LAWMAKERS
1984 - LAWMAKERS - Lebanon Debate
Host Paul Duke segues to a story about the U.S. Marine presence in Lebanon. Cokie Roberts (National Public Radio) introduces report on Lebanon, where the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds a hearing during the recess on the U.S. presence in Lebanon. U.S. Senator and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee Charles Percy (R-IL) convening hearing and providing a statement detailing the purpose of the hearing. Adult Caucasian male press corps sitting and listening. U.S. Sens. John Tower (R-TX) and John Warner (R-VA) sitting at witness table; Roberts voiceover stating that their trip to Lebanon compelled them to advise the Senate to keep the U.S. soldiers in Lebanon. Sen. Rudy Boschwitz (R-MN) looking down with head in hands. Sen. Tower testifying to the committee against the idea of withdrawing the U.S. Marines from Lebanon. Men and women attending hearing. Sen. Warner echoes the testimony of Sen. Tower.
1984 - LAWMAKERS - Lebanon Debate
U.S. Senators seated around dais. Larry Pressler (R-SD) asks Sen. John Tower (R-TX) for a timetable, which he cannot provide; adult Caucasian man and woman sitting in hearing room. Deputy Secretary of State Kenneth Dam taking his seat at witness table. Men and women attending the hearing. Dam testifying, calls for "steadfastness" in Lebanon. Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-RI) speaking, saying it's not fair to equate disagreement with the Lebanon policy with cowardice, since many disagreed with the policy in the first place. Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) says that this ominously feels like Vietnam where the argument for staying leads to a deeper and deeper involvement; Sen. Charles Percy (R-IL) conversing with two males aides in BG. Cokie Roberts states that Senators of both parties have introduced resolutions to withdraw U.S. Marines from Lebanon before end of eighteen month period previously authorized by Congress.
1984 - LAWMAKERS - Congressional Research Service
Host Paul Duke intro report on new computer research resources in Congress. U.S. House Representative Byron Dorgan (D-ND) testifying to a group of men seated around table about the use of the Congressional Research Service in researching new farm policies. Zoom out from Library of Congress (Thomas Jefferson Building); Duke voiceover states the CRS is part of the Library of Congress, helping Congressmen stay informed. Library of Congress (James Madison Building). Card reading: AT&T Divestiture: Restructuring the U.S. and Domestic Telephone Industry 0257A"; zoom out to shelves of manila envelopes. Adult Caucasian male and female going through papers in CRS room. Focus on card for "Merit Pay for Teachers 0260M" to "Foreign Aid" card in BG. Woman and two men standing in hallway looking at papers. Allen Schick, former Congressional Research Service Analyst, says that CRS is supposed to give Congress sources of information in order to preserve the separation of powers in government.
1984 - LAWMAKERS - Congressional Research Service
Zoom out from electronic scrolling marquee in Congressional Research Office; adult Caucasian male and female workers at desks. VS of men and women speaking on telephones, using computers; Paul Duke voiceover describing the kind of help the CRS workers provide Congressmen, from receiving information queries to providing reports. U.S. House Representative John McKernan (R-ME) says that CRS helps members, especially new members, to get up to speed on the issues. Adult Caucasian female delivering report to Rep. McKernan at his desk.
1984 - LAWMAKERS - Congressional Research Service
Adult Caucasian men and women working in Congressional Research Office; electronic scrolling marquee attached to ceiling. "Reasons to Use Electronic Mail System"; Paul Duke voiceover talking about technology used in the office. Map with pins embedded around locations of major cities. Adult Caucasian female working at desk. Close-up of paper printing out. Nancy Davenport, a CRS staffer, says that some abuses take place as graduate students try to get CRS to do their own research. Adult African American female going through stack of papers on shelves. Young adult African American man putting together papers to be put into manila envelope; preparing reports. U.S. House Representative Vic Fazio (D-CA) says that the CRS reports are non-partisan and tend to be dull and dry. Allen Schick, former Congressional Research Service Analyst, says that impartiality doesn't have to be bland, CRS is willing to take risks to report the facts impartially.
1984 - LAWMAKERS - Editorial
Host Paul Duke states that research is important to fulfill the many functions of Congress, and that is precisely what the Founding Fathers wanted, then segues to commentary by Charles McDowell. McDowell speaks about one of Congress' main pastimes, keeping tabs on Executive branch violations of law, using Richard Nixon's Watergate scandal as a primary example. Ten years after Watergate, if nothing else was learned, it is extremely foolish to record conversations without both parties knowing it is being recorded. Head of the U.S. Information Agency, Charlie Wick, repeated Nixon's fatal mistake of tape recording his conversations with high ranking government officials. Odds are he will not suffer any legal consequences, but will take on the mantle for "post Watergate dumbness". Duke sign off; Linda Wertheimer and Cokie Robert seated on either side of him, backs to the camera.