US House Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative William Louis Dickinson (R-AL) is asked to yield by Reps. Jack Kemp (R-NY) and Elliott Levitas (D-GA), camera. Congressman first yields to Rep. Kemp, whose position is to not take unilateral action that may undermine true arms control between the U.S. and Soviet Union. He believes there is progress to be made in Geneva and Madrid in regards to START talks and human rights negotiations but progress can be undercut if Congress moves unilaterally. Rep. Levitas believes showing bipartisanship and defeating the amendment is the way forward to getting arms reductions. If the Soviet Union believes the MX missile is a threat, then that's all the more reason "to keep it on the bargaining table". Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL), off camera, bangs the gavel as time has expired.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
Rostrum of the U.S. House of Representative; adult Caucasian and African American males and females seated around the rostrum while Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) stands atop the Speaker's Platform. Rep. Elliott Levitas (D-GA) asks for unanimous consent to withdraw the motion. Rep. Rostenkowski asks for objections but hears none and recognizes Rep. Charles Bennett (D-FL) who yields four minutes to Rep. James Leach (R-IA). Leach comes to the well of the House, yielding briefly to an adult Caucasian Congressman who asks for unanimous consent to revise and extend remarks supporting the amendment. Leach criticizes the position of Rep. Leslie Aspin (D-WI) who has fought for the MX missile system but doesn't not like the missile itself. Aspin had stated that it has his support as part of larger package in the Scowcroft Commission Report and with certain assurances from President Ronald Reagan.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative James Leach (R-IA) discusses the contents of the Scowcroft Commission Report from the well of the House. It calls for the U.S. and Soviet Union to switch concerns limiting launchers to warheads. However, this makes the multiple warhead MX missile system incompatible with the report. Leach continues to criticize Rep. Leslie Aspin's (D-WI) contradictory position and states the only course of action is not to build the MX missile system. The system does not improve strategic deterrence, it is destabilizing, and the costs are too high; better spent on paying down the deficit and funding social programs. Leach goes on to compare the MX missile system to an elixir sold by snake oil salesmen and calls on Congress to reject it. Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) recognizes Rep. Charles Bennett (D-FL), who recognizes Rep. Daniel Glickman (R-KS); adult Caucasian males and females seated around the House Rostrum.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Daniel Glickman (R-KS) comes to the lectern in the well of the House; adult Caucasian males and females seated around the House Rostrum with Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) standing on the Speaker's Platform. Rep. Glickman allows for Rep. Leon Panetta (D-CA) to ask for unanimous consent to revise and extend his remarks. Glickman states that he did vote for the R&D funding bill in May, but intends to vote for the Bennett Amendment. Glickman understands the argument for procuring the MX missile system then bargaining it away, but is skeptical that once it is procured, it will not be given up, and will always be in the arsenal. It has happened with past missile systems, and it can happen again. Glickman follows the President's statements that there must be verifiable and numerical reductions in weapons. He voices concerns about the State Department's ability to execute the administration's arms control policy.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Charles Melvin Price (D-IL) yields four minutes to Rep. Samuel Stratton (D-NY). Stratton comes to the well of the House floor; adult Caucasian males and females seated around the House Rostrum with Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) standing on the Speaker's Platform. Stratton allows an adult Caucasian Congressman to ask for unanimous consent to revise and extend his remarks before proceeding to advocate for the progress on the path to arms control and peace; Rep. Rostenkowski uses his gavel to bring the House to order. Rep. Stratton believes that if the Bennett Amendment succeeds, it will be a long time before a better opportunity comes to make a deal with the Soviet Union. Rep. Rostenkowski recognizes Rep. William Louis Dickinson (R-AL) off camera.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative William Dickinson (R-AL) yields two minutes to Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) who comes to the well of the House floor; adult Caucasian males and females seated around House Rostrum with Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) standing at Speaker's Platform. Rep. Hunter disputes the argument from the proponents of the Bennett Amendment that the U.S. has kept pace with the Soviet Union in the ICBM race. While the U.S. has improved guidance and other parts of the ICBMs, it has produced zero new ICBMs. He also disputes that the MX missile system has no military value, stating that it complements land and bomber-based systems, allowing it to be launched if bombers are compromised; Rep. Rostenkowski uses the gavel to bring order to the House. Rep. Hunter notes that perhaps the MX would be more widely accepted if it was a replacement, since it is superior to the Minuteman missile system.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA) concludes by referencing the Soviet opinion that so long as the Soviet Union possesses an advantage in land-based missiles, it will be very difficult for them to easily relinquish that lead, so it may be to the West’s advantage to build up their land-based missiles. Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) bangs the gavel as Rep. Hunter’s time expires; adult Caucasian males and females seated around House Rostrum. Rep. Rostenkowski recognizes Rep. Charles Bennett (D-FL) who yields two minutes to Rep. Dennis Hertel (D-MI), who comes to the well of the House and yields to a middle-aged adult Caucasian Congressman who asks for unanimous consent in revising and extending his remarks to support the Bennett Amendment.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Dennis Hertel (D-MI) lists the two main arguments of proponents of the MX missile system make. First, that it will strengthen the military’s arsenal, yet no one has countered the fact that most of the missile system would be vulnerable to a Soviet first strike. The second argument is the use of the MX missile system as a bargaining chip. However, officials in the Reagan administration have said they will not use the MX missile as a bargaining chip. Rep. Hertel quotes General Brent Scowcroft when asked about U.S. President Ronald Reagan staffing the White House with people viscerally against arms control and whether they are negotiating in good faith: “I think you point out a real problem. I regard that as the exact problem.” His time expires as he asks his colleagues to vote yes on the amendment. Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) stands atop the Speaker’s Platform, adult Caucasian males and females at House Rostrum; he recognizes Rep. William Dickinson (R-AL).
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative William Dickinson (R-AL) asks how much time he has remaining; U.S. House Representative Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) stands atop Speaker’s Platform, adult Caucasian males and females at House Rostrum. Rep. Rostenkowski states Rep. Dickinson has five minutes remaining, Rep. Charles Melvin Price (D-IL) has four minutes remaining, and Rep. Charles Bennett (D-FL) has nine minutes remaining. Rep. Dickinson yields to Rep. Bennett, who give two minutes to Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-MO); he walks to the lectern on the House floor. Rep. Mike Lowry (D-WA) quickly asks unanimous consent to revise and extend his remarks in favor of the Bennett amendment.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Richard Gephardt (D-MO) is in favor of the Bennett amendment and believes “it will promote the policies we all favor”. Two months ago the “Scowcroft Commission Report provided a basis for consensus, and it still does, but the consensus has not yet been created”. Rep. Gephardt questions the White House’s commitment to arms control and until that commitment is firmly established, he will be “reluctant to vote for deployment”. Rep. Gephardt contends that U.S. President Ronald Reagan is asking for hard dollars, while promising something “ephemeral”. Until the divisions in the White House are settled, he has doubts about their commitment to arms control. Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) stands atop Speaker’s Platform, stating time has expired, then recognizes Rep. William Dickinson (R-AL); adult Caucasian males and females at House Rostrum. Rep. Dickinson yields two minutes to Rep. Jack Kemp (R-NY).
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Jack Kemp (R-NY) comes to the well of the House; Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) stands atop the Speaker’s Platform among adult Caucasian males and females at the House Rostrum. Kemp recalls trip he and some of his colleagues in the House made to the Soviet Union. He could not be prouder of the two-party system in America, especially after the speeches given in the Soviet Presidium that advocated and defended the basic principles of America and American foreign policy, “mistakes notwithstanding”. However, today, some of those same members who were on that trip are more skeptical of their own country than they are of Soviet negotiation position. Kemp passionately advocates that this is no time to take away a bipartisan consensus which would undercut the U.S. negotiating position in Geneva. Rep. Kemp yields to Rep. Timothy Wirth (D-CO), off camera.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Timothy Wirth (D-CO) reminds Rep. Jack Kemp (R-NY) that with all the discussions with members of the Soviet Presidium, there was not one mention of unilateral disarmament and no discussion of the MX missile system; Rep. Kemp interjects to reclaim his time. Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) stands atop the Speaker’s Platform banging the gavel to announce Rep. Kemp’s time has expired and recognizes Rep. Charles Bennett (D-FL); adult Caucasian and African American males and females seated around the House Rostrum. Rep. Bennett passes on to Rep. William Dickinson (R-AL), who yields his remaining time to Rep. Dick Cheney (R-WY), who walks to the lectern on the House floor.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Dick Cheney (R-WY) recounts the trip to the Soviet Union and believes it is important to discuss what the Soviets talked about regarding arms control. First, the Soviets always returned to the matter of deployment of Pershing II missiles because “they finally believe we mean business”. The only option they have left is to negotiate a meaningful arms agreement. Rep. Cheney states the subject of the Scowcroft Report was raised in the Soviet Union, and the reaction was that the Soviet Union is reluctant to move to single warhead missiles given their own investments already in place. Until the SS-18s and 19s are at risk, Cheney believes the Soviets will not move to arms reduction. Rep. Cheney calls for the Bennett amendment to be defeated if arms control is to be achieved. Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) bangs the gavel and recognizes Rep. Charles Bennett (D-FL); adult Caucasian and African American males and females seated around the House Rostrum.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Charles Bennett (D-FL) yields to Rep. Jim Wright (D-TX) for seven minutes. Rep. Wright comes to the well of the House. Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) bangs the gavel and calls the House to order; adult Caucasian and African American males and females seated around the House Rostrum. Rep. Wright calls this a difficult vote and not one dictated by party policy, but by individual conscience, thus he cannot hold it against anyone who doesn’t vote as he does. His own decision is difficult considering his belief that foreign policy should be reached in a bipartisan manner. If he ever had doubt, he erred on the side of military strength. That habit would tell him to sign off on spending for the MX missile system. Yet, he is troubled by what he sees as “painfully misguided priorities”. Wright notes this spending will erase any chance of reducing the deficit and will keep interest rates at their current high rate, hurting the average American.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Jim Wright (D-TX) continues speaking on the floor of the House, noting the erosion of federal revenue the past two years while increasing the level of military spending. Rep. Wright worries that continuing these priorities for another two years could produce irreversible damage, noting only one-fifth of the U.S. expenditures go toward helping the homeless, handicapped, needy, disadvantaged, dispossessed, elderly, and young, yet that one-fifth has seen a sixty percent budget cut. The effect of recent tax cuts has been to “siphon away” money from families making under $10,000 a year, while putting more money into the pockets of those making $80,000 a year or more. Wright explains his recent actions to stall or cap the last installment of tax cuts, but U.S. President Ronald Reagan threatened to use the veto. Instead, President Reagan, to address a part of the deficit, wants a vote on a “standby surtax” that would affect low and middle-income wage earners.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Jim Wright (D-TX) continues speaking on the floor of the House; he criticizes the Reagan Administration for reducing vocational education, adult education, student loans, Pell Grants, and school lunch, all of which make for an educated citizenry. Rep. Wright states that it does not matter how sophisticated our weaponry or machinery is, the U.S. will not be first in defense or commerce if the U.S. settles “for second best in education. We can’t just pray for better schools, we gotta be willing to pay for better schools. Now I’ve concluded that a nation which cannot afford first-class education for its young, cannot afford every new military gadget that it craves.” Rep. Wright notes that the U.S. and Russia have enough weapons to kill each other multiple times. Wright states the Bennett Amendment allows for research and development of the MX missile to continue, but it stops short of deployment.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Jim Wright (D-TX) continues speaking on the floor of the House, where he makes it clear no one has to join him, and that everyone is free to follow their own conscience. For him, this is enough, stating that bipartisanship is a two-way street. By voting for the Bennett Amendment, he hopes to send a message that “these deranged priorities must be set right before in our mad rush to be powerful and feared, we snuff out the ennobling things that had made us great, and worthy to be emulated.” Rep. Wright leaves the well of the House to applause; Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) stands from the Speaker’s Platform, banging gavel and recognizes Rep. Charles Melvin Price (D-IL), who yields four minutes to Rep. Leslie Aspin (D-WI); adult Caucasian and African American males and females seated around House Rostrum, Rep. Aspin walks to the well of the House.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Leslie Aspin (D-WI) talks about the Bennett Amendment and continual waste of money on research and development without production of the MX missile. If the amendment passes, then this R&D without production continues. Rep. Aspin talks about the different factions in the House who don’t want the MX, but want smaller missiles; those who believe having just the smaller missiles undercuts arms control negotiations, and still others will vote for no new missile production. The problem then comes back to square one: no one has the necessary votes for the MX missile system, or any alternative weapons system, or to cut out the MX missile entirely. This wouldn’t be a bad outcome, if not for two issues. How do you negotiate with the Soviets on intercontinental ballistic missiles if the U.S. can’t make decisions on its own missiles, and how can the U.S. get Europe to make difficult missile deployment decisions if the U.S. can’t figure it out.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Debate - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Leslie Aspin (D-WI) speaks to the risks of voting either way on the Bennett Amendment, but believes voting for the amendment carries greater risks. Voting for the amendment brings everyone back to square one. Rep. Aspin believes that should not be the risk taken without being given “a little more time”. Rep. Aspin asks everyone to vote against the amendment now and bring it up again in a couple of months rather than vote for it now and risk “the package” falling apart. Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) stands atop the Speaker’s Platform, bangs the gavel, and notes all debate time has expired.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Vote - MX Missile
U.S. House Representative Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) stands atop the Speaker’s Platform; he turns to the topic of the Bennett Amendment and asks members of the House to voice their vote. In the opinion of the Chair (Rep. Rostenkowski), the “ayes have it” which prompts an adult Congressman (o/s) to ask for a recorded vote. Rep. Rostenkowski orders a vote by electronic device and the screen fades to blue with the voting tally appearing for the Bennett Amendment. Rep. Rostenkowski announces the amendment’s failure to pass, and recognizes “the gentleman from Illinois”; adult, predominantly Caucasian males, seated and standing around House Rostrum, and the well of the House. Rep. Rostenkowski announces a motion to no objection and “accordingly, the committee rises”; he bangs the gavel and leaves the Speaker’s Platform as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Tip O’Neil (D-MA), replaces him. Speaker O’Neill hears a formal report from Rep. Rostenkowski, now on the House floor.
U.S. House of Representatives - Administrative Duties
Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill (D-MA), performs administrative duties of the House, including having an elderly adult Caucasian male clerk read request for personal leave of absence for Rep. Peter Rodino (D-NJ), and hearing requests from Rep. Jamie Whitten (D-MS) for consent to file reports on House Resolutions regarding appropriations; adult Caucasian Congressman socialize at the well of the House; adult Caucasian and African American males and females seated at House Rostrum. Speaker O’Neill hears an objection and becomes annoyed with the interruption on “perfunctory” matters, assuring that he will not let anything be “sneaked through” at this time of night. Rep. Robert Walker (R-PA) made the objection because he could not even hear the request being made, and simply wishes to hear the request, which is then repeated by Rep. Whitten. Speaker O’Neill interjects: "Does the gentleman understand?" To laughter, Rep. Walker, states he is satisfied, and withdraws his objection.
U.S. House of Representatives - Announcement of House Resolutions and Reports
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Tip O’Neill (D-MA), still laughing, continues performing the administrative duties of the House, recognizing “the gentleman from Michigan”, who announces he’s sent to the desk four privileged reports; adult Caucasian and African American males and females seated at the House Rostrum. Speaker O’Neill announces the elderly adult Caucasian male clerk will report the resolutions as Rep. William Louis Dickinson (R-AL) rises to ask unanimous consent to insert two letters into his filed remarks. Clerk announces House Resolutions to amend the Civil Right Act of 1957, extending the Civil Rights Commission, to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act, authorizing appropriations for 1984-1986, to amend the Energy Conversation in Existing Buildings Act of 1976, providing weatherization for housing and employment in weatherization related industries, to amend the Social Security Act, providing grants to states for health-care benefits to the unemployed.
U.S. House of Representatives - Floor Schedule Question
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Tip O’Neill (D-MA) recognizes Rep. Robert Michel (R-IL); adult Caucasian and African American, predominantly males, seated at House Rostrum. Rep. Michel asks for the next day’s schedule and Speaker O’Neill states there is no intention to hold a session on Friday, but tomorrow will focus on the Defense Authorization Bill. Speaker O’Neill also notes the Chairman of the Finance Committee hoped to bring up matters regarding the International Monetary Fund if there can be bipartisan agreement. Rep. William Louis Dickinson (R-AL) asks if the IMF agreement can be made, would it be brought up before the Defense Bill. Speaker O’Neill states if there was agreement, then it would come first. Speaker O’Neill and Rep. Michel engage in discussion on issues regarding bringing the IMF bill to the floor tomorrow, with Speaker O’Neill wary of the issues surrounding the bill and not wanting to waste time on a bill that won’t pass without negotiations.
U.S. House of Representatives - Administrative Procedures
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Tip O’Neil (D-MA), asks adult Caucasian male standing adjacent to the Speaker’s Platform what’s next, then recognizes Representative Christopher Smith (R-NJ), while also announcing that formal business has concluded for the day; adult Caucasian and African American males and females seated around the House Rostrum. Rep. Smith asks for unanimous consent for certain address the House to revise and extend remarks, and include any extraneous matter, then proceeds to give names, date, and length of time corresponding to each; then does the same for members of Congress who simply want to revise and extend their remarks. Following Rep. Smith, Rep. Theodore Weiss (D-NY) makes same requests.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor - Tribute to Frank Reynolds
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Tip O’Neil (D-MA) from the Speaker’s chair, recognizes Representative Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL) for one minute. Rep. Rostenkowski walks to the well of the House to pay tribute to Frank Reynolds, a journalist for CBS and ABC News; adult Caucasian and African American males and females seated around House Rostrum. Rep. Rostenkowski recounts his personal encounter with Reynolds in Chicago, after U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and his honorably behavior during the playing of the National Anthem at the 1980 Democratic Convention in New York.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor - Tribute to Karl Menninger
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Tip O’Neill (D-MA) hands the gavel to Representative James Moody (D-WI) as he leaves the Speaker’s Platform; adult Caucasian and African American males and females seated around the House Rostrum. Rep. Moody recognizes Rep. James Slattery (D-KS), who walks to the well of the House to pay tribute to Dr. Karl Menninger, soon to turn ninety years old, for his extraordinary service in the field of psychiatry within the communities around Topeka, Kansas. His next book specifically deals with his personal concerns regarding the possibility of nuclear war and the effects it may have on the psyches of children. Rep. Slattery notes Dr. Menninger’s work in psychiatry known around the world, and thanks him for bringing the treatment of mental disorders out of the darkness and into the light.
U.S. House of Representatives Floor - Tribute to Karl Menninger
U.S. House Representative, James Slattery (D-KS), continues honoring the life and work of Dr. Karl Menninger, who soon turns ninety years old. Rep. Slattery provides two notable achievements in Dr. Menninger’s life: being memorialized in a stained-glass window at the National Cathedral and receiving the Metal of Freedom.