In 1991, Senator Joe Biden was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee during the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court confirmation hearings. Anita Hill, a former Thomas clerk, brought claims of sexual harassment. It was a groundbreaking moment and although Thomas would go on to be confirmed by the all male committee, Hill’s bravery sparked a national conversation about sexual harassment in the workplace and things began to change—for women in the workplace—for the better.
But, Biden’s actions during those days were infuriating to millions of women who were watching at home. He took actions counter to the committees rules and appeared to repeatedly side with Republicans, who were trying to smear Anita Hill rather than focus on the accusations against Thomas. The Washington Post best summarizes exactly how Biden failed Anita Hill and women everywhere during that hearing.
Interviews with a dozen people with firsthand knowledge and a review of the written record and interviews published with participants over the past three decades reinforce that Biden failed to use the powers afforded to Senate committee chairmen to conduct a judicious and thorough inquiry into Hill’s allegations. He did not give full consideration to witnesses whose allegations seemed to corroborate her testimony or curb the attacks and innuendo leveled at her during the hearing. A former Biden lawyer told The Washington Post this month that the Democrats were outmaneuvered by Republicans, whose purpose was to damage Hill.
Going into the 2020 campaign season, after the #MeToo movement began to grow, Joe Biden began hinting about running and the subject of how Anita Hill was treated began to surface again. Biden had never contacted Anita Hill to apologize, something Hill said she and her family have joked about for three decades when the phone rang.
Biden realized he needed to make amends before he launched any campaign and he contacted Anita Hill in recent weeks to express “his regret for what she endured.” I doesn’t appear he took any responsibility for his actions in that statement. And Professor Hill noticed.
From the New York Times:
“I cannot be satisfied by simply saying, ‘I’m sorry for what happened to you,’” said Ms. Hill, now a professor of social policy, law and women’s studies at Brandeis University. “I will be satisfied when I know there is real change and real accountability and real purpose.”
Ms. Hill, a deeply private woman who does not often speak publicly about her experience, said she does not find Mr. Biden’s conduct disqualifying. “I’m really open to people changing,” she said.
Furthermore, she said Joe Biden’s actions are having ripple effects still today.
She said she views Mr. Biden as having “set the stage” for last year’s confirmation of Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, who, like Justice Thomas, was elevated to the court despite accusations against him that he had acted inappropriately toward women. And, she added, she was troubled by the recent accounts of women who say Mr. Biden touched them in ways that made them feel uncomfortable.
Guess that phone call was 30 years too late for Anita Hill. It’s too bad it took Biden’s own personal ambition of getting to the White House for him to make the call in the first place. Hats off to Anita Hill for having the courage to not simply accept a half-assed apology and move on. She’s a true American shero.
