Lawmakers April 21 1983
Lawmakers April 21 1983
Lawmakers 4/21/1983
Lawmakers April 21 1983
Paul Duke introduces Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R - Kansas). Paul Duke. Senator, is Congress basically trying to gain a greater voice in the administration s foreign policy? Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R - Kansas). I think Paul, that this has always been a battle in any administration between Congress and the President. How much should we intervene? And what voice and role we should play in foreign policy. It isn t a new phenomenon with this administration.
Lawmakers April 21 1983
Paul Duke. But one does sense with this administration, on the Hill, when you talk to members of Congress, deepening concern about the thrust of this administration s policies - whether those policies are too belligerent - whether those policies might get this country into some kind of new trouble abroad. Isn t that the case? Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R - Kansas). Seems to me it is a question of rhetoric used. I think everyone would agree, for instance, in Central America that there are problems. I don t know that there would be any major disagreement with the administration in recognizing that El Salvador had problems. That there was not support for the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua. But what do you do? And perhaps the rhetoric has become very impatient on the part of the administration and that in and of itself has caused problems in support. Paul Duke. But you do find on the Hill, Congress is trying to go beyond that to impose restrictions on the administration. Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R - Kansas). That s true. And out of our frustration, to a certain extent, and being able to have some input into what we believe would be the best sort of course to take. I personally have trouble with too many restrictions that we impose. But on the other hand I get frustrated with how to have some input, as we all do I think.
Lawmakers April 21 1983
Cokie Roberts. Senator, the El Salvador issue is one where you have gotten out front and that s unusual role. Usually you re more supportive the Republican leadership or the administration and here s an area where you have said it s important that I differ. Why is that? Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R - Kansas). Because I didn t agree with some of the analysis that the administration had made. I, for instance, do not believe El Salvador is on the brink of collapse. I felt that it was not helping us to really shape policy by using rhetoric that aroused emotions and sort of inflamed the patience. I don t quarrel with the need to support the government there. I think we do need to show support. I have been one who s been critical, at this point and time, with certification as sort of a be-all and end-all for policy because I think it doesn t help move us on in some positive direction. I have called for some attempt to get the government and the guerillas together, not for power sharing purposes, but to see to see if there is even any grounds for conversation.
Lawmakers April 21 1983
Cokie Roberts. But the President s request for aid, for more military aid for El Salvador seems to be running into several stumbling blocks in Congress. This week we had the House Foreign Affairs Committee say that they didn t want to approve more military aid. We ve had recommendations from your Committee that it is cut in half or the reprograming aid going from one country to another be cut in half. Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R - Kansas). For military sales. Cokie Roberts. For military sales. And he does seem to be to be in trouble on this issue and next week he s taking this unusual step of going before Congress and talking about Central America. Do you think that s wise in view of what you re saying about the rhetoric or will he appear to be militaristic, especially to women? Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R - Kansas). Well I think that s one of the problems as far as the President s perception with a number of women - is a heightened sense of militarism and a fear of that and what it might lead to. Again, I think it is very important as far as how the President does frame his concerns regarding Central America.
Lawmakers April 21 1983
Linda Wertheimer. Senator Kassebaum, Nicaragua and the questions that have been raised on the legality of what the administration is doing there - Do you think that s rekindled concerns in Congress about what the administration is telling you they are doing and what they are doing? Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R - Kansas). Well again I m not sure this is a new problem. I think every administration has gone through that. And there s always been covert activity in one way or another. Once, of course, covert activity becomes know, it s no longer covert. And I suppose the question of covert activity has to do with the skill with which it is done. That doesn t necessarily make it right. On the other hand there are times when it has served a useful function, again it goes back to the clumsiness of an activity and then the question of how should we intrude in that particular manner. And I think there certainly is a question of
Lawmakers April 21 1983
Paul Duke. One question about the terror in Beirut, will that affect the Congressional attitude about the stationing of American forces in the Middle East, in Lebanon and elsewhere? Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R - Kansas). I haven t sensed that. Certainly the Senate formulations committee the other day in adding additional supplementary funding for Lebanon felt that we should continue our presence there and give support to that. We did vote an amendment whereby the President could add additional troops in the peace keeping effort, but he would have to get authorization for any sustained effort. Paul Duke. Thank you Senator.