CALABRESI, Circuit Judge:
In this lengthy postscript to a protracted civil RICO case, defendant Anthony Ciccone appeals from a finding of contempt entered on April 29, 1994, by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (John S. Martin, Jr., Judge), and from an enforcement order dated May 24, 1994. The civil contempt finding rested on the District Court’s conclusion that Ciccone had violated two provisions of a consent decree entered into by Ciccone and a number of his co-defendants. First, the Court found that Cic-cone violated the portion of the decree that prohibited him from knowingly and improperly associating with organized crime figures or with individuals barred from participation in union affairs. Second, the Court determined that Ciccone applied for a pension for which he was ineligible- under the terms of the consent decree. Because we interpret the consent decree differently from the District Court, we vacate those portions of the Court’s orders that relate to Cipcone’s associations with- individuals allegedly of prohibited status, and we affirm those portions of the Court’s orders that deal with the pension issue on somewhat different grounds.
BACKGROUND
The consent decree that Ciccone signed arose out of a wide-ranging, multi-defendant civil action under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961 et seq., in which- the government sought to eradicate the influence of organized crime in local unions affiliated with the International Longshoremen’s Association (“ILA”) on the New York/New Jersey Waterfront. Although the government attempted to prove the existence of an overarching RICO enterprise, in practical effect the government’s case was broken into relatively discrete units, each targeting a different local union and a different location on the Waterfront. In the portion of the case relevant here, the government tried to prove that Ciccone, an ILA official and a special administrator of Local 1814 in Brooklyn, was affiliated with the Gambino crime family. The government alleged that Ciccone abused his position as special assistant to Local 1814 to embezzle funds from the local, and that Cic-cone ran gambling and loansharking rings [1094]*1094from a social club located near Local 1814’s offices.
On December 17, 1991, during the course of the trial and after the government presented substantial evidence concerning Cic-cone’s ties to organized crime and misuse of his union position, Ciccone and a number of his co-defendants agreed to the entry of a consent decree ending their trial. In the consent decree, Ciccone agreed to significant restrictions on his future activities and associations. In particular, under Paragraph 2(a) of the decree, Ciccone agreed to be enjoined
from committing any act of racketeering activity, as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 1961, and from knowingly and improperly associating with any member or associate of any La Cosa Nostra crime family or any other criminal group, or with any person prohibited from participating in union affairs.
Ciccone further agreed, in Paragraph 9(b) of the decree, to disassociate himself from Local 1814 and the ILA, with limited exceptions relating to job benefits:
On or before March 30, 1992, Anthony Ciccone shall resign from any and all positions, whether elective or appointive, that he currently holds in Local 1814, the ILA, or any other ILA-affiliated entity, including any ILA local union, any ILA district, and any ^ pension or other benefit plan or fund affiliated with any ILA entity. Cic-cone shall not thereafter seek or accept any such position in any such entity or resume any such membership, and shall be permanently barred from any employment by or other participation in the affairs of any entity doing business on the Waterfront. Nothing in this subparagraph, however, shall preclude Ciccone from remaining a member of Local 1814 solely for the purpose of obtaining eligibility for benefits pursuant to the General Cargo Agreement, subject" to the authority of the Monitor herein. Nothing in this provision shall impair Ciceone’s entitlement to any welfare or vested pension or severance benefits.
In November 1993, the government moved for an order to show cause why Ciccone should not be held in contempt for violations of the consent decree. The government’s motion had two bases1. First, the government contended that Ciccone violated Paragraph 2(a) by maintaining regular, systematic contacts both with members of the Gambi-no crime family and with individuals who had been ordered to refrain from participation in union affairs. In support of its contention, the government submitted an affidavit of a federal agent who had conducted an ongoing surveillance of Ciccone. The affidavit and supporting exhibits detailed numerous contacts between Ciccone and alleged organized crime figures, as well as contacts between Ciccone and individuals barred from participation in union affairs. Many of these contacts occurred at Ciccone’s social club and at other social clubs reputed to be gathering points for Gambino family associates; on at least one occasion, Ciccone was observed leaving Local 18.14’s offices in the company of an alleged Gambino soldier. In response to the government’s evidence, Ciccone denied generally that the individuals with whom he had been seen were involved in organized crime; he did not dispute, however, that he met on a number of occasions with individuals barred from involvement in the union. Ciccone’s principal contention was that even if he had knowingly associated with organized crime figures and individuals prohibited from taking part in union affairs, there was no evidence that his association with those individuals was improper.
Second, the government contended that Ciccone violated Paragraph 9(b) by seeking a benefit from the union to which he was not entitled. In late March 1992, Ciccone applied to' the New York Shipping Association (“NYSA”) — ILA pension fund for a “window period pension.” The window period pension, an early retirement incentive plan, had been available to active employees over the age of 55, with 25 or more years of experience, who withdrew from the industry between December 1, 1990, and January 31, 1991. Ciccone, who had the requisite experience and was over the age of 55 throughout this period, did not withdraw from the industry during the window period, but rather remained in the industry’until he was required to withdraw, pursuant to the consent decree, in March 1992. Although Ciccone’s [1095]*1095application therefore was untimely, Ciccone sought a waiver. Ciccone’s application was denied by the pension fund trustees and, after á split vote on appeal to the NYSA-ILA Contract Board, was to be submitted to arbitration. The government then obtained an injunction against the arbitration and filed its contempt motion, contending that Paragraph 9(b) clearly established Ciccone’s ineligibility for the window period pension, and that his application and appeal constituted improper participation in union affairs. Cic-cone responded that Paragraph 9(b) established his eligibility for the pension, or at least that the paragraph was ambiguous.
On review of the government’s motion and Cieeone’s response, the District Court concluded that Cieconé had violated both Paragraph 2(a) and Paragraph 9(b) of the consent decree. After seeking further input from both the government and Ciccone concerning the appropriate remedy, the Court ordered that Ciccone not associate, knowingly and improperly, with any member or associate of any La Cosa Nostra crime family or other criminal group. The Court specifically identified over 150 individuals as organized crime figures with whom Ciccone was not to associate, knowingly and improperly. The Court also repeated the consent decree’s ban on knowing and improper association with individuals barred from involvement in union affairs, and further ordered Ciccone not to associate with any member, officer, or employee of the ILA or any of its affiliates. In addition, the Court ordered Ciccone not to frequent certain locations associated with either the ILA or organized crime. Finally, the Court ordered Ciccone to withdraw his application for the window period pension. The order stated that future violations would “subject Ciccone to escalating fines or imprisonment.” From this order, and from the order concluding that Ciccone had violated the consent decree, Ciccone now appeals.
DISCUSSION
1. Standard of Review
We begin by addressing the standard that we apply in reviewing the District Court’s conclusions. This Court has set forth an array of standards that are relevant to different issues relating to consent decrees. The interpretation of the terms of the consent decree is subject to de novo review. United States v. O’Rourke, 948 F.2d 180, 186 (2d Cir.1991). The District Court’s factual findings are accepted unless they are shown to be clearly erroneous. EEOC v. Local 580, Int’l Ass’n of Bridge Ironworkers, Joint Apprentice-Journeyman Educ. Fund, 925 F.2d 588, 594 (2d Cir.1991); Drywall Tapers, Local 1971 v. Local 580, Operative Plasterers Int’l Ass’n, 889 F.2d 389, 395 (2d Cir.1989), cert. denied, 494 U.S. 1030, 110 S.Ct. 1478, 108 L.Ed.2d 615 (1990). The court’s ultimate finding of contempt is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Oral-B Lab. v. Mi-Lor Corp., 810 F.2d 20, 23 (2d Cir.1987).
In reviewing the District Court’s finding of contempt under the abuse of discretion standard, we bear in mind the circumstances in which this appeal arises. A court’s discretion is not unbounded, and the scope of the court’s discretion varies according to the issue before it. As to some matters relating to the management of proceedings before the court, such as the introduction of evidence and the regulation of the course and scope of examination of witnesses, a district court’s discretion is broad indeed, see United States v. Wong, 40 F.3d 1347, 1378 (2d Cir.1994); Sage Realty v. Insurance Co. of N. Am., 34 F.3d 124, 128 (2d Cir.1994); United States v. Beverly, 5 F.3d 633, 638 (2d Cir.1993), and we have suggested that where such issues arise the district court’s rulings will be affirmed unless they amount to “manifest error.” Sage Realty, 34 F.3d at 128.
The contempt power is different. First, unlike the general authority to govern the course of a court proceeding, the contempt power may be used to regulate a party’s out-of-court behavior, as it was in the present case. See generally International Union, United Mine Workers v. Bagwell, — U.S. -, -, 114 S.Ct. 2552, 2560, 129 L.Ed.2d 642 (1994) (distinguishing out-of-court contempts from contempts that occur during the course of a judicial proceeding). Second, even when it is applied to in-court behavior, the contempt power is among the most formidable weapons in the court’s arse[1096]*1096nal, and one with significant potential for harm if it is wielded imprudently. Project B.A.S.I.C. v. Kemp, 947 F.2d 11, 16 (1st Cir.1991).
In recognition of these factors, the district court’s power to hold a party in contempt — whether civil or criminal — is significantly circumscribed. In a civil contempt proceeding, like the present case, a contempt holding will fall unless the order violated by the contemnor is “clear and unambiguous,” the proof of non-compliance is “clear and convincing,” and the contemnor was not reasonably diligent in attempting to comply. Local 580, 925 F.2d at 594; New York State Nat’l Org. for Women v. Terry, 886 F.2d 1339, 1351 (2d Cir.1989), cert. denied, 495 U.S. 947, 110 S.Ct. 2206, 109 L.Ed.2d 532 (1990). In light of these restraints on the district court’s contempt power, this Court’s review of a contempt order for abuse of discretion is more rigorous than would be the case in other situations in which abuse-of-discretion review is conducted.
Bearing these standards in mind, we proceed to address Ciccone’s contentions.
2. Knowing and Improper Association
The District Court found that Ciccone violated Paragraph 2(a) of the consent decree by knowingly and improperly associating with organized crime figures and individuals barred from participation in union affairs. On appeal, the government and Ciccone advance widely divergent interpretations of the decree’s language. The government reads the prohibition against knowing and improper associations with persons of prohibited status as equivalent to the language in a consent decree involving the Teamsters, which barred the signatories from “knowingly associating” with individuals of prohibited status.
The meaning of “knowingly associating” in the Teamsters decree has been litigated on several occasions and is now well established. See United States v. International Bhd. of Teamsters (DiGirlamo), 19 F.3d 816, 822 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, -— U.S. -, 115 S.Ct. 199, 130 L.Ed.2d 130 (1994); United States v. International Bhd. of Teamsters (Adelstein), 998 F.2d 120, 125 (2d Cir.1993); United States v. International Bhd. of Teamsters (Cozza), 764 F.Supp. 797, 801-02 (S.D.N.Y.1991), aff'd, 956 F.2d 1161 (2d Cir.1992). Under the decisions interpreting the Teamsters consent decree, truly incidental contacts with prohibited individuals, such as encounters at weddings and funerals, are permitted, Teamsters (Cozza), 764 F.Supp. at 813 (decision of independent administrator, affirmed by district court), as are such contacts as are “required in [one’s] official capacity.” Teamsters (Adelstein), 998 F.2d at 126. Where the contacts are the result of “a ‘calculated choice’ to associate with persons” of prohibited status, however, the consent decree is violated. Teamsters (DiGirlamo), 19 F.3d at 822. And this is so even if there is no showing that the associations were for an improper purpose. Id.
The government concedes that although early drafts of the consent decree in this case contained the language from the Teamsters decree,.this language was rejected in later drafts and in the final consent decree. Nevertheless, the government maintains that the inclusion of the word “improperly” in the consent decree did no more than incorporate explicitly the meaning given to “knowingly” by this Court in the Teamsters cases.
Ciccone interprets the decree much more narrowly. In his view, the addition of the word “improperly” to the Teamsters language signified that only those associations with an improper purpose would violate the consent decree. Ciccone concedes that the requirement of a showing of improper purpose does not require a showing of an intent to commit an illegal act; it would be sufficient, in his view, if the government showed that Ciccone associated with prohibited individuals for the purpose and with the intent of exerting influence over the union. Ciccone nevertheless contends that a showing of improper purpose or intent must be made before a violation of the consent decree can be found.
We find both the government’s and Cic-cone’s readings of Paragraph 2(a) unpersuasive. In light of the government’s concession that the Teamsters language was considered and rejected in drafting Paragraph 2(a), it is [1097]*1097difficult to credit the government’s contention that the decree does no more than state explicitly what all parties understood the Teamsters language to mean. We do not accept Ciecone’s interpretation, however, nor do we believe that, because the parties offer competing interpretations, the consent decree is necessarily ambiguous. See Stroll v. Epstein, 818 F.Supp. 640, 643 (S.D.N.Y.), aff'd, 9 F.3d 1537 (2d Cir.1993). Instead, we conclude that the consent decree gives clear and independent meaning to the word “improperly” without requiring an explicit showing of improper purpose.
We are required, in interpreting a particular provision of a consent decree, to read that provision in light of the decree as a whole. Huertas v. East River Hous. Corp., 992 F.2d 1263, 1267 (2d Cir.1993). In determining the meaning of “improperly” in Paragraph 2(a), we are drawn in particular to the preamble to the consent decree. There, Ciceone, as a signatory, agreed “that there should be no criminal element or organized crime corruption of any part of the ILA, including Local 1814.” Ciccone also agreed that “one of the purposes of this Consent Decree is to ensure that Local 1814 shall be maintained and run democratically, with integrity, solely for the benefit of its members, and without unlawful outside influence.” These statements of purpose, contained within the four corners of the consent decree, give clear and unambiguous meaning to Paragraph 2(a): any knowing association with individuals of prohibited status that has either the purpose or effect of promoting a continued organized crime influence on union affairs, or that has an intimidating or untoward effect on the operation and integrity of the union, is improper and thus prohibited by the consent decree.
If a signatory to this consent decree associates with organized crime figures or other individuals barred from participation in union affairs for the purpose of perpetuating the influence of organized crime over Local 1814, or for the purpose of planning or committing any illegal acts (even those unconnected to union affairs), that association would clearly violate the consent decree. But Paragraph 2(a) does not require such a showing of improper purpose in every instance. For example, were Ciccone, a well-known former leader of Local 1814, to associate openly with organized crime figures in a location commonly frequented by union officials or members, a court could reasonably conclude that such associations had an untoward or intimidating effect on the union even absent a showing that Ciccone intended by those associations to perpetuate the influence of organized crime over the union.
Paragraph 2(a), then, requires the court initially to consider the status of the signatory individual, the status of the persons with whom the signatory associated, and the circumstances of the association.1 Only where an improper effect on the union’s autonomy, operations, or integrity cannot be inferred from these factors must the court consider whether the associations had an improper purpose in order to find a violation of the decree.2
[1098]*1098In discussing the purpose of the consent decree, we recognize the Supreme Court’s statement that “the decree itself cannot be said to have a purpose; rather the parties have purposes, generally opposed to each other, and the resultant decree embodies as much of those opposing purposes as the respective parties have the bargaining power and skill to achieve.” United States v. Armour & Co., 402 U.S. 673, 681-82, 91 S.Ct. 1752, 1757, 29 L.Ed.2d 256 (1971). The Armour Court emphasized that “the scope of a consent decree must be discerned within its four corners,” and not by reference to what one or the other of the parties hoped to achieve in the decree, or in the underlying litigation. Id. at 682, 91 S.Ct. at 1757. Where a statement of purpose is contained in the decree itself, however, as the product of arm’s-length negotiations, and that purpose may be discerned without reference to the extrinsic aims of the parties, Armour cannot be read to prohibit consideration of that purpose. We therefore see no difficulty in interpreting the decree in light of its agreed-upon purpose to protect the integrity and independence of the union.
The District Court did look to the purpose of the consent decree to give meaning to the word “improperly.” It appears, however, that the Court concluded that any systematic contacts between Ciccone and alleged organized crime figures would be improper under the consent decree, regardless of the circumstances. We think that such an interpretation exceeds the bounds of the consent decree, and is in effect indistinguishable from the interpretation given to the language of the Teamsters decrees. The mere fact of knowing association with individuals of prohibited status is not enough; in the absence of a showing of explicit impropriety, there must also be grounds, based on the circumstances of the particular contacts in question, for concluding that those contacts help to perpetuate organized crime’s control over the union or impinge on the integrity and independence of the union. Accordingly, we vacate the District Court’s finding that Ciccone knowingly and improperly associated with individuals of prohibited status.3
Because the enforcement order is based on the Court’s initial finding that the consent decree was violated, we must also vacate those portions of the enforcement order that depend on the finding of knowing and improper association: Paragraph 1, which lists a large number of individuals with whom Ciccone is not to associate, knowingly and improperly;4 Paragraph 2, which prohibits [1099]*1099Ciccone from associating with any member, officer, or employee of the ILA or its affiliates; 5 and Paragraph 3, which bars Ciccone from visiting a number of specific locations associated either with organized crime or with the union.
3. The Window Period Pension
The District Court concluded, on alternate grounds, that Ciccone was ineligible for the window period pension for which he applied. First, the Court stated that Paragraph 9(b) of the consent decree left Ciccone eligible only for vested pension or severance benefits. Because the window period pension concededly was not a vested benefit, the Court reasoned, Ciccone was ineligible. Second, the Court noted that the benefit that Ciccone sought required Ciccone to obtain a discretionary waiver from the pension’s eligibility requirements, and thus created an opportunity for Ciccone to wield his influence over individuals affiliated with the ILA. This, in the Court’s view, was precisely the result that the consent decree was designed to prevent.
Ciccone objects to the Court’s statement that Paragraph 9(b) leaves him eligible only for vested pension and severance benefits. He points to the preceding sentence of Paragraph 9(b), which states: “Nothing in this subparagraph ... shall preclude Ciccone from remaining a member of Local 1814 solely for the purpose of obtaining eligibility for benefits pursuant to the General Cargo Agreement_” He further relies on a pri- or interpretation of Paragraph 9(b) by Judge Sand (to whom this case was assigned at the time). See United States v. Local 1804-1, Int’l Longshoremen’s Ass’n, 90 Civ. 0963, 1992 WL 77637 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 24,1992). In that proceeding, Ciccone had argued that the provision that allowed him to remain a union member for the purpose of obtaining eligibility for benefits permitted him to hold himself out as available for work to the extent that doing so was necessary to obtain benefits. Judge Sand rejected Ciccone’s position, noting that the consent decree expressly barred Ciccone from employment by any entity doing business on the Waterfront. Ciccone, Judge Sand concluded, was only “eligible to receive such benefits as are available to a member of Local 1814 by virtue of his past membership and employment.” Id., slip op. at 4, 1992 WL 77637 at *2. Ciccone argues that the window period pension falls within the category of benefits for which Judge Sand said he was eligible.
The District Court did not cite Judge Sand’s opinion, and instead relied solely on the text of Paragraph 9(b) for its conclusion that Ciccone was only permitted to receive vested benefits. We agree with Ciccone that, to this extent, the District Court’s interpretation of Paragraph 9(b) is problematic. Paragraph 9(b) does permit Ciccone to remain a union member for the purpose of obtaining eligibility for benefits. Since, by definition, eligibility is immaterial where benefits are [1100]*1100vested and nonforfeitable, to read Paragraph 9(b) as permitting Ciccone to receive only vested benefits would effectively render a portion of the paragraph superfluous. It is easy to imagine, moreover, why that part of the paragraph was included. Thus, for example, if Local 1814 made a new medical benefit available to its members, solely by virtue of their membership in the union, Cic-cone would appear to be eligible for that benefit under Paragraph 9(b), even though the benefit was not vested.
We need not define the precise types of benefits for which Ciccone might be eligible, however, because whatever benefits Paragraph 9(b) might allow Ciccone to obtain, it does not permit him to seek the window period pension at issue here. As we have previously noted, Paragraph 9(b) bars Cic-cone from participating in the affairs of any entity doing business on the Waterfront, including Local 1814. The provision that permits Ciccone to remain a union member solely for the purpose of obtaining eligibility for benefits in no way diminishes the prohibition against participation in union affairs. It only allows Ciccone to maintain his union membership in a totally passive way. And it cannot be read to permit Ciccone to attempt to wield his influence within the union to obtain for himself a discretionary benefit that is not available to union members generally.
Under Paragraph 9(b), Ciccone may obtain any benefits available to union members solely by virtue of their union membership and past employment. He may also obtain benefits that have become available through the exercise of a general discretion that does not involve him individually. There may, for example, be instances in which discretion may be exercised by benefit plan trustees in ways that do not involve a special determination of eligibility for one individual, but rather involve general interpretations of a benefit plan document. If, in such circumstances, the plan trustees choose to interpret the document so as to advantage a group of members, including (without a further exercise of discretion) Ciccone, then Ciccone would be eligible to receive the benefit.6 In these circumstances, Ciccone’s receipt of benefits is entirely passive. And the mere administrative act of filing an application cannot be considered participation in union affairs, because the opportunity for improper influence over the union does not arise.
The window period pension does not fall within this class of benefits, however. Rather, in applying for the window period pension, Ciccone sought an individualized discretionary waiver from the pension fund in order to obtain a benefit the eligibility requirements for which he plainly did not meet. By doing so, Ciccone did more than maintain his union membership for the purpose of obtaining eligibility for benefits; he inevitably attempted to influence the decisionmaking of an entity doing business on the Waterfront. This conduct is prohibited by the consent decree. We therefore agree with the District Court that Ciccone’s application for the window period pension violates Paragraph 9(b).
Ciccone further contends that even if the consent decree is interpreted so as to render him ineligible for the window period pension, the District Court erred in imposing contempt sanctions on him for conduct that rested on a plausible interpretation of the consent decree, and for which Ciccone sought the advice of counsel before proceeding. We need not address the merits of this argument, because we conclude that the District Court did not sanction Ciccone for his actions with respect to the pension application. The only portion of the Court’s enforcement order that specifically addresses Ciccone’s pension application does no more than require him to withdraw the application, forswear any window period pension benefits, and decline to participate in any arbitration involving his application. This portion of the order, in short, only requires Ciccone to adhere to the consent decree as interpreted, properly, by the District Court. The subsequent provision, which says that “[a]ny violation of this Order shall subject Ciccone to escalating fines and/or imprisonment,” states the obvi[1101]*1101ous, as the Court would have the authority to sanction Ciccone for violations of the order even in the absence of such an express warning.
We therefore affirm the part of the Court’s April 29 order that deals with Ciccone’s pension application, and Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Court’s enforcement order of May 24.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the portion of the District Court’s order of April 29.1994, that found that Ciccone had violated the consent decree by knowingly and improperly associating with individuals of prohibited status. We also vacate Paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of the Court’s enforcement order of May 24.1994. We affirm the finding that Ciccone violated the consent decree by pursuing his application for a window period pension, and affirm Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the enforcement order. We remand the matter for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.