LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS - LM 086 - "Show Open"
WETA credit/sponsor credits/title sequence.
LAWMAKERS - LM 086 - "News Briefs"
Program host Paul Duke reports on the Senate’s approval of a jobs bill that paves the way to compromise with House of Representatives over unemployment relief. Senate Budget Committee delayed work on a new federal budget since U.S. President Ronald Reagan disapproved of defense cuts. The House has been bogged down over the debate on a nuclear freeze and will continue after the Easter recess. Duke will go more in depth over the nuclear freeze and defense spending issues with U.S. Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA), but first a report on the Congressional debate on the nuclear freeze from National Public Radio reporter Cokie Roberts.
LAWMAKERS - LM 086 - "Nuclear Freeze Debate"
National Public Radio reporter Cokie Roberts reports on the Congressional debate over the nuclear freeze. Political opposition's TV ad showing an array of Soviet weapons; rockets and jet rocket launcher; Soviet MIG fighter jets lining an airfield; missile silo door opening; howitzers firing in the field by Soviet soldiers; explosions.; actor Charlton Heston says the Soviets are engaged in a military buildup aimed at world conquest like Hitler's Germany. Nuclear freeze proponents (adult Caucasian men and women) gathered on sidewalk, Washington Monument and the Mall in BG. U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) speaking to the crowd, says that if U.S. President Ronald Reagan won't stop the his arms race policy then the public will vote him out of office. Political signs in crowd. U.S. Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) exhorting crowd. Rep. Markey at the House floor well, says Americans from all walks of life want to put a stop to the arms race. U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) in debate on the House floor, arguing in favor of nuclear weapons; says polls showing that people want the arms race to end are flawed, that people are not informed enough on the subject to know their interest when it comes to the arms race.
LAWMAKERS - LM 086 - "Nuclear Freeze Debate"
Chart showing diagrams of Soviet Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs); a Congressman points to the chart, argues the Soviets have "superiority" in the arms race and a nuclear freeze would make that permanent. U.S. Rep. Dan Glickman (D-KS) says the nuclear freeze movement is an example of participatory Democracy, and Congress had better listen to the people. National Public Radio reporter Cokie Roberts (VO) says the debate was headed toward a nuclear freeze resolution but proponents of the freeze started contradicting each other about the exact provisions of the bill, leaving the door open for the freeze opponents. U.S. Representative Newt Gingrich (R-GA) arguing that the disorganization of the nuclear freeze side illustrates why it shouldn't be approved. Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) says the debate is not so complicated. Roberts (VO) says the freeze opponents used procedural tactics to tie up the debate. Rep. Clement Zablocki (D-WI) asking unanimous consent to limit further amendments to the resolution. House Speaker Tip O'Neill speaking from the well of the House floor, says the Republicans want to delay the debate for "political" reasons; House Republicans heckle him. Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) says the entire nuclear freeze resolution is "political."