LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
20.09.57-DUKE/WERTHEIMER-discussion of NEW RIGHT'S failures to pass their CONSERVATIVE SOCIAL AGENDA-Compromises and Coalitions don't work well with NEW RIGHT policies, SCHOOL PRAYER and ANTI-ABORTION constituencies didn't totally overlap, strong lobbying against NEW RIGHT. 1982 elections a message that the NEW RIGHT SOCIAL AGENDA isn't going to play in bad economic times. NEW RIGHT not likely to be dominant, and JESSE HELMS can take the blame for being a poor legislative tactician. 20.12.50-REAGAN also determined to be a HARDLINER against COMMUNISM in FOREIGN POLICY. DEFENSE was increased, except for the MX MISSILE. REAGAN won a big battle in 1981 to sell AWACS RADAR PLANES to SAUDI ARABIA. Shots of Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Sen. JOHN TOWER (R-TX), CASPAR WEINBERGER and some PENTAGON BRASS TYPES, a SLIDE PRESENTATION of AWACS system. Sen. HENRY JACKSON (D-WA) says the PENTAGON is lying that AWACS is a piece of junk to alleviate fears of destabilizing the MIDDLE EAST. M/S Sen. BOB PACKWOOD (R-OR) entering White House. PACKWOOD v.o.-REAGAN'S sales pitch to the Senators overwhelmed PACKWOOD'S opposition to the sale. 20.14.55-PROTESTERS on a sidewalk, holding signs protesting TORTURE and HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS by RIGHT WING DICTATORSHIP in EL SALVADOR, protesting REAGAN'S plan to AID THE RIGHT WING DICTATORSHIP. Rep. STEVEN SOLARZ (D-NY) in committee meeting, asking a REAGAN ADMINISTRATION spokesman if fighting COMMUNISM would involve U.S. TROOPS. AL HAIG, the witness, says that no one plans to send U.S. TROOPS. C/S GEORGE SHULTZ at Confirmation hearings. DUKE v.o.-DEMOCRATS and REPUBLICANS welcomed SHULTZ as a replacement of the crusty HAIG. C/S JOHN GLENN asks SHULTZ his opinion of the policy dispute that led to HAIG'S resignation. SHULTZ says he's not concerned with that. 20.16.55-DUKE v.o.-a NUCLEAR FREEZE movement gained strength in both Houses. Shots of Congressmen in debate. TIP O'NEILL says the ARMS RACE is madness. ROBERT MICHEL (minority leader) argues that the U.S. must have a strong NUCLEAR DETERRENCE. Rep. ED MARKEY (D-MA) says that this is the same old bunk, the arms race must be stopped. 20.17.58-DUKE-discussion of FOREIGN POLICY battles in Congress-REAGAN hurt by the near passage of NUCLEAR FREEZE RESOLUTION in House, and refusal to fund MX MISSILE construction. Discussion with ROBERTS and WERTHEIMER-now cutting DEFENSE SPENDING is starting to be politically safe and advantageous. Discussion of general turnover from 1981-"REAGAN gets whatever he wants" to late 1982 when REAGAN was on the defensive. Most SENATE REPUBLICANS were young and inexperienced, grew to learn how to resist REAGAN. REAGAN'S BUDGET in 1983 likely to be D.O.A. in Congress, but then CONGRESS must come up with it's own plan. 20.22.09-DUKE signs off Closing credits/transcript order information/WETA credit/sponsor credits/PBS ID 20.24.26-OUT