<P> Sullivan is a graduate of Georgetown University, where he earned his B.A. in 1964 and J.D. in 1967 . He served as a captain in the United States Army Transportation Corps from 1968 to 1969 . He entered the national spotlight after he helped defend soldiers charged in the Presidio mutiny in San Francisco . Apparently his "courtroom tactics so annoyed his Army superiors that he was ordered to return to Vietnam for the last six months of his tour" but the U.S. Secretary of the Army personally blocked the deployment after being pressured by members of Congress to do so . </P> <P> Afterwards, a Georgetown law professor introduced him to Edward Bennett Williams, a prominent defense attorney . Sullivan joined his law firm, Williams & Connolly, where he "entice (d) his new mentor to visit his office by offering Williams his beloved peanut butter crackers", according to a 2012 interview in The Washingtonian . Williams and Sullivan enjoyed a father - son relationship with "real deep affection". </P> <P> Sullivan shot to national prominence in 1987, when he represented Oliver North in televised congressional hearings over the Iran - Contra scandal . During the hearings in front of the Joint House--Senate Iran - Contra Committee, chairman Daniel Inouye suggested that North speak for himself, admonishing Sullivan for constantly objecting to questions posed to North . Sullivan famously responded, "Well, sir, I'm not a potted plant . I'm here as the lawyer . That's my job ." Furthermore, apparently he "shouted down a question" that he claimed violated attorney - client privilege: "That's none of your business either!" Sullivan received international media attention as the episode was broadcast on live television, making him "something of a hero to lawyers, even moderates and liberals". The trial showcased his "confrontational style of' protecting the client at any cost"' that has proven to be "extremely effective" despite angering several congressmen . </P> <P> Sullivan's defense of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, Republican of Alaska, has been described as his "most prominent win against the government--and the one that must loom largest for the U.S. Attorney's Office". He was defending Senator Stevens after his federal grand jury indictment and in court proceedings on seven counts of failing to properly report gifts . Stevens was convicted of all seven counts in a trial before D.C. District Court Judge Emmett Sullivan, on October 27, 2008, shortly before election day, when he was narrowly defeated by Mark Begich . Discovery of the prosecution's failure to provide sufficient exculpatory information in response to a Brady motion, led to Attorney General Eric Holder's dismissal of the indictment after a reversal on the judgments during the appeal process . </P>

Who said i am not a potted plant
find me the text answering this question