Capitol Journal - Iran and Campaign Financing Reform
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Capital Journal title screen and animation
In TV studio Capital Journal host HODDING CARTER introduces co-host MARK SHIELDS and guest Senator PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT) and introduces first topic of show - U.S. relations with Iran, Carter segues to footage
Shot of released Beirut hostage DAVID JACOBSON arriving at an airport in Maryland and hugging his wife, shots of various newspaper headlines about U.S. Iran weapons deal, at a White House press conference with RONALD and NANCY REAGAN David Jacobson calls on the press to watch what they say about the U.S. Iran weapon deals as it could jeopardize the lives of his fellow hostages, White House Chief of Staff DONALD REGAN speaking with JOHN MCLAUGHLIN on the program "One on One" says that the White House will fill in the Congress on their operations "when all the hostages are out"
Senator BOB DOLE at a press conference condemns negotiating with Iranian terrorists, Senator SAM NUNN appearing on "This Week in Washington" calls for an investigation of the White House operations, shot of the Senate floor, shots of the House floor, shot of Representative LEE HAMILTON - Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, shot of Senator RICHARD LUGAR presiding over a meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, shots of congressmen heading toward their respective limousines after a special briefing meeting held by President Reagan
Back in TV studio Carter, Shields and Senator Leahy discuss the U.S./Iran arms for hostages exchange - its history, its effect on U.S. relations with the Middle East, its having not been disclosed to Congress, and its effect on the future of the National Security Counsel
Shields segues to next story on money and politics in the 1986 elections- shots of a campaign party to elect ED ZSCHAU as a U.S. Senator, in interview Zschau talks about how he began his campaign as an unknown, various excerpts from campaign ads of Zschau and his rival Senator ALAN CRANSTON - unfortunately this footage has a banner across one corner of it reading "political ad", back to interview where Zschau says that media is the only way to gain mass voter recognition, a graph on screen illustrates the dramatic increase in campaign spending over the last decade
FRED WERTHEIMER of Common Cause criticizes the excess spending of the 1986 campaigns, Chamber of Commerce Representative TERI PIERCE says campaign financing system is fine the way it is, Senator DAVID BOREN sites statistics in an impassioned speech criticizing excessive campaign financing
On screen text lists campaign financing reforms from 1974, further criticism of the current system of campaign financing by Fred Wertheimer, pie graph displays percentage of financing winning Congressional candidates received from PACs, Teri Pierce continues in support of the status quo in campaign financing, more of Senator Boren's speech criticizing the special interest buy out of the democratic process
On screen text lists the changes called for by Senator Boren's proposed campaign financing amendment, Senator BARRY GOLDWATER in interview with Mark Shields explains why he supports Boren's amendment
Back in studio Shields and Carter discuss campaign finance reform - who wants it and why and if it will win congressional approval
Shields closes out show, credits roll
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