LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
WETA "LAWMAKERS" 9/08/1983 IN 01.00.00-WETA credit/sponsor credits/title sequence 01.00.50-PAUL DUKE-on program-conversation with TIP O'NEILL, the "burly Irishman" Speaker of the House. O'NEILL is one of the few who doubt that REAGAN will seek re-election in 1984. 01.01.36-C/S O'NEILL in office, says he can't believe that REAGAN would run again at his age, would be ridiculously old by the time he could finish second term, it will be a hard fight with Congress at this point, why would REAGAN want to put up with the grief? ROBERTS says O'NEILL sounds like he wants to talk REAGAN out of running. O'NEILL denies this, says REAGAN would not be the toughest candidate for the Democrats to defeat, says REAGAN is not good at reacting off the cuff. Discussion of REAGAN'S "good-guy image", TIP says that REAGAN'S a fun guy after hours, has great stories, but he doesn't have a good knowledge of how government works, has not grown into the job. REAGAN'S presidency has been a "creature of the press". Scoffs at the idea that REAGAN'S election was a mandate to undo the last 50 years of American policy since the New Deal, those policies made America the world's leader. 01.04.13-Discussion of DEMOCRATS role in 1981 in passing REAGANOMICS-O'NEILL says that in the past, DEMOCRATS could afford to ignore the CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS, that's the difference, especially since MODERATE REPUBLICANS stuck to party lines that year "absolutely like robots". Discussion of whether O'NEILL is "out of date", TIP says he feels vindicated that most Americans now seem to support his ideas again. REPUBLICANS didn't have "new ideas" before, REAGANOMICS is just a retread of HOOVER administration "and it worked just the same way". O'NEILL says much of the current Congress is inexperienced in serving in legislatures, doesn't understand party discipline and leadership, it's a change in the way government works.