Changes

[[File:Mrsmithgoestowashington 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[James Stewart]] in the title role, as he is flooded with manipulated mail generated by an evil propaganda machine.]]'''Jefferson Smith''' (not to be confused with [[Oregon]] State Representative Jefferson Smith, D-47^th) was the fictional hero in [[Frank Capra]]'s great 1939 film, ''[[Mr. Smith Goes to Washington]].'' He remains an iconic figure of civic duty and devotion to [[republicanism]] and American values.  The movie makes a serious indictment of the ability of backstage manipulators to deceive their American people through large-scale systematic propaganda.

[[File:Mrsmithgoestowashington 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[James Stewart]] in the title role, as he is flooded with manipulated mail generated by an evil propaganda machine.]]'''Jefferson Smith''' (not to be confused with [[Oregon]] State Representative Jefferson Smith, D-47th) was the fictional hero in [[Frank Capra]]'s great 1939 film, ''[[Mr. Smith Goes to Washington]].'' He remains an iconic figure of civic duty and devotion to [[republicanism]] and American values.  The movie makes a serious indictment of the ability of backstage manipulators to deceive their American people through large-scale systematic propaganda.

The plot makes Smith a replacement [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] who discovers, to his shame, that he had been appointed to be a stooge. When he decides not to be a stooge, the political machine responsible for his appointment makes an effort to destroy his reputation and have him expelled from the Senate, in order to protect a graft operation two years in the planning. But Smith's dogged perseverance, combined with the not-yet-seared conscience of his colleague and chief adversary in the Senate, enables him to prevail, or at least to hold out long enough for good to prevail over evil.

The plot makes Smith a replacement [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] who discovers, to his shame, that he had been appointed to be a stooge. When he decides not to be a stooge, the political machine responsible for his appointment makes an effort to destroy his reputation and have him expelled from the Senate, in order to protect a graft operation two years in the planning. But Smith's dogged perseverance, combined with the not-yet-seared conscience of his colleague and chief adversary in the Senate, enables him to prevail, or at least to hold out long enough for good to prevail over evil.

Senator Agnew again asked whether he was prepared to yield, and Smith said no, that he felt fine, and that he would begin reading the Constitution. Several Senators threw up their hands and sighed when he said that last.

Senator Agnew again asked whether he was prepared to yield, and Smith said no, that he felt fine, and that he would begin reading the Constitution. Several Senators threw up their hands and sighed when he said that last.

Smith read the Constitution all the way through, with all of its amendments to date. (This would have ended with the [[Twenty-First_Amendment]], or the repeal of Prohibition.) He continued by reading from the Gospels and the Pauline Epistles.

Smith read the Constitution all the way through, with all of its amendments to date. (This would have ended with the [[Twenty-First Amendment]], or the repeal of Prohibition.) He continued by reading from the Gospels and the Pauline Epistles.

=== The collapse ===

=== The collapse ===