LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
04.14.26-DUKE-REAGAN administration argues that the NUCLEAR FREEZE movement is "misguided", but the Freeze movement has taken many forms as Congress has taken up the issue. 04.14.54-Shot of Sen. TED KENNEDY testifying for the FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, says that a NUCLEAR FREEZE is a question of "existence versus extinction". Shot of Sen. MARK HATFIELD (R-OR), says the degree of "overkill" in both Superpowers' NUCLEAR ARSENALS is so great, it's time to say "enough". Shot of KENNEDY and HATFIELD testifying. Shot of PERCY on panel. Shot of Sen. CHARLES MATHIAS (R-MD), spouting the line about SOVIET SUPERIORITY endangering the U.S.. HATFIELD argues that the degree of SUPERIORITY is obviously negligible, since WEINBERGER said he wouldn't trade the U.S. arsenal for the SOVIET one, but if the SOVIETS are in fact building "momentum", then now is the time to act on a freeze. HATFIELD makes the GREAT POINT that MORE WEAPONS only means MORE CHANCES FOR AN ACCIDENT, says that all the Senators know there were 147 MISCOMMUNICATIONS in NORAD'S ADVANCE WARNING SYSTEM last year. 04.17.11-Shot of Sen. ALAN CRANSTON (D-CA), calls for a NUCLEAR FREEZE with a JOINT MONITORING PROGRAM with SOVIETS to ensure that there are no miscommunications, discusses scenarios of reaction time to attacks, says that the new weapons proposed by REAGAN leave too little time to make rational decisions about counterattacking. Shot of Sen. JOHN GLENN, argues that the Senate should ratify SALT II because the START proposal is so aggressively unfavorable to the SOVIETS that it will take too long to get approved-SALT II should be approved in the meantime. Shot of Sen. MATHIAS walking to witness table to testify. MATHIAS refers to the alleged blockheadness of the "Communist hierarchy", but each new AMERICAN administration is out to create a completely new ARMS CONTROL plan, which is not a good way to deal with the SOVIETS. 04.20.05-DUKE-says that FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE will endorse the WARNER/JACKSON resolution to continue the ARMS BUILDUP while "negotiations" get underway for ARMS REDUCTION. DUKE appears to be trying very hard to be neutral and not to mention the PATENT ABSURDITY of this approach. Discussion with ROBERTS of the new mood in Congress that Congress must be involved in making foreign policy. ROBERTS intro report on the BUDGET debate, with several conflicting BUDGETS in running, but eventually, it appears that all sides will compromise because the voters want to see a BUDGET PASSED. DUKE-SENATE REPUBLICANS have been backing off of their own BUDGET PLAN, even though it was endorsed by REAGAN, but SOCIAL SECURITY was the stumbling block. 04.22.23-Shot of Sen. DAVID DURENBERGER (R-MN), in office, interviewed by WERTHEIMER, DURENBERGER says that the REPUBLICANS almost made a huge mistake by cutting SOCIAL SECURITY, because DEMOCRATS are strong on that issue. Discussion of the POLITICAL FOOTBALL nature of SOCIAL SECURITY, past efforts to reform SOCIAL SECURITY, blames DEMOCRATS for foot-dragging in 1981, says that if REPUBLICANS wait till after the 1982 elections, at least they can get a fair debate without "politics" intruding. Discussion of DURENBERGER being denied credit by HOWARD BAKER for amending the BUDGET. DURENBERGER says he cares about things getting done, not about getting credit for it, and says that the MINNESOTA voters will know. Discussion of the breakdown of strict PARTY DISCIPLINE in the SENATE-DURENBERGER says that some REPUBLICANS have different ideas about the issues than others. 04.26.26-ROBERTS-intro commentary. Commentary by OTIS PIKE on SOCIAL SECURITY-notes that there's a NATIONAL COMMISSION ON SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM that's treated like royalty on the issue. Can the COMMISSIONERS really be so smart? Notes the polarization between big business/labor on the commission, wonders how this commission is ever going to reach a decision, because the balance of the commission are politicians and don't dare make a recommendation until after the election. 04.28.29-DUKE-signs off. Closing credits/transcript order information/WETA credit/Sponsor credits/PBS ID 04.30.38-OUT