The Changing Congress; The Rules of the Game

National Educational Television and Radio Center · June 6, 1965

The bottlenecks and hurdles that a piece of legislation must surmount before passage are examined as this program illustrates the complex interplay of activities, strategy, persuasion, and compromise that enter into the legislative process. To focus on the pressure points, "The Rules of the Game" pays particular attention to a water pollution bill of national interest and a legislative project of local interest -- both advocated by Congressman James C. Wright, Jr. (D.-Texas). A member of the House Public Works Committee, Mr. Wright is the key supporter of the Trinity River Bill which, if passed, would benefit Fort Worth and the Dallas vicinities. Taking into account that about 20,000 pieces of legislation are introduced -- of which about 800 are signed into law -- in each Congressional session, the program documents the various methods used by Congressman as they consider Congressman Wright's projects. The bottlenecks and hurdles that a piece of legislation must surmount before passage are examined as this program illustrates the complex interplay of activities, strategy, persuasion, and compromise that enter into the legislative process. To focus on the pressure points, The Rules of the Game pays particular attention to a water pollution bill of national interest and a legislative project of local interest -- both advocated by Congressman James C. Wright, Jr. (D.-Texas). A member of the House Public Works Committee, Mr. Wright is the key supporter of the Trinity River Bill which, if passed, would benefit Fort Worth and the Dallas vicinities. Taking into account that about 20,000 pieces of legislation are introduced -- of which about 800 are signed into law -- in each Congressional session, the program documents the various methods used by Congressman as they consider Congressman Wright's projects. Host Joseph McCaffrey gets the candid view of: Senate Minority Leader Everett M. Dirksen (R - Illinois), who talks about the use of the filibusters, the effectiveness of legislators in steering their bills, and the importance of timing in handling the proposal. Representative Howard W. Smith (D - Virginia), a conservative and chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee, who talks about the Committee's influence since it was enlarged in membership in 1962 through the efforts of the liberal factions in the House. Senator Edmund S. Muskie (D - Maine), of the Senate Public Works Committee, who talks about the procedures involved when House and Senate versions of the same bill clash, and a conference committee is called to resolve them. D.B. Hardeman, an aide to the late House Speaker Sam Rayburn and recently retired senior staff man to House Majority Whip Hale Boggs (D - Louisiana) describes some of the techniques of Congressional operations. (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)