Watts v. United States, 394 U.S. 705 (1969)
U.S. Supreme Court
Watts v. United States, 394 U.S. 705 (1969)
Watts v. United States
No. 1107, Misc.
Decided April 21, 1969
394 U.S. 705
Syllabus
Petitioner's remark during political debate at small public gathering that, if inducted into Army (which he vowed would never occur) and made to carry a rifle "the first man I want to get in my sights is L.B.J.," held to be crude political hyperbole which, in light of its context and conditional nature, did not constitute a knowing and willful threat against the President within the coverage of 18 U.S.C. § 871(a).
Certiorari granted; 131 U.S.App.D.C. 125, 402 F.2d 676, reversed and remanded.