Henry Kissinger Photo Op
Henry Kissinger Photo Op
Adult Caucasian male camera crew walking into room where former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and U.S. Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) are seen standing together; media and photographers taking pictures.
Henry Kissinger Photo Op
U.S. Senator Charles Mathias (R-MD) meeting with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Mathias says: "Well, I, for one, am very happy to welcome Secretary Kissinger back to the Capitol. I look forward to working with him on this Commission, which, I think, can render an enormously important service to the U.S. What I believe Senator Jackson and I foresaw can actually come to pass under Dr. Kissinger's leadership; which is the development of long range program which will meet the needs the of the people of Central America, and equally importantly, will have such a sustained support in North America that it can transcend any administration or any sitting Congress. It can become part of our policy as a nation. That's a big order, but I think Dr. Kissinger can fill it." Kissinger steps up to deliver statement: "Well, Senator Mathias has exactly stated the objectives that we have set for ourselves, and I hope very much that the Commission can fulfill its expectations. Those are exactly the goals that we set ourselves." Adult female voice (off camera): "Mr. Secretary, in your visit today, are you finding any dissatisfaction with the administration's policies so far?" Kissinger replies: "Well, I'm finding some uncertainty about the ultimate direction of events, and general support for an attempt to define objectives that go beyond the tactical into the long-term, and that can demand a bipartisan support." Adult female: "In other words, you seem to be finding pleasure at the creation of the commission, but a little dissatisfaction with the current policies, particularly the barricade?" Kissinger: "You know, there's also some dispute about whether the commission is the way to tackle it, but there is---I think I found general agreement that we need a long term policy that is not dependent on any one party, and that reflects the values of this country, and the concerns of the peoples of Latin America." Female reporter continues: "Mr. Secretary, but on policy today, are you finding any dissatisfaction or fear about our current policy, the way we're going now in Central America, in your discussions?" Kissinger replies: "Well, I have focused not so much on the current policy, but on the long term. I find considerable support for what Senator Mathias has indicated." Kissinger and Mathias walking away from cameras; adult Caucasian male and female associates follow.
Henry Kissinger Photo Op
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger walking down hallway and into room with two elderly adult Caucasian men and an adult African American male. Camera follows adult Caucasian male members of the camera crew through doorway. Kissinger sitting across from U.S. House Representative Mike Barnes (D-MD); they discuss the disadvantages of trying to catch a sports broadcast overseas; adult male voice (off camera) requests the lights to be turned off, so they can fit more cameras within the room; camera changes position.
U.S. House Representative Mike Barnes Press Conference
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and U.S. House Representative Mike Barnes (D-MD) standing together at press conference; several adult Caucasian men standing in BG. Barnes replies: "I'm pleased to have had a chance to talk with Secretary Kissinger about the Kissinger Commission. I've been asked by the Speaker to serve as one of four members of the House, who will be counselors to the Commission. I look forward to working with Secretary Kissinger and his colleagues on the Commission, and I hope to be very active in my role as counselor. I intend to, if possible, to attend all of the sessions with the Commission and participate very actively. I hope to represent my colleagues in the House, and the views that they have with respect to the U.S. interests in Central America, and how those interests can be advanced. And I think this Commission can play a constructive role. As the Secretary said yesterday at his press conference, the Commission's purpose is to look at the long term interests of the United States and Central America; not to try and get involved in the issues of the moment, the day to day problems, and I think that's exactly the right role for the Commission to play. So I'm pleased that the Secretary has laid that out as the mission he sees the Commission having, and I look forward to actively participating in it." Kissinger and Barnes shaking hands. Kissinger waving to the press pool and walks away. Rep Barnes stays to take more questions from an adult Caucasian male reporter: "Senator Bingaman introduced a resolution yesterday. He expressed concern that this six month military exercise with four thousand men gives us kind of a semi-permanent presence in Central America that he is concerned about. What's your thought about that?" Elderly adult Caucasian crewman wearing headphones, standing next to adult Caucasian male reporter.
U.S. House Representative Mike Barnes Press Conference
Elderly adult Caucasian man wearing headphones at press conference. U.S. House Representative Mike Barnes (D-MD) answering questions: "Well, I agree totally with Senator Bingaman (D-NM). I introduced the same resolution, identical resolution, in the House. It was introduced in the Senate by Senator Bingaman and Senator Inouye (D-HI). And it was introduced in the House by myself and Congressman Bill Alexander from Arkansas. I totally concur in Senator Bingaman's concern. Really, when you send thousands of troops and a large fleet to a region of the world for five or six months, you're not talking about a military exercise, you're talking about a deployment of force into the region. And this is obviously intended, as spokesmen for the Defense Department, State Department have said, to intimidate countries in the region. It's not just a military exercise." Adult male reporter (off camera): "Congressman, yesterday Secretary Kissinger said he didn't think what was going on down there would produce irretrievable results that would perfect the outcome of his report due in February. Do you agree with his assessment, or do you agree that some things we could not back off, if we continue the present?" Rep. Barnes replies: "The people we're financing in Nicaragua don't agree with Secretary Kissinger's assessments. They say they'll be in Managua by Christmas. I frankly hope that the Reagan administration will show restraint, and act in a responsible manner, so that when the Commission presents its report, it won't already have the U.S. engaged in major hostilities in the region. That's very possible. The Presidents of the so-called Contadora countries (Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, and Colombia) said last week in their formal declaration that they issued in Cancun, Mexico last week that they think there's an imminent danger of a general war in Central America. And they called upon every country in the hemisphere to show restraint, to help to reduce tensions, to reduce the militarization in Central America. And I think the United States of America has responded in exactly the wrong way to that appeal from our friends in the region, the Presidents of four democracies in the Western hemisphere. We, rather than helping to reduce tensions as they've asked us to do, and rather than helping reduce the militarization of Central America, we're sending in large numbers of troops, sending the fleet down there, upping the ante, raising the tensions, and increasing the likelihood of an outbreak of hostilities. It's a very dangerous policy that the United States is engaged in at this time. I apologize, that's the second call you just heard; that's the second call for a vote. I've gotta run, thank you." Rep. Barnes leaves the press conference; adult Caucasian male and female reporters with "CNN" cameraman in FG.