The Changing Congress; From the White House to the Hill

National Educational Television and Radio Center · July 11, 1965

The executive branchs lobbying force, described by political experts as the best organized and coordinated in the nation, is examined with respects to its relationship with Congress. Specifically, the program considers the influential pressures of the Johnson treatment, the various causes and events that have led to increasing executive dominance in initiating legislation, and the criticisms and attacks made against the present Presidential lobby teams. In the program survey, program host Joseph McCaffrey talks with Lawrence OBrien, President Johnsons special assistant in charge of Congressional relations, who appears for the first time in nearly three years in an executive television interview. The program also examines the Administrations lobby role in interviews with Vice President Hubert Humphrey, eight Congressmen, and follows it in action through the efforts of William Gibbons, White House liaison, as he seeks to push the foreign aid bill through Congress. Mr. Gibbons is seen in a rarely televised meeting with assistant Democratic Party whips: consultation with David Bell, foreign aid program administrator; a headcount tally session with Mr. OBrien; and lobby with his White House colleagues in the Congressional corridors on the day of the vote on the bill. The legislators who appear in the program are U.S. Representatives Morris Udall (D Arizona), Jeffrey Cohelan (D California), Melvin Laird (R Wisconsin), Peter Frelinghuysen (R New Jersey), Albert Quie (R Minnesota), Charles Goodell (R New York), and U.S. Senator Paul Douglas (D Illinois). (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) Covering the broad spectrum of our nation's legislative branch, "The Changing Congress" explores with interviews, commentary, film excerpts, and on-location coverage the colorful history of Congress, its evolution, development, problems, achievements, operation, inner workings, image, performances, relationship with other government branches, its function as the representative body of the American people, and future courses. The Changing Congress scrutinizes where the power lies in Congress, Washington life as seen through the activities of a Senator and Representative, the power structure and hurdles that must be surmounted for legislation to pass, the pros and cons of Congressional probes, influences of the constituency and lobby groups on Congress, the increasing dominance of the executive branch with respect to legislation, the extent to which Congress shapes foreign affairs, and proposals for Congressional reform. The series host, John F. McCaffrey, dean of Washington television news correspondents and award-winning commentator, has been an observer of the Capitol Hill scene for more than twenty years. Mr. McCaffrey started in news broadcasting while working as a newspaper reporter prior to World War II. Following active service, he joined the Washington bureau of CBS. Later, he served as Washington editor for Mutual Newsreel of the Air. In 1954, he started his own Washington bureau, serving mid-western radio and television stations. Besides appearing on television, Mr. McCaffrey hosts, "Today in Congress," the only daily radio program devoted to Capitol Hill happenings. A lecturer and author of political affairs, Mr. McCaffrey is a two-time winner of the Washington chapter of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy Award. The Changing Congress is a 1965 production of National Educational Television. It consists of 9 half-hour episodes that were originally recorded on videotape. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)