Opinion ID: 385754
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: was rebozo a public figure ?

Text: 38 In New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 84 S.Ct. 710, 11 L.Ed.2d 686 (1964), the Supreme Court held that a public official cannot recover damages for defamation relating to official conduct absent a showing of  'actual malice' that is, with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not. 376 U.S. at 279-80, 84 S.Ct. at 725-26. Three years later the Court held in Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts, 388 U.S. 130, 87 S.Ct. 1975, 18 L.Ed.2d 1094 (1967), that the New York Times standard is applicable to public figures as well. See also Associated Press v. Walker, 388 U.S. 130, 87 S.Ct. 1975, 18 L.Ed.2d 1094 (1967). The Court elucidated the applicability of New York Times to public figures, but refused to expand the protection afforded by that standard to actions brought by private persons, in Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 418 U.S. 323, 344-47, 94 S.Ct. 2997, 3009-10, 41 L.Ed.2d 789 (1974). 39 Application of the New York Times rule to public figures, the Court observed, is supported by two factors. First, public figures, because they enjoy significantly greater access to the channels of effective communication and hence have a more realistic opportunity to counteract false statements than private individuals normally enjoy, are less vulnerable to injury from defamatory statements. Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 418 U.S. at 344, 94 S.Ct. at 3009; see Wolston v. Reader's Digest Association, Inc., 443 U.S. at 164, 99 S.Ct. at 2706. A second consideration, and one that has been given greater weight by the Court, is that public figures, the news media may assume, have voluntarily exposed themselves to increased risk of injury from defamatory falsehood concerning them. Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 418 U.S. at 345, 94 S.Ct. at 3009. The Court went on to describe two ways in which a person may become a public figure for first amendment purposes. 40 For the most part those who attain this status have assumed roles of especial prominence in the affairs of society. Some occupy positions of such persuasive power and influence that they are deemed public figures for all purposes. More commonly, those classed as public figures have thrust themselves to the forefront of particular public controversies in order to influence the resolution of the issues involved. 41 418 U.S. at 345, 94 S.Ct. at 3009. See also Wolston v. Reader's Digest Association, Inc., 443 U.S. at 164, 99 S.Ct. at 2706; Time, Inc. v. Firestone, 424 U.S. 448, 453, 96 S.Ct. 958, 964, 47 L.Ed.2d 154 (1976). Thus, under the analysis suggested in Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., two types of public figures emerge: Those who are public figures for all purposes, and those who are public figures for a limited range of issues. 42 The district court held as a matter of law that plaintiff had achieved such pervasive fame and notoriety as of ... the date of publication ... that he had become a public figure 'for all purposes and in all context'  (quoting Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 418 U.S. at 351, 94 S.Ct. at 3012). Our review of this conclusion requires that we consider, first, whether plaintiff's purported status as a public figure is appropriate for decision on summary judgment and, second, whether the evidence considered in a light most favorable to plaintiff, shows him to be a public figure for the purposes of this litigation. 43 The Supreme Court has on numerous occasions, treated the public figure and public official questions as matters of law, for the trial court to decide. See, e. g., Time, Inc. v. Firestone, 424 U.S. 448, 96 S.Ct. 958, 47 L.Ed.2d 154; Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 418 U.S. 323, 94 S.Ct. 2997, 41 L.Ed.2d 789; Rosenblatt v. Baer, 383 U.S. 75, 88, 86 S.Ct. 669, 677, 15 L.Ed.2d 597 (1966). This Court has observed in this same context that where undisputed facts admit to but one conclusion, then, on motion for summary judgment, the court properly decides the issue. Rosanova v. Playboy Enterprises, Inc., 580 F.2d 859, 862 (5th Cir. 1978). Even if summary judgment were improper because of issues of fact that could only be resolved after evidentiary hearing, the trial court, not a jury, must determine whether the evidence showed that plaintiff was a public figure. Brewer v. Memphis Publishing Co., 626 F.2d 1238 (5th Cir. 1980). In the absence of conflicting inferences to be drawn from the record in this case, we conclude the district court was justified in considering the public figure question on summary judgment. 44 The record in this case contains sufficient undisputed facts to show that Rebozo, at the time of publication, was a public figure. As is well known, Rebozo was President Nixon's closest friend while Nixon was in the White House. While this in and of itself has considerable significance, we need not decide whether a confidential relationship with the President of the United States automatically converts one into a public figure, since the record indicates Rebozo had in other ways voluntarily exposed himself to the risk of close public scrutiny. 45 Rebozo played a substantial role in the former President's financial affairs, acting as the President's agent in the management of the President's bank accounts at the Key Biscayne Bank, and in the purchase of two homes. Plaintiff also played a role in the purchase and sale of other investments for the former President. In addition Rebozo's relationship with the President was not confined to counseling on business and financial matters. Rebozo freely admitted he offered his opinions to President Nixon on various matters, and transmitted to the former President the views of other important people on certain policy matters. The two discussed the Watergate situation when it began to arise in late 1973. 46 More significantly for purposes of this case, Rebozo played an active role in the President's 1972 re-election campaign, helping to arrange major contributions for the President's political benefit. The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, the so-called Watergate Committee, investigated closely Rebozo's role in the 1972 campaign and his involvement in President Nixon's finances, eventually publishing five volumes of data describing Rebozo's connections with the former President and his campaign. 47 Press coverage of Rebozo has focused both upon his relationship to the President and upon his own business and personal affairs, although the public's interest in his activities has certainly been enhanced by his connections with the former President. The record indicates that during the six months prior to October 25, 1973, the date of the Washington Post article, The New York Times published 48 articles mentioning Rebozo, while The Miami Herald published 76. Prominent stories in 1968 and 1971, in The New York Times and Newsday, described Rebozo's business and financial dealings in some detail. Rebozo himself recognized, (W)hen you are traveling in the circles that I have traveled in, there are press people all over the place. 48 In view of the foregoing, Rebozo, met, as a matter of law, both Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., public figure considerations. First, he enjoy(ed) significantly greater access to the channels of effective communication and hence (had) a more realistic opportunity to counteract false statements than private individuals enjoy. 418 U.S. at 344, 94 S.Ct. at 3009. There is evidence in the record that following publication of the Post article, both The Miami Herald and a major television network published Rebozo's response. 49 Second, on the basis of his voluntary activities, the communications media (were) entitled to act on the assumption plaintiff had voluntarily exposed (himself) to the risk of close public scrutiny. Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 418 U.S. at 345, 94 S.Ct. 3009. Rebozo's activities including his association with President Nixon, taking part in his financial affairs, and involvement with the re-election effort made him a prime subject of public comment. 50 Accordingly, we affirm the district court's conclusion that for the purposes of this litigation plaintiff Rebozo was a public figure at the time this article was published. 51