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Awesome / Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

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  • Even before he's onscreen, we get a brief glimpse of how badass Smith is. Sometime before the events of the film Jefferson Smith put out a large forest fire around Sweetwater, completely on his own.
  • Just about everything Jefferson Smith says during the filibuster is awesome. Quoting the Declaration of Independence helps a lot.
    • Saunders coaching Jeff on the Standing Rules from the gallery.
    • Smith's persistence definitely deserves a mention. He had to go for 24 consecutive hours without leaving the senate room or sitting down. Meaning he couldn't use the bathroom, or take time to refresh himself. And he managed to go 23 hours and 16 minutes before fainting. Determinator would be an understatement.
    • Even Senator Monroe, the senator who's had it in for Jeff, comes to admire him.
      Monroe: Joe, I've never liked this boy from the beginning, but nobody who isn't sincere wouldn't last this long, even against these impossible odds.
  • The visit to the Lincoln Memorial was pretty awesome. Also counts as a moment of heartwarming.
  • Jeff's on his last leg, but he never caves in, it's even pictured above.
    Jeff; You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked. Well, I'm not licked, and I'm gonna stay right here and fight for this lost cause, even if this room gets filled with lies like these, and the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place! Somebody'll listen to me. Some... (faints)
  • Then after Jeff collapses during his filibuster a shot is heard. Paine actually tries to commit suicide.
    Paine: I'm not fit to be a Senator. I'm not fit to live. Expel me! Expel me! Not him. Every word that boy said is the truth! Every word about Taylor and me and graft and the rotten political corruption of our state. Every word of it is true. I'm not fit for office! I'm not fit for any place of honor or trust. Expel me!

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