The Changing Congress; Pressures and Persuasion

National Educational Television and Radio Center · June 27, 1965

This program focuses on the influence that lobby and pressure groups attempt to exert on Congress, and in particular concentrates on three points of interests the lobbying operation of the Teamsters Union, the controversy over the current Senate proposal to ban mail-order guns, and the matter of reforming the Lobby Act laws. Defining the ways that lobby groups function, the program shows the Teamsters lobby force at work on the repeal of Section 14-B of the Taft-Hartley Act, dealing with the right-to-work clause. The program follows about 200 wives of Teamsters members from Pennsylvania. The wives have been brought to Washington for a three-day lobby round, in which they hear a briefing by Teamsters officials, give their views to Congressmen, hold a luncheon where they are addressed by legislators, and attend a banquet-report meeting where they give a rundown of their efforts. This segment on the Teamsters shows Representative John H. Dent (D Pennsylvania) and Senator Joseph Clark (D Pennsylvania) committing their support of the repeal to the ladies. In the briefing session, Teamster chief lobbyist Sidney Zagri tells the delegation, Your vote is a most important weapon, because through your vote you can elect your friends and defeat your enemies. Mr. Zagri gives his credo for successful lobbying: I believe that two conditions must exist before a successful legislative program can come to fruition. One, we must be right on the merits, but even more important, must be politically right. The Congressman must feel safe in voting his persuasion. If he doesnt feel safe, he may very well vote against his own convictions because he would rather be elected than be right and be defeated. Pursuing the gun mail-order ban, an issue that has pitted the National Rifle Association against the Senate Subcommittee for the Investigation of Juvenile Delinquency, the program presents the views of U.S. Senator Thomas Dodd (D Connecticut), the subcommittee chairman; the views of Franklin Orth, NRA executive secretary; and the subcommittee testimony of U.S. Senator Robert Kennedy (D New York). Mr. Orth defends his organizations opposition to the proposal. Senator Kennedy testifies, We have a responsibility to victims of crime and violence, a responsibility to think not only of our convenience, but of the tragedy of sudden death. The program also takes a historical look at lobbying and explores the loopholes in the lobby laws. U.S. Senator William Proxmire (D Wisconsin) and Dr. Royce Hanson, political scientist at American University, state the case for reform of the lobby laws. (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)