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LAWMAKERS - Budget Proposal, Nuclear/Arms Debate May 26,1982
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WETA credit/sponsor credits
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LINDA WERTHEIMER-BUDGET PROPOSALS are coming from all sides, with SOCIAL SECURITY the big political football. PAUL DUKE-CONGRESS throws support behind ARMS REDUCTION. COKIE ROBERTS-SENATE tries to find out the true score in the ARMS RACE.
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Title Sequence
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DUKE/ROBERTS-DUKE-ARMS REDUCTION is a popular initiative in Congress, Congress wanting REAGAN to take a more flexible stance to try to get the process moving-it's a result of a large movement of local citizens groups to stop the ARMS RACE.
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Shot of an elderly man standing near a small town hall (?) in Maryland, reading a proclamation by the town as a NUCLEAR FREE ZONE, saying that no NUCLEAR WEAPONS can be produced, processed, or transported through the town. Shot of a man standing to speak in a Vermont TOWN MEETING, reading a statement calling U.S. NUCLEAR ARMS POLICY a program that's developed without the consent of citizens. Shot of two girls speaking at a gathering in NEW YORK, saying that the future is in the hands of young kids, they are responsible to make it a safe one.
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Shot of Sen. CHARLES PERCY in Senate Committee meeting saying that citizens want immediate action on ARMS CONTROL. Shot of CASPAR WEINBERGER at witness table in hearing. Sen. PERCY says the mission of the FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE is to find ways to get mutual ARMS REDUCTIONS by the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.. Shot of CASPAR WEINBERGER, saying that the U.S. must continue to strive for military strength. Says the REAGAN ADMINISTRATION knows that NUCLEAR WAR is unwinnable, but must make more weapons so that the SOVIETS know that they can't win either. Shot of DAVID JONES, Chairman of JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, in uniform, says that there are ways to reduce arms and still have "deterrence", but he's not too optimistic in his tone. DUKE v.o.-both JONES and WEINBERGER say a NUCLEAR FREEZE would give the SOVIETS a permanent state of "superiority".
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Shot of Sen. PERCY, quotes a statement by REAGAN that the U.S.S.R. is superior in both CONVENTIONAL and NUCLEAR weapons, offers arguments to the contrary. Asks what is the truth. WEINBERGER says it's a fact that the SOVIETS are superior. Shot of Sen. CLAIBORNE PELL (D-RI), asks whether either country would emerge in noticeably better shape from full-out NUCLEAR WAR. WEINBERGER says the SOVIETS are starting to believe that they could win in NUCLEAR WAR, insinuates that the godless commies have no regard for human life. Claims it is probable that the Soviets could be tempted to launch a FIRST STRIKE. PELL is not satisfied by the argument. WEINBERGER at table. Shot of Sen. PERCY, attacking WEINBERGER'S statements about SOVIET SUPERIORITY, asks WEINBERGER if he'd trade the U.S. arsenal for the SOVIET arsenal. WEINBERGER hems and haws about it, refuses to answer. Sen. PAUL TSONGAS (D-MA) points out the inconsistency in WEINBERGER'S statement, WEINBERGER gives a ridiculous response. TSONGAS says that there's a concern that REAGAN'S statement that the SOVIETS have superiority in NUCLEAR ARMS is good for scaring people into supporting the ARMS RACE, but people with knowledge of NUCLEAR ARMS know it's not true. WEINBERGER says it is true, and the U.S. has not taken the "necessary" steps to have "deterrent strength".
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ROBERTS-says that fear of SOVIETS winning ARMS RACE caused the SENATE to refuse to ratify the SALT II TREATY signed by JIMMY CARTER. AL HAIG opposed to SALT II.
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Shot of HAIG testifying to Senate FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, says SALT II is "dead", the SOVIETS know that, says that SALT II is a bad plan, there should be a new approach. Shots of panel of committee. Shot of Sen. JOE BIDEN (D-DE), asking HAIG why not go ahead and ratify SALT II since both sides seem to be abiding by the terms anyway. HAIG says that START treaty proposals would be less "risky" than SALT II. Shot of PERCY and JESSE HELMS on committee panel. ROBERTS v.o.-discusses differences between SALT II and "START". Shot of Sen. S.I. HAYAKAWA (R-CA), says the real problem is mutual PARANOIA between U.S. and U.S.S.R., says the U.S. should take a first step in good faith and establish trust in the arms control effort. HAIG says that the U.S. is in total competition with the "totalitarian" values of the godless commies, and can't give in in any way.
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Shot of Sen. PAUL SARBANES (D-MD), Shot of HAIG, attacks SARBANES' position on the NUCLEAR FREEZE, insists that the current state of the ARMS RACE is highly dangerous to the U.S.. SARBANES asks HAIG if he really thinks that is the case. HAIG says yes. HAIG cites all the traditional authorities (CIA, Defense Department, REAGAN), therefore it must be true that the U.S. is dangerously lagging in the arms race.