LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
WETA "LAWMAKERS" 7/21/1983 IN 20.00.00-WETA credit/sponsor credits/title sequence 20.00.55-PAUL DUKE/COKIE ROBERTS/LINDA WERTHEIMER-on program-Controversy over LATIN AMERICA POLICY and the MX MISSILE, the censure of two Congressmen for Sexual Misconduct, and REAGAN'S effort to change leadership of CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION. REAGAN announcing that it wants much more aid to EL SALVADOR and CONTRAS in Nicaragua-House went into a very rare SECRET SESSION to debate COVERT AID to CONTRAS. 20.02.10-M/S TIP O'NEILL on rostrum of House, announcing the Secret session, shots of HOUSE security workers closing and locking the doors of House Chamber. DUKE v.o.-this kind of session, for which members had to take oath of secrecy, has happened only four times. Shots of Congressmen entering the House. C/S Rep. HENRY HYDE (R-IL) outside Capitol, says the secrecy wasn't warranted by the small volume of classified info discussed. C/S Rep. CLARENCE LONG (D-MD) says he wishes that it was conducted in PUBLIC, since the taxpayers' money and the reputation of the U.S. is involved. Rep. GEORGE MILLER (D-CA), says the evidence of COVERT ACTIVITIES presented by the HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE was compelling, and many members weren't previously aware of the nature of COVERT AID to CONTRAS. 20.03.24-C/U newspaper clippings regarding Rep. MILLER'S visit to NICARAGUA, DUKE v.o.-MILLER among 4 DEMOCRATS who went to NICARAGUA on fact finding mission. C/S Rep. MIKE LOWRY (D-WA) in debate, says NICARAGUAN people all agree that the CIA'S actions with CONTRAS was aimed at OVERTHROWING SANDINISTA GOVERNMENT. Regardless of opinion of Sandinistas, this is intolerable. C/S Rep. MILLER outside Capitol, says voting to cut off the secret war in NICARAGUA will be his most important vote since VIETNAM. DUKE v.o.-opponents of COVERT CIA ACTION don't seem to have the votes to cut it off. C/S HENRY HYDE, discusses partisan polarization, says the issue should transcend "politics" [obviously HYDE'S definition of "politics" is pretty narrow]. 20.04.55-C/Us of newspaper articles. L/S-M/S exterior of WHITE HOUSE. DUKE v.o.-REAGAN beginning media offensive to reverse PUBLIC OPINION. Clip of CNN footage, C/S REAGAN giving address, asking for a "bipartisan commission" to study ways to promote anticommunism in LATIN AMERICA. C/S HYDE, says that the commission method has helped resolve other acrimonious debates in past. Still HENRY KISSINGER, DUKE v.o.-KISSINGER is controversial. C/S Rep. CLARENCE LONG, says the Administration made a mistake by packing the commission with REAGAN SUPPORTERS. C/S Sen. CHARLES MATHIAS (R-MD), says KISSINGER is reputed figure, he can be independent and objective based on his reputation. C/S Rep. MIKE BARNES (D-MD), hopes commission will calm the debate, but KISSINGER is making things more heated. 20.07.10-CLIP of REAGAN address, defends choice of KISSINGER to lead commission. DUKE v.o.-REAGAN having similar problems with MX MISSILE. M/S well and rostrum of House chamber. C/S Rep. RON COLEMAN (D-TX) says he's reconsidering his position on MX MISSILE because it's too expensive. C/S Rep. ROBERT MICHEL (MINORITY LEADER), says the MX must be built regardless of cost. 20.08.54-DUKE-House did endorse MX, but only by 13 votes. Senate MX DEBATE is being FILIBUSTERED by DEMOCRATS. ROBERTS-REAGAN'S appointment of KISSINGER to the CENTRAL AMERICA commission worries even REPUBLICANS it might be a political blunder.