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WETA credit/sponsor credits
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LINDA WERTHEIMER-on program: EXPULSION PROCEEDINGS against a SENATOR. COKIE ROBERTS-conflict between HOUSE and INTERIOR SECRETARY JAMES WATT. PAUL DUKE-debate on VOTING RIGHTS legislation.
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title sequence
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DUKE-Intro report on EXPULSION PROCEEDINGS against Sen. HARRISON WILLIAMS (D-NJ), to be tried by his SENATE peers for involvement in a BRIBERY scandal. WERTHEIMER-courts have already CONVICTED WILLIAMS, who is appealing, but Senate is ready to render its own judgement. Notes that SENATE EXPULSION trial has different standards of proof than criminal trial.
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Shot of Sen. WILLIAMS with attorney and large crowd of reporters on Capitol steps, says it's an historic event, claims the case for expulsion is the result of efforts to entrap him, says he's innocent of corruption.
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Senate Historian RICHARD BAKER, says that 14 Senators were EXPELLED after SECESSION.
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Shot of Sen. ALAN CRANSTON (D-CA), says that past expulsions were for TREASON, he doesn't view WILLIAMS' actions as treasonous, but they are serious. WERTHEIMER v.o.-CRANSTON wants to reduce WILLIAMS' punishment from EXPULSION to CENSURE.
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Senate Historian RICHARD BAKER Says that eight Senators have been censured in the history of the senate, with the exception of one Senator, all other censured Senators did not win re-election.
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WERTHEIMER/DUKE-discussion of the drama and anguish of the proceedings. COKIE ROBERTS intro report on SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, JAMES WATT-cited for CONTEMPT for refusing to provide documents to an investigating committee of Congress.
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Shots of ANTI-WATT protesters. ROBERTS v.o.-WATT is detested by ENVIRONMENTALISTS. protesters holding bound bundles of PETITIONS for WATT to RESIGN. TIP O'NEILL on Capitol Steps among protesters, speaking to press, says that the PEOPLE should be congratulated for the PETITION drive. Shot of Sen. ALAN CRANSTON (D-CA), says that WATT must go-pullback shows SIERRA CLUB sign on front of podium.
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JAMES WATT testifying before Congressional Committee (in 1981), saying that the DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR has made progress, thanks to Congress' support. members of Committee. ROBERTS v.o.-WATT'S support in Congress shaky now, Congress considers WATT arrogant to deny CONGRESS access to INTERIOR DEPARTMENT files. WATT arguing that he tried personally to resolve the conflict. WATT reasserts that the files of INTERIOR are not available for perusal by Congress, he won't let it happen. Rep. JOHN DINGELL (D-MI) chairing a committee hearing, ROBERTS v.o.-DINGELL subpoenaed WATT for documents. WATT reading REAGAN'S claim of EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE for the documents. Rep. AL GORE arguing with WATT that INTERIOR did not comply with Congress' requests.
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Shot of Rep. DINGELL gaveling open CONTEMPT proceedings against WATT. DINGELL argues that the issue is accountability to Congress. Shot of Republicans in debate in committee-Rep. JAMES COLLINS (R-TX)-angry, calls hearings PARTISAN. Rep. DON RITTER (R-PA), says that the hearing is an attempt to get WATT because ENVIRONMENTALISTS don't like his policies. Rep. TOBY MOFFETT (D-CT) decries the "defensiveness" of the Republicans, asks to hear the case on "the merits". Rep. PHIL GRAMM (D-TX), REPUBLICANS conferring in hearing. ROBERTS v.o.-discusses the progress of debate. ED MADIGAN (R-IL), says that the committee is prejudging WATT, makes a claim to the documents without any knowledge of their contents. ROBERTS-summarizes the probable resolution of the case against Watt. DUKE-Debate over a bill to eliminate BUSING for purposes of RACIAL INTEGRATION in PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Debate over extension of 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT, REAGAN ADMINISTRATION wants to weaken the HOUSE bill.