Still, Hollywood took liberties with history. In the movie, Johnson made a speech at his own trial. In reality that never happened. But Thursday there was no questioning reality. The first day of the Senate impeachment trial was being recorded for the history books.
All persons remain silent under penalty of imprisonment.
The chamber was silent. There was complete silence in the Senate chamber. But the news continued. Ten minutes later Lott asked for a quorum call to bring all of the senators back to the chamber. All senators rose like a courtroom when the judge walks in.