LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
01.12.36-ROBERTS in front of V.A. building-says Congress isn't likely to allow VETERANS BENEFITS to be lost, especially in election year. DUKE/WERTHEIMER-discussion of ILLINOIS congressional redistricting, results of an ILLINOIS primary, GEORGE O'BRIEN defeating ED DERWINSKY after REDISTRICTING put both veteran Congressmen in the same district. 01.13.51-DUKE intro report on CENTRAL AMERICA POLICY DEBATE in Congress. Congress probably willing to send money, but not to increase U.S. involvement in EL SALVADOR, memory of VIETNAM. 01.14.26-Shot of Rep. GERRY STUDDS (D-MA), speaking against EL SALVADOR involvement, says it's very close to "another Vietnam". Shot of Rep. DANTE FASCELL (D-FL) in office, says he doesn't know if the comparison is valid, but people are afraid to risk it. Clip of news report from LBJ era, LBJ at press conference. DUKE v.o.-describes situation of 1965 as Vietnam conflict escalates. Still of front page of WASHINGTON EVENING STAR, banner headline on attacks on "Red PT Bases", smaller headline on the discovery of the bodies of three CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS in MISSISSIPPI. Still of NAVAL OFFICERS charting an attack plan. Clip of LBJ press conference announcing GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION escalating U.S. presence in VIETNAM. 01.15.32-TIP O'NEILL in office, remembering the GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION, says he had his doubts about whether the alleged V.C. attacks actually occurred, but was pressed to go along. Shot of roster of HOUSE for vote, with no votes against RESOLUTION. Stills of DEMOCRATS EUGENE McCARTHY, ED MUSKIE, and GEORGE McGOVERN, named as voting for Resolution, only two Senators vote against it. Shot of Rep. SAM STRATTON (D-NY) in office, says he'd make the same vote, under the same circumstances. Shot of Rep. FASCELL, says that in that age, the President made FOREIGN POLICY. 01.16.59-Clip of news report, LBJ signing GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION. B/W shot of ARMY MEDICS carrying wounded G.I. out of HELICOPTER. Still of LBJ with MILITARY BRASS at NAVAL AIR BASE, F-4 jets in background. Shot of Rep. BEN ROSENTHAL (D-NY) remembering his feelings about learning that the events leading to the GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION had been EXAGGERATED by MILITARY INTELLIGENCE-says that misinformation led to "my biggest legislative mistake". Rep. FASCELL-discusses the broad powers given to LBJ without any formal declaration of WAR. Rep. ROSENTHAL says the lesson should be that there should be caution about getting involved militarily, and not to blindly follow the lead of a President. 01.18.09-Shot of REAGAN shaking hands with SENATORS. Shot of REAGAN reading a statement about the "crisis" in Caribbean basin, says Congress must move swiftly, "our security can't wait". Shot of rostrum of House chamber. Shot of Rep. ROSENTHAL in debate, introduces a resolution to prohibit MILITARY AID to EL SALVADOR. Shots of a House Committee hearing, AL HAIG taking hard questioning from a young Congressman on REAGAN'S EL SALVADOR policy-HAIG won't guarantee that troops won't be sent. Shot of Rep. DAVID BONIOR (D-MI), says public is very uneasy about the parallels with VIETNAM in EL SALVADOR. Still of BONIOR in College Football uniform. Shot of BONIOR in debate in HOUSE, says that U.S. is headed for "disaster" in CENTRAL AMERICA, and unless Congress acts, there will certainly be soldiers sent there. 01.21.22-SHOT of PROTESTERS on sidewalk in front of CAPITOL, holding signs opposing REAGAN'S policy on EL SALVADOR. Shot of Rep. FASCELL, says that many people have probably learned lessons from VIETNAM. Shot of TIP O'NEILL, says that Americans will always remember the shady and deceptive nature of the U.S. getting involved in VIETNAM, they will resist getting involved in EL SALVADOR. 01.22.09-DUKE-intro Commentary. Commentary by CHARLES McDOWELL about CENTRAL AMERICA. Says he's wary of the similarities between EL SALVADOR and VIETNAM, but maybe it's not so simple-maybe it would be worse to allow a SOVIET foothold in Central America, but in any case, negotiation would be better than the rash use of force. 01.24.20-DUKE-signs off. Closing credits/transcript order info/WETA credit/sponsor credits/PBS ID 01.26.02--OUT