LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
01.11.10-DUKE v.o., shot of committee panel-There were divisions on the panel, and Senators sometimes openly quarreled. Clip of GURNEY taking issue with ERVIN'S line of questioning, calls it "harassment", ERVIN pretends he didn't hear the word right, GURNEY gets all worked up, tries to spell "harassment", stumbles over whether it's one r or two, audience laughs, ERVIN laughs, makes an indirect jab at GURNEY'S Redneck-J.F.K. persona. Clip of BAKER taking a gentle gibe at ERVIN, says that while ERVIN often calls himself a "country lawyer", he never mentions that he graduated with honors from HARVARD LAW SCHOOL. ERVIN pretends to be mad at BAKER for blowing his cover, audience applauds raucously. ERVIN one-ups BAKER, says that he once was introduced to an audience in North Carolina as a Harvard law grad, but "Thank god no one would ever suspect it." Louder applause. 01.13.20-DUKE v.o.-attempts to wring out instances of wrongdoing. Clip of BAKER forcing former NIXON fundraiser HERBERT PORTER to admit that at some point, he should have probably stopped to ask whether all of the campaign activities were proper or even legal, but he wanted to be a team player in the campaign out of his long loyalty to NIXON. BAKER retorts angrily that his own loyalty to NIXON is long, but BAKER never did any of that stuff. Shot of JEB MAGRUDER (former deputy director of Nixon campaign) testifying, ERVIN telling MAGRUDER that he hopes that he can rebuild his life after the key role in Watergate, recites a poems. DUKE v.o.-it was the longest-running congressional hearing in history. Clip of ERVIN, telling FRED LaRUE (Nixon crony and conspirator) that he can't resist the temptation to "philosophize just a little bit about the Watergate", notes it's ironic that the wealthy and powerful were brought down because they weren't satisfied, and violated the laws of God and man for a very temporary victory. Notes that the COVERUP almost succeeded, except for judge JOHN SIRICA'S efforts to make the truth come out and the efforts of investigative reporters. Cites the belief in North Carolina, like LaRUE'S state of Mississippi, that the "laws of God" are in the King James Bible, cites a "reap what you sow" verse. Loud applause. 01.18.34-DUKE-the 1200 page report made several recommendations, most of which were never adopted. The big irony, three of the Senators later had ethical problems of their own-MONTOYA, TALMADGE, AND GURNEY. Introduces conclusion of "Legislative Yearbook". 01.19.30-DUKE/commentator Norman Ornstein. Overview of survey methods. Mock "Yearbook" opens to page "DEBATE TEAM-HOUSE". Shot of JIM WRIGHT debating, like a preacher, urging colleagues not to "give up NICARAGUA" to the Communists [point of order Jim, they've already GOT Nicaragua]. Shot of Sen. RUSSELL LONG (D-LA), arguing in a funny way that TV CAMERAS should be kept out of the SENATE. Shot of "Yearbook" page "MOST UNDERRATED". Still of Sen. CARL LEVIN (D-MI), Still of Rep. BARBER CONABLE (R-NY). Shot of "Yearbook" page "BRIGHT LIGHTS AND DIM BULBS". Still of Rep. GUS SAVAGE (IL), voted "least informed. Still of Rep. JOHN FARY (D-IL), voted "most lethargic" after being dumped by the Chicago Democratic machine, sealing his fate as lame-duck Congressman. Still of Sen. S.I. HAYAKAWA (R-CA), often ribbed for tendency to fall asleep in hearings. Page for "BEST COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN". Shot of Rep. JOHN DINGELL (D-MI), giving a witness a good chewing out. Shot of Sen. BOB DOLE, telling a witness that he's concerned about why REAGANOMICS isn't working out as well as planned. "Yearbook" page "MOST POPULAR". Stills of Rep. WILLIAM NATCHER (D-KY), Sen. NANCY KASSEBAUM (R-KS), Sen. SPARK MATSUNAGA (D-HI). 01.24.09-DUKE/Ornstein-discussion of the tendency of Capitol Hill to resemble a campus, with frat-like "clubs" etc. 01.24.32-DUKE-intro commentary by Otis PIKE, PIKE talks about 10th anniversary of WATERGATE, says that many people haven't talked about much else since. Says that unlike SAM ERVIN, Watergate vet PETER RODINO has hung around a bit too long in Congress, quotes a very silly speech by RODINO in a recent debate. 01.26.46-DUKE-signs off Closing Credits/transcript order information/WETA credit/sponsor credits/PBS ID 01.28.47--OUT