LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
20.20.12-A high school girl says DEMOCRATS have "started" most wars, why are they reluctant now. BIDEN jokes about the "DEMOCRAT WAR" idea. A young man looking like a bearded hippie throwback raises the issue of all the HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, a situation that has gotten WORSE since U.S. aid began, says U.S. shouldn't aid a brutal dictatorship. A middle-aged man butts in to say that COMMUNISTS are responsible for the repression, proved by the flood of REFUGEES who flee COMMUNIST regimes for the UNITED STATES, "the pinnacle of the free countries". BIDEN says that the dilemma between COMMUNISTS and RIGHT-WING DICTATORSHIPS must be resolved by the U.S. insisting on negotiations involving all parties to see who is willing to work for peace, negotiation should be a part of Foreign Policy. BIDEN thanks the crowd, applause. 20.22.44-C/S an old man, says he's pleased with the quality of the "town meeting", diversity of views. An old woman says the people were interesting, jokes that she doesn't know much about EL SALVADOR because she watches too many soap operas. A young man says that the people need to be kept informed about important decisions like this. 20.23.17-ROBERTS-discussion of PUBLIC OPINION on EL SALVADOR, REAGAN forced to delay action on aid. Concern also about REAGAN initiative to aid NICARAGUAN REBELS [CONTRAS], possibly in defiance of Congress. Intro commentary. 20.23.50-Commentary by Otis Pike on Congress' handling of FOREIGN POLICY. Unanimous vote for a House Resolution outlining CIA and DEFENSE DEPARTMENT activities in NICARAGUA indicates either that everyone likes the idea or that most don't understand it. The bill BANS THE CIA from using FUNDS to support the OVERTHROW of NICARAGUAN government by any insurgent force. Given the diversity of opinion, the strength of the vote is strange, but the question remains, "what ARE we doing in NICARAGUA?"-The controversy is brewing over whether the CIA'S activities with the "CONTRAS" are illegal. 20.25.45-DUKE-signs off. Closing credits [over shots of dancers in Mexican/Spanish colonial costume, architecture and people in Albuquerque, NEW MEXICO]/transcript order information/WETA credit/sponsor credits/PBS ID 20.27.53--OUT