LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
ROBERTS-intro report on CENSURE of two Congressmen, Rep. DANIEL CRANE (R-IL) and Rep. GERRY STUDDS (D-MA) for sexual misconduct with congressional pages. Both were required to appear in the Well of the House for public reading of their Censure. 20.16.18-M/S House rostrum and well, STUDDS standing in well while TIP O'NEILL reads CENSURE RESOLUTION. Wipe to similar shot with Rep. CRANE. ROBERTS v.o.-only 21 previous censures in House. C/S of a member of House ETHICS COMMITTEE presenting findings, ROBERTS v.o.-committee recommended milder response of reprimand. M/S Rep. STUDDS taking well of House to speak. ROBERTS v.o.-STUDDS spoke to defend his conduct and announced publicly that he is gay. C/S STUDDS speaking, says that voluntary and private relationships between adults that occurred 10 years ago should not be investigated by Congress. 20.17.18-Shot of Rep. CRANE with family in Illinois, giving press conference in front of his house while holding his young daughter. CRANE, tearful, admits he made a mistake, asks for forgiveness. C/S NEWT GINGRICH in office, says that CRANE has admitted his mistake but STUDDS has been arrogant and denied wrongdoing. ROBERTS v.o.-GINGRICH pressed the issue to try to make political points. M/S GINGRICH taking podium in well of house. C/S GINGRICH, says the conduct of both congressmen warrants expulsion. C/S former Rep. ROBERT BAUMAN, says GINGRICH definitely wants to make REPUBLICANS seem like the party of MORALS. ROBERTS v.o.-BAUMAN lost an election after being charged with soliciting a teenaged boy for sex. BAUMAN says that the publicity of the case will allow voters to decide the issue, Congress shouldn't take it upon itself to vote for EXPULSION. 20.19.36-C/S TIP O'NEILL in speaker's seat. C/S Rep. DAN CRANE giving apology in well, gets applause. C/S Rep. FLOYD SPENCE (R-SC), arguing that Congress has to protect it's reputation. C/S HENRY HYDE arguing that Congress can "hate the sin" but should back off of punishing the sinners. [whoa, what a difference 15 years can make, eh Henry?] C/S Rep. GEORGE O'BRIEN (R-IL) argues that he can't tell his constituents that there shouldn't be punishment. Rep. STEWART McKINNEY (R-CT), says he can't vote for expulsion because it would amount to Congress overriding the people's votes in each district. ROBERTS v.o.-no CENSURED member of Congress has won re-election in 50 years. C/S BAUMAN, says the voters are the proper decision-makers as to whether STUDDS of CRANE should remain in Congress. 20.21.55-Shots of a bundle of Massachusetts newspapers rolling into back of truck. ROBERTS v.o.-early on, STUDDS' constituents seem to be giving him some support. C/S a woman from district, says she's a REPUBLICAN but she supports STUDDS. A man says he's disappointed, but "not surprised". A man in his car says STUDDS is a smart guy in Congress and it would be bad to throw out anyone who ever did anything wrong. Shots of an ILLINOIS COUNTY FAIR. C/S a very fat man says that someone in prominent position "shouldn't be doin' things like that". Another man concurs. C/S BAUMAN, says it's a silly myth that the people's representatives should somehow be morally better than the people. BAUMAN says that there are no moral absolutes in the lives of Members of Congress, some slip, they're only human. 20.24.23-DUKE-intro commentary. Commentary by Charles McDowell, on the trend of "commissions" to study all tough issues-it shouldn't be surprising that REAGAN is trying to hedge a bit off his conservative rhetoric on LATIN AMERICA by appointing KISSINGER commission, after all, Congress has to vote on any recommendation that comes out of it. 20.26.12-DUKE-signs off Closing credits/transcript order information/WETA credit/sponsor credits/PBS ID