LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
WETA "LAWMAKERS" 11/23/1983 IN 13.51.45-WETA credit/sponsor credits/title sequence 13.52.32-PAUL DUKE/LINDA WERTHEIMER/COKIE ROBERTS-on program: a wrapup of 1983 session of Congress. First, a report on 20th anniversary of JFK ASSASSINATION with attenton to JFK'S legislative career. 13.53.18-Rep. ROBERT MICHEL at podium, noting the anniversary. Shot of TED KENNEDY. C/S HOWARD BAKER speaking, says JFK had a sense of the history of the government and a respect for different opinions in politics. Shots of TIP O'NEILL telling JFK stories, joking about how JFK got more votes from O'NEILL'S home precinct in a Senate election than O'NEILL got in his House election. Clips of old films showing JFK as a Congressman. C/S Rep. PETER RODINO (D-NJ) in office, says JFK was committed as a legislator to the people's concerns. Still of young JFK. DUKE v.o.-at first, JFK made more headlines as an "eligible bachelor" and playboy than as a legislator. C/U of magazine article with very ironically dated headline "THE SENATE'S GAY YOUNG BACHELOR". RODINO says it was true that JFK was quite a man about town in the early days, so some rumors may have had a basis in fact. 13.55.36-Clip of 1950's film showing the door of JFK'S Senate office opening to show visitors inside waiting to meet with JFK to discuss parochial Massachusetts concerns, JFK meeting with female staff who hand him pieces of mail to read. RODINO v.o.-KENNEDY was very active in serving his constituents. B/W Clip of 1956 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, shots of JACKIE KENNEDY and JFK. V.o.-JFK had a near miss in getting vice-presidential nomination in 1956. C/S ROBERT NOVAK in office, recalls reporting on KENNEDY trying to get serious in Senate about launching a bid for Presidency. Clip of B/W film of JFK in Senate hearings on LABOR RACKETEERING, JFK interrogating a TEAMSTERS LEADER about bribery. Shots of headlines, still of JFK and BOBBY KENNEDY. NOVAK v.o.-the issue of labor reform shot JFK to national prominence because he got such great TV EXPOSURE. 13.57.21-CLIP of 1960 newsreel with title "KENNEDY TOSSES HAT IN THE RING", announcing his candidacy, shot of JACKIE KENNEDY looking on. C/S ROBERT NOVAK, discusses the way KENNEDY was able to use TV to his advantage. Stills of JFK. NOVAK discusses some JFK legends from his Congressional days, including rumor that JFK would always borrow money from staffers and be slow to pay it back. C/S Rep. RODINO, tells a story about arranging for a group of female supporters to meet JFK and all of them going ga-ga over JFK. 13.59.45-DUKE/WERTHEIMER/ROBERTS-discussion of JFK'S relationship with Capitol Hill during presidency.