and Boeing never saw action either. In all, more than $800 million was spent during the war on planes that never flew. Over $6 billion on other weapons that were never delivered. Yet, Hughes Aircraft, with her $56 million, is the only firm under investigation here today. Now, I cannot help but think that has a little more to do with TWA than planes that did not fly!