Movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1939

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

The 1939 movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington portrays a fairly accurate picture of how Congress operates, although the film is rather idealistic at times. The film is an accurate representation in that there is undoubtedly behind-the-scenes scheming and planning that goes on akin to what was portrayed when an unnamed state's political boss in the movie, Jim Taylor, conspires with the state's senior senator, Joseph Paine, to ensure that a dam is built on property that Jefferson Smith wants to build a boy's camp on. The plan involves corruption and graft and a lot of deal-making among various parties. An attempt is made at first to persuade Smith to keep quiet about the events and then there are attempts to discredit him, but in the end, Smith and his ideals prevail. At the risk of sounding cynical, there is no doubt that these sorts of dealings have gone on in the past and still go on today, as is evident in events ranging from the Teapot Dome scandal to the Whitewater scandal. However, the triumph of idealism over corruption does, unfortunately, seem to be lacking in reality.

The movie is also accurate in its portrayal of how Jefferson Smith becomes a senator. Usually, a senator is elected to the office, but in cases in which a senator dies, retires, or otherwise leaves the office vacant, the governor of some states can appoint someone to take his or her place. This is exactly how Smith becomes a senator.

Yet another accuracy between the film and reality occurs during the process whereby a bill becomes a law. Just as Jefferson Smith, a senator introduces a bill, which then goes to committee. Upon being discussed, revised, and then approved upon, the bill goes to the House and waits its turn on the calendar. A steering committee can decide to move the bill up to the head of the line, but often, there is a period of wrangling between the House and the Senate in which the bill is debated, revised, debated some more, and revised further. Eventually, the bill goes to a vote.