It is not to benefit CBS, not to benefit its reporters. On this one, the entire basis of it is this is a way to get more information, more important information to the public. And that's why so many states recognize this. Floyd Abrams basisbenefitcbs share on social
This is going right to the police. So, it's a very dangerous precedent. Floyd Abrams dangerouspoliceprecedent Change image and share on social
When I began we did not really have a lot of First Amendment law. It is really surprising to think of it this way, but a lot of the law - most of the law that relates to the First Amendment freedom of the press in America - is really within living memory. Floyd Abrams amendmentamericabegin share on social
I would say that the Pentagon Papers case of 1971 - in which the government tried to block the The New York Times and The Washington Post that they obtained from a secret study of how we got involved in the war in Vietnam - that is probably the most important case. Floyd Abrams blockcasegovernment share on social
CBS fought very hard on this because it believed and believes that there's a principle at stake here. The principle is that Dan Rather doesn't work for the police, and that people that speak to Dan Rather understand that he's a journalist and not a police agent. Floyd Abrams agentbelievecbs share on social
Here we have a situation where a defendant in a case agrees to an interview with Dan Rather. It happened to be not confidential. But it was an interview with Dan Rather. Floyd Abrams agreecaseconfidential Change image and share on social
The principle though remains the same, and the important thing is CBS fought hard, very hard, to protect that principle and will fight again. Floyd Abrams cbsfighthard Change image and share on social
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. Floyd Abrams articlebadblock share on social
It is within the last quarter century or thirty years. And a lot of that law has turned out to be very, very protective of the press and the public's right to know. Floyd Abrams centurylawlot Change image and share on social
I really did try to write it so that an educated public that cares about issues like this doesn't have to be a lawyer and can read it and understand it. Floyd Abrams careeducateissue Change image and share on social
