The government would be able to go to court with respect to newspaper articles, broadcast pieces and the like that they thought were bad or harmful or even against the government and try to block them.

Quote by Floyd Abrams

Topics: Floyd Abrams Quotes

CBS fought very hard on this because it believed and believes that there's a principle...

CBS fought very hard on this because it believed and believes that there's a principle...

Were this not Texas, were there not a state where there were no protections at...

Were this not Texas, were there not a state where there were no protections at...

The principle though remains the same, and the important thing is CBS fought hard, very...

The principle though remains the same, and the important thing is CBS fought hard, very...

I really try at least to come back and answer the question as to whether...

I really try at least to come back and answer the question as to whether...

CBS exhausted the Texas courts. They went from the trial court to the intermediate court...

CBS exhausted the Texas courts. They went from the trial court to the intermediate court...

It has something to do with the facts and the law and who the judges...

It has something to do with the facts and the law and who the judges...

It is within the last quarter century or thirty years. And a lot of that...

It is within the last quarter century or thirty years. And a lot of that...

I think we have some serious problems now, but, if you look back over the...

I think we have some serious problems now, but, if you look back over the...

I mean the idea of this is that it's a good thing for the public...

I mean the idea of this is that it's a good thing for the public...

I try to do that in this book without preaching - to try to do...

I try to do that in this book without preaching - to try to do...

The question at the end of the day was, the courts having found there was...

The question at the end of the day was, the courts having found there was...

If the word gets out, if the perception exists that by speaking to a CBS...

If the word gets out, if the perception exists that by speaking to a CBS...

There are some circumstances in which the First Amendment interest comes up against another interest...

There are some circumstances in which the First Amendment interest comes up against another interest...

So sometimes the facts are good and sometimes the facts are bad, the important thing...

So sometimes the facts are good and sometimes the facts are bad, the important thing...

I know a lot of reporters certainly will go to jail to defend confidential sources....

I know a lot of reporters certainly will go to jail to defend confidential sources....

I think that it is important for people to understand that whether a good-guy or...

I think that it is important for people to understand that whether a good-guy or...

My role in it was not as central as it was in some of the...

My role in it was not as central as it was in some of the...

I would say that the Pentagon Papers case of 1971 - in which the government...

I would say that the Pentagon Papers case of 1971 - in which the government...

I am really impressed by lawyers who write books and tell us that they never...

I am really impressed by lawyers who write books and tell us that they never...

This is going right to the police. So, it's a very dangerous precedent.

This is going right to the police. So, it's a very dangerous precedent.