Clarence Darrow

Rare interview of Clarence Darrow. Circa 1932. Source unknown.

[@shoutyman9922]

This is one of the most moving and important pieces of old footage that I have ever seen. Everything that Darrow says is relevant to today's situation: (substitute "Drugs" for alcohol.) America has more people incarcerated per capita than any other nation on earth. Mandatory minimums, over long sentences, elected judiciary, for-profit private prisons who's business models include high recidivism as a good thing, and general malaise on the part of the population, still exist as they did in Darrow's day. Some organization, or private person with personal wealth should get hold of this footage, clean it up and get it in front of every law student and political philosophy student in the U.S.A. This piece of footage should be a national treasure.

[@Iiheosnjabskidbxbd]

shouty man This is not a lawyer, he is a servant of crimes and devils. Imagine, if your family members are murdered by a devil, this hypothetical lawyer would make the devil up as an angel. Do you agree with that your family members who are murdered should be murdered so that the devil should be rewarded? !

[@starryknight1883]

@@Iiheosnjabskidbxbd okay finally someone that agrees with me mate. Like I dont understand why people agree with that guy

[@jerrypolverino6025]

Sam Because it is.

[@MC32595]

the irony of the land of the “free” having more people locked up than any other first world nation

[@eNigma011]

Nothing has changed only gotten worse. Everything in America these days is a cold, calculating business. Wars, religion, politics, the legal system. We are destroying ourselves not some foriegn enemy. Greed, power, ignorance, poverty...THE PERFECT STORM!

[@JABARDELLI]

This was recorded in 1932. Darrow, without question, was America's greatest attorney.

[@jhyland87]

Really sucks that there isn't more of him on film. Would have loved to watch him debate.

[@ramencurry6672]

Interesting how the English language was still basically the same 100 years ago. The American accents were little different though

[@ChevyStylelineDave]

😂

[@benjamindunnavant839]

Rudy

[@Mr.C.RidesAgain]

Wow. I just learned about Mr. Darrow and was hoping to find a video of him speaking. This video is great! Thank you for posting!

[@PacoOtis]

Wow! Thanks for providing this video! Darrow hit the proverbial nail on the head many times in this video. He had such compassion and understanding for what we needed to do. He's rather a hero when you think about it!

[@elicarlson7682]

I see

[@georgeschlaline6057]

Fierce hatred of boring speech

[@insaneone4369]

We need a new biopic for this man.

[@Cantbuyathrill]

Clarence Darrow and Caveman Lawyer are true courtroom masters.

[@zacula86]

More than a few of a my favorite essays were pinned by Darrow. Don't even get me started on great excerpts from his work in the courtroom. As was said in his biography: When Clarende Darrow died, he left a void posterity will never fill.

[@jwalantSinghChouhan]

hello William, i would be grateful if you could share those essays with me so that i can also read.

[@chriswayneevans]

As true today as it was then.

[@tomplan8988]

The best Orator the world has produced. __ I believe Darrow learned speaking through reciting at the table in Oktagon House, later through debating and then litigation as a young lawyer married and with son in the middle of bumfuck dusty 1880s Ohio. He continued this studies in oratory under Goveneur John Peter Altgeld, once he came to the most loud and high-paced town Chicago, and they without a doubt entered the Greek-Roman school of oratory and revered the books about the ancient ideal as taught in the books that survived the Dark Ages.. Unfortunately, there exist only 2 sound recordings of him (let me now if you know of more), this one and the New Deal interview. But it is clear from these alone, from the silent footage of the Monkey-Trial, and from the various photographs taken at other trials, that this man Darrow mastered memory, voice, argument, body control, and the broad education through books that made him the most closest to the ancient ideal of an orator. In this video he is about 75 years-old and shows off memory and delivery unheard of for that age. His voice must've caught an audience at their spines, tingling them to licking the honey from his lips, back when he defended his big cases. Still, in America, sadly, his speech of Crimes and Criminals is applicable today, where prosecutors use eloquence to kill and give Roman Holidays. It might take centuries to make an orator like him. Thank you Mr. Darrow.

[@LivesInLibertyCity]

A fine comment indeed 👌

[@vijaykkkkk]

Legend

[@anestil6327]

Precious footage 😊

[@christianengwanda9616]

I came here because Donald Trump spoke highly of him.

[@preteristlab-endtimes5683]

AMAZING concentration - sheer power of Mind. His eyes, unblinking, deliver his rational message through force of will. Darrow wasn't always right, but he persuaded by reason of his compassionate sincerity.

[@angus4463]

wow.. I just found this.. Clarence and I are related... love to find stuff like this

[@georgeschlaline6057]

There is a God Darrow is in Hell

[@cannedfrootloops7803]

Darrow: "People commit crimes for a variety of reasons." Comments: "AAAAH DETERMINIST SHILL!"

[@jerrypolverino6025]

America. Land of the incarcerated. Home of the indoctrinated.

[@karenolson4000]

The reason why there were so many poor people in jail is that the police and prosecutors used to focused on the poor people, who couldn't afford attorneys and didn't fight back like the rich people did. The bad deeds committed by the robber barons weren't considered crimes. This is still true.

[@MichaelSmith-jw8qw]

brilliant lawyer and advocate for the poor, labor, and true advocate of justice--don't see lawyers like him anymore

[@geraldmuchiri3918]

Watch Nairobi Mic

[@ellencantarow5160]

It shows that the US has always been the same. It has simply gotten worse over time.

[@onlookerofthings6029]

The US was born off cruelty, exploitation and blood. It became a superpower off cruelty, exploitation and blood.

[@terryhammond1253]

Ah, but Darrow's argument was equally pursuasive for the horrific crimes of Leopold and Loeb, who came from great wealth, privelage and education. So pursuasive that they were sentenced to life in prison instead of the death penalty!

[@ellencantarow5160]

What amazing insight, preceding the great criminologist Nils Christie, by at least 30 years.

[@dennissettlemyre917]

Ladies and gentlemen, the world's greatest legal mind

[@kereiltutt5769]

Excellent lawyer and human being

[@eNigma011]

Orsen Wells did an admirable job portraying him in the 1959 film "Compulsion" based on the Leopold/Loeb trial of 1924.

[@eNigma011]

Here's a link to a clip from the movie "Compulsion"(1959) starring Orsen Wells as Clarence Darrow. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaPNk39qmsqXobM&pp=gAQBiAQB

[@lindarichmond3199]

I've always been fascinated by him. Darrow was the best and will always be the best.

[@georgeschlaline6057]

Eat your stale bon bons with Bonnie Parker old man

[@Joseph-wp7ru]

It honestly looks to me, like he's reading the whole thing.

[@MaidenUtah1]

As this is from 1932, he saw the manufacturing of criminals from an otherwise law abiding citizenry by the government with regard to prohibition.

[@starryknight1883]

I need someone to explain to me why hes amazing, because all ik is that he supported 2 murderers from killing a 14 year old boy and had used determinism as a blame for their actions.

[@Honre123]

Clarence Darrow is seen by many as a defender of the "underdog". He fought ruthlessly in his battleground - the courts - to bring a greater sense of justice to the nation. He laid bare the biases the courts had against laborers, minorities, and other underprivileged groups, and championed civil libertarianism. He was ardently against the death penalty and believed that most crime was derived from external factors (poverty, abuse, etc.) and not from a generic "evil". It's important to remember that Darrow at no point claimed Leopold and Loeb were innocent. He couldn't even if he wanted to (he wouldn't), as the boys had already pled guilty to the murder. He took the case because he wanted to show the world that the murderers had done so because of their poor upbringing by their rich parents, and most importantly that they were truly insane. He believed mentally ill people should be treated and dangerous cases contained before they commit a crime, not let loose and punish them with death when they make the inevitable crime. In short, it was a case against the death penalty for the insane. I hope that clears it up. Feel free to ask more, he was a very complex man.

[@starryknight1883]

@@Honre123 thank u so much, and I don't need to ask more, u explained it better than my teacher could.

[@angus4463]

You can thank him for most of your rights as a "worker" in this country

[@1humanBeingHuman]

why is this video's quality so shitty? the content is great, but the static.... just makes it difficult to listen to.

[@paulzickler4736]

Maybe because it was filmed in 1932?

[@TrekJohnDoe]

jameskoenig07 it's about 80 years old. old recorder.:)

[@drewhunkins7192]

All gather 'round, Darrow kicking the truth here.

[@georgeschlaline6057]

Ditto

[@cookieman38111]

Is this really Darrow?

[@Jivanmuktishu]

yes. like you I was astonished to hear how badly he delivers a great oration. I always heard him when reading his many great speeches, in the style of Orson Welles (in the great film "Compulsion".

[@davidcoyle1084]

Why the hell wouldn't it be? As for his delivery in this clip, he's not exactly orating in the classic sense. Do we know who he's addressing in this film? Obviously, he's not arguing a case before a jury, trying to persuade them to spare a defendant's life. I'm sure he spoke in a quieter manner in more casual settings. Also, when this film was made, he was about 74 and had been officially retired for about 6 years. Older, and out of practice speaking for an audience.

[@tomplan8988]

He was in his mid-70s. And there is no doubt that he spoke with the same vocal quality as Welles in the movie in his prime.

[@charlesgarcia6660]

@@tomplan8988 Yes Darrow was sliding into his twilight years at this point. He was speaking off the cuff but please notice he wasn't speaking in sound bites as people in the news do today. He once gave a lecture to the prisoners at the Chicago jail. A reporter asked one of the prisoners what the thought of Darrow. The prisoner said, "Darrow is a dangerous radical. Beyond that I wish he had defended me."

[@frankwheeler6113]

I recently read a speech he gave on immigration and it’s just amazing how advanced he was. It’s nice to hear what this great man sounded like.

[@josephimba7120]

world's greartest lawyer... and the title devil's advocate was named after him...i am grateful to see his speech.

[@marcusa0017]

No, it wasn't. It started with the church.

[@luvsilly60]

I worked with a relative of his. Very nice person.

[@mothmantis0708]

At around 5:30 he mentions people being in prison for alcohol sales. I'm wondering if this was before or after Prohibition was repealed. He made it sound like it had been then kinda walked it back like 'well, not quite yet.' Prohibition was repealed in December of 1933. Any luck finding a source? I love this clip.

[@waswestkan]

The manner he spoke about alcohol sale , seems to be speaking prior to 1933. Although it's possible remained in prison after 1933 who where serving sentences imposeed prior to 1933

[@allend2749]

how much money did he have. when u die, he who has the most toys win.

[@richardwaugaman1505]

Still so timely!

[@08CARIB]

Amazing footage

[@scottminikhiem1399]

trunicate silence dude

[@ejdiii333]

He believed no one had control over there own choices, but that it was there environment and upbringing that caused them to do bad, to commit crimes Defending Evil can only be done by an evil person. Leopold and Loeb snickered when the verdict came down, and NEVER apologized. Evil.

[@srmonty1]

Loved to have seen him be a judge. I bet he wouldn't let them all go?

[@starryknight1883]

init mate

[@SetABeat]

though he wouldn't use the death penalty

[@davidsheriff9274]

He was not saying that they had no moral responsibility for what they did,,he was simply asking the question how do people become like that? What would make two young men become sociopaths that could commit such a brutal crime? I don't think that makes him some bleeding heart liberal that is making excuses for what they did or that they shouldn't be punished,he didn't want them to be set free,he just wanted their lives to be spared and sent away for the rest of their lives.Don't you think that is an interesting and important question to ask, especially if we want to try to prevent this kind of thing in the future. He was the first person to really make a moral argument against the death penalty.

[@eNigma011]

Leopold and Loeb came from a privileged environment. They had high IQs(Leoplod 219-220/Lieb 160). They both subscribed the to the idea of Neitzhe's Übermensch. How many youth in that same environment grow up the be well adjusted, productive members of society? I would bet the vast majority. These boys had other issues. I have read that Leopold was most likely psychopathic and nothing could be done for him. Loeb, on the other hand, was most likely psychotic and could be treat with today's medications. It's true that we are creatures of our environment but only in part. There are maladjusted in social strata. Fortunately they are the few. Darrow argued that executing them would not bring their victim back that killing them was not justice but revenge based on public opinion.

[@SOULRELIEF22]

We can NEVER be rid of crime ignoring GOD! "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man." Genesis 9:6! If mankind obeyed GOD, there would be no crime! "And Jesus answered him, The first of all commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:29-31! If we are obedient to these commands, there will be NO crime. HOWEVER, mankind is rejecting GOD, so He is coming to take those of us who love Him away to the New Jerusalem! "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4! HALLELUJAH! 🙏🏼🙌🏼👏🏼❤️

[@dctalk4641]

"Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Tim. 4:8) "Clarence Darrow was a great criminal lawyer, and probably the most famous attorney in the country at the peak of his career. He was also an opponent of Christianity and a defender of Darwin's theory of evolution. His most famous case was probably his defense of evolution in the Scopes trial held in Dayton, Tennessee, otherwise known as 'The Monkey Trial.' Mr. Darrow grew old, as all men invariably do, and when he was 75, was quoted in the newspapers as saying: 'If I were a young man with my life ahead of me, I think I'd chuck it all, the way things are now. I certainly have no encouragement for young bloods that are just starting out looking for jobs. The sooner they jump out of windows, the sooner they will find peace.' Darrow had all the best as to an earthly career, but at the last decided that life was not worth living. He died with nothing to look forward to for himself, and with no word of encouragement for those who were following after him. Darwin and Darrow produce despair." (From Jere Frost) Let not follow Darrow or Darwin, but the beloved apostle Paul as he followed Christ.

[@heroingirll]

saul goodman 100 years ago

[@louisianadroneservice]

I’m here because of better call Saul lol

[@dragonel88]

One thing for sure,darrow never had a client like walter white