William J. Brennan, Jr.

“ If necessary, he'll take an issue and nail it to the wall. He doesn't attack things in spurts-he drives hard, pushing and pushing until finally-he succeeds.
“ ‘Jeff is a man who will go to the very end-even the climax, for each and every one of you.
“ ‘So vote for Jeff for A.S.B. vice-president-he'll never come between you and the best our high school can be.’ ” App. 47.
The Court, referring to these remarks as “obscene,” “vulgar,” “lewd,” and “offensively lewd,” concludes that school officials properly punished respondent for uttering the speech. ”

“ Indeed, to my mind, respondent's speech was no more “obscene,” “lewd,” or “sexually explicit” than the bulk of programs currently appearing on prime time television or in the local cinema. Thus, I disagree with the Court's suggestion that school officials could punish respondent's speech out of a need to protect younger students.↑ Respondent served two days' suspension and had his name removed from the list of candidates for graduation speaker at the school's commencement exercises, although he was eventually permitted to speak at the graduation. ”

“ Respondent gave the following speech at a high school assembly in support of a candidate for student government office:
“ ‘I know a man who is firm-he's firm in his pants, he's firm in his shirt, his character is firm-but most ... of all, his belief in you, the students of Bethel, is firm. ”