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PSC 305: Presidency and Congress.

PBS, "The Real Life of Ron Reagan".

CBS, "Watergate: Secret Story".

PBS, "The Long March of Newt Gingrich."

PBS, "Fall of Newt Gingrich".

PBS, "Debating Our Destiny." (moved to debating notes page)

Freedom Forum, "Television and the Presidency."

PBS Frontline, "The Clinton Years."

PBS, "The War Room" (moved to PSC 311 videos page)

• 5 burglars, sophisticated photo equipment ... the mystery begins to build
• watergate break-in  -2 break-ins ... put wires ... broke in the second time after wires weren't working
• al baldwin -job to monitor wire conversations
• no evidence of a call girl ring --purely politics

• richard nixon's inaugural --seeds of watergate planted
• people protested war during inauguration day
• nixon authorized wire taps on his own employees  --the dishonesty begins
• meetings where nixon was pounding desks and said he wanted "classified papers" stopped from leaking  - started the escalation of watergate
• houston plan  -planned burglaries in the white house and wired phone lines in nixon and others offices
• presidential politics of nixon's fear of election spilled  over to the watergate scandal

• Muskie  -the one they were really afraid of attempt to destroy campaign
• "dirty tricks"  -hired college student to do pranks on the national scale (put up posters, ordered 100s of pizzas for dem party, etc...)
• george mcgovern  --got the candidate they wanted  --would ensure the election since the dem had to get george since the other candidates where sabotaged

• FBI gathered evidence in a hurry -the white house panics
• tried to entangle the CIA in the burglaries
• cover-up started one day after break-in

• told nixon that they had ties to break-in ... nixon said they couldn't be that stupid and was upset that they may get in trouble
• the washington post  -source named "deep throat" helped and steered the post through the watergate scandal and kept story alive during the cover-up
• "deep throat" never came forward and is still alive and still hasn't come forward

• CIA was told to block the FBI by nixon - this would prove to be the fall of nixon as obvious obstruction of justice
• washington post was told to "follow the money" cause the money trail of watergate was important
• thoughts of impeachment arose
• polls still showed nixon ahead in polls two weeks  before election
• "secret slush fund" -375,000 dollars
• washington post becomes afraid that they were going to get brought down by reporting interpretations  that were wrong
• nixon admin. tried to manipulate the news broadcasts through  their releases and through persuasion
• nixon was re-elected on a landslide despite the stories of watergate

• early Feb. -senate voted for hearings for investigation
• mccord cracked and gave the judge papers that convicted the white house admin. in the  scandal
• foundation began to crumble  -implicated white house officials in the break-in
• chief of staff and the issues "guy" both resigned  -the wall around nixon was crumbling
• john dean  -held the key to the presidents involvement in the scandal
• dean  -laid out the entire affair from break-in to cover up telling of the presidents and the administration's involvement

• executive privilege was nixon's stand on why the tapes shouldn't be released for evidence
• profound moment of watergate -nixon refused to give up the tapes while archibald said he would hold him in contempt
• nixon tried to fire archibald -basically said the was above the law and he wanted to fire the guy attempting to uphold the law
• march 1st -indicted 7 people and named nixon as an unindicted accomplice
• shows that the president is not above the law
• august 8, 1974 -resignation speech

• not a composite ... he's real man that's still alive
• describes deep throat as a heavy smoker
• L. Patrick Gray  --could be deep throat -disgusted as he was dragged into the scandal -he was with the FBI
• woodward and deep throat had set weird signals for meeting times and stuff
• Gray wouldn't talk to anyone ... denies it through his lawyer

• dean -four months in prison over watergate
• mcgruder -seven months in prison for watergate ... now a methodist minister
• mitchell - 19 months for involvement
• segreti  -four and 1/2 months  in prison
• Krogh -several months in prison

• a group working to reelect nixon broke n t the watergate.
• this caused richard nixon's downfall.
• the question is who was deep throat, the mystery kept compounding itself.
• james mccrd worked at the CIA and was the lead burglar, there were two burglaries. the second after they realized the recorder did not work.
• there was no call girl ring according to baldwin after he listened t tapes, they copied every paper they could fnd.
• inaugural day for nixon was tough because many people were protesting the war.
• nixon athorzed wire taps within his own adminnistration.
• leaks to the press that he thought undermined his foreign policy.
• the pentagon papers. hunt and liddy and crow were "plumbers" to plug the leaks.
• nixon's fear if losing ltimately led to watergate. segreti was brought into the campain t do "dirty tricks",
• he pitted the democratic candidates angrily against each other.
• they destryed the candidate who had the best chance to win against nixon, Muskie.
• the watergate was broken into by 5 people who were involved with the cia.
• Rchard helms, cia director,  said they had no part in this as an organization.
• the source for the washington post was jokngly namedd deep throat. it was a single person who kept the washington post investingating.
• upon the death of deep throat, he will be identified, the lead for deep throat is to follow the money.
• hugh sloan, treasurer, would disperse money from a secret fund, the fund held about half a million dollars.
• two weeks before election nixon was leading in the polls.
• 375 thousand dollars secret slush fund.

• Nixon fired Judge Archibald Cox – Cox was the man who delivered subpoena
• Became know as the Saturday Night Massacre
• Party felt like Nixon thought he was above the law. They could not support a president who tried to obstruct justice.
• 22 bills of impeachment presented before congress.
• Special inspectors found erased areas on tapes were intentional.
• Supreme Court decided that Nixon must give up all remaining tapes.
• House committee moves to put Nixon on trial.
• Full Congress prepared to vote.
• The White House releases one final tape – tape revealed Nixon clearly asking Haldeman to obstruct justice: Nixon speaks about getting hush money for the burglars
• Nixon meets with Goldwater – Goldwater tells him no to let vote go to the House: he would get maybe 10 votes.
• Nixon resigned August 8

• Father was a barroom pug.  Marriage ended after three days because of domestic abuse, father left for navy, and Newt born afterwards.
• Adoptive Stepfather Bob Gingrich stern, miliary career, "classic psychodrama".
• Precocious child, with sisters and a love of zoo animals.  At 10 he proposed  zoo to the major, in the local paper.
• Identified John Wayne in Sands of Iwo jima as his father.  But father says Newt had poor vision and flat feet, not suitable for military.
• Fascinated to see Verdun battleground with rusty helmets.  Learned of politicians' responsibility for wars and casualties.

• Ran friend's (Jim Tilden) Republican campaign for student body president in Democratic Columbus Georgia.
• Tried out for football but had head too large for available helmets.
• Love affair with middle aged math teacher, followed her to Atlanta and married her. Father declined to attend. Two girls.
• Tulane PhD program in history, New Orleans.  Brash, cocky, intellectually engaged, devotee of Alvin Toffler, taught at Free University and experimented with marijuana.
• Loved political organization in liberal wing of Republicans, helped organize Nelson Rockefeller's campaign.

• Taught at West GA College, in 6th district, for potential campaign.
• Newt had sense of historical purpose, follower of Churchill.  Stimulating teacher, if not deepest writer. "Mr. Truth."
• 1974 ran as liberal republican against entrenched southern democrat, Jack Flynt.  Won 47% of vote, very respectable without winning seat.
• 1976 swept aside by Carter's tidal wave in GA.  Accepted $13,000 from local businessmen to take time to write before next campaign.  Lost teaching job owing to political absences -- and not a good writer.
• 1978 Flynt retired, opponent a moderate female to be portrayed as a liberal.  Newt calls for republicans to be "nasty" and "raise hell".  Hounded Virginia Shepherd with negative spots, 'coddling welfare cheats with Julian Bond.'
• Used wife in ads and dear neighbor letters saing Newt unlike Shepherd would take family with him.  Marriage was falling apart, Newt seeing other women.
• Aggressively soliciting donations from corporations -- even those he had criticized before, for polluting.  Criticism reduced and stopped.
• Won Democratic seat of 25 years.
• Demanded a divorce from Jackie, when she was in hospital.  He then refused to pay alimony; aides had to pass the hat for children.
• Second marriage to Marianne, more impressionable.

• Defiant freshman in Congress; declared objective to be Speaker and build a Republican majority.  Seen as Quixotic.
• Deliberately quotable for press, used new C-SPAN.
• Confrontation with Speaker O'Neill on television.
• Accusation of corruption brought down Speaker Jim Wright (D-TX) over interest group donations and "royalties".
• As Republican Whip, defied president Bush over compromises with the Democrats.
• Took over GOPAC 1986, with its true believers, raising $15M to develop new breed of Republicans.  Large sums of soft money from a few tycoons.
• Provided glossary of terms to lambast Democrats with, and training tapes, across country.
• Calling for a political revolution, tough on crime, workfare, building a majority.
• Culture war theme, highlighting examples of barbarous behavior to stir up new Republicans.
• Pitched Contract With America 1994.  Candidates signed in large numbers for congressional reform, welfare reform, balanced budget.
• Won the speakership.

• Gingrich held meeting with Republican House leadership to decide how to handle this.
• Tension between Reps. closest supporters at home (activists) and polls of opinion across the country -- instinct was to stick with base.
• House votes 360-350 to disclose all documents -- Gingrich interpreted this as placing all on internet, including videotape of explicit interrogation.  Disclosure backfired by repulsing public.  G: Starr's report was too sexually oriented rather than legally oriented, but electorate deserves to know everything that does not affect national security.
• Tension between Republicans who seek police gear from war on drugs and Gen. McCaffrey who argued for money for treatment.  G: administration has failed to show leadership on this issue, should not intervene.  Eventually Gen. M. supported the bill.  War on drugs bill passed, 365-10.

• G puts Hyde in charge of decision on impeachment -- but press not interested in G's positive policy issues.
• Census issue: whether to count traditionally or by survey and statistical adjustment.
• President tries to show continuing work despite the scandal.

• G: Clinton unreliable to negotiate with.  Not wanting to lose in public opinion again, G agrees with Pres on compromise budget.  New Repubs fed up with pork barrel compromises -- G accuses them of perfectionist caucus. What would they do under constitution?

• G: numerous events to support Repubs, sticking to issues and ignoring impeachment.  Press obliged to follow G for photo ops in case he slipped.
• Lee Terry, R cand, reports voter apathy, dislike of politics, scandals.  G travelled 15 states in a weekend.  First R speaker in 68 years.  G unable to obtain media coverage for issues because of scandal.
• Larry Flynt offers $1M for info on scandals.
• Rep. Helen Chenoweth (R) assisted, despite her own 25 yr old scandal of affair with a married man.
• Repubs put out TV spots against Clinton's scandal in a few states, but these are picked up the national media.  CNN's Bob Franken tried to question G about scandal, but he declines.
• War room for congressional results, with John Morgan, election analyst.  By third or fourth election, difficult to beat candidates who have "ascended to heaven".

     The theme of the movie is the frustration that Newt Gingrich has during the Clinton scandal with Monica Lewinsky. The movie re-iterates how powerful Newt Gingrich was during 1994, when Gingrich masterminded the first Republican take over in Congress. In 1996 Gingrich was blamed for a bill that would not be passed by Congress but the president at that time, Bill Clinton, wanted it to be passed. In response to this, the Government shut down.
     September 9 was the date that news media focused in on President Bill Clinton. This marks when the news, along with the rest of the world, about the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky affair. This put a lot of pressure on Gingrich because everyone wanted to know how the Congress and Senate would vote about Clinton’s punishment. Instead of being hasty, Gingrich assess the public and political consequences before making any decisions. Many of the Republican Congressmen came back from being at home and make the claim that everyone they heard or talked to all said the same thing, get Clinton out of there. The problem with this is whether or not these people saying these things are supporters of their Congressmen or if it is a fair representation of the American people.
     The vote in the House of Representatives on whether to release all information on the Clinton scandal was 350-360. The public was very upset when they saw the tapes of Bill Clinton’s testimony, and became very angry with the Republican Party because they felt that this was a political scam. Also they felt that this was too intrusive on the President. This led to the thickening of the division between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Luckily Gingrich still got his bill on drugs passed anyway, 365-10.
     Democrats decide that they would rather censure Bill Clinton instead of impeaching him. Gingrich felt that there was enough to impeach him but not convict him. House of Representatives brings all articles of impeachment and Senate listen to all evidence and both vote, Senate votes like a jury. The decision was made to impeach the President, and Gingrich tries to separate himself from all that is going on. Gingrich is now focused on the upcoming elections.
     He begins to travel the country because he wants the majority of seats to be Republican. Unfortunately, the thing that would hurt the Republicans is the fact that no one has passed a bill on the issue of the budget. So now they are trying to get everything together to pass their budget plan so that the government won’t shut down. Some Republicans were upset because they felt that Clinton had too much say so in the bill. The House of Representatives pass the spending bill anyway.
     In order to help his campaign, he went to visit an elementary school to soften his public image, and it did. {According to Dr. Lewis, two years after you have been in office is when you are very vulnerable to not being re-elected. But after that point, you are pretty safe.} Newt goes around to certain districts and helps other congressmen in their campaign for re-election. {He <Newt Gingrich> draws contrasts between Republican Party and Democrat Party to rally the Party base.} The problem that Gingrich runs into in the end is that this election year is being completely ignored due to the Clinton scandal. Gingrich says that it is almost like the election isn’t even happening.

FDR learned to use radio to great effect (fireside chats).

Truman considered TV but felt it lacked an audience at the time.

Ike was uneasy on TV, but managed to convey reassurance without saying anything substantive.

(Ike's campaign spots not shown)

Kennedy first successful TV president.  At ease with himself, confident and charming in stonewalling reporters' questions.

First president to use live televised press conferences, although TV not yet a dominant medium

recognition of means to bypass Congress and speak directly to the people, but wary of safeguarding relations with Congress

live TV equipment was still bulky and inconvenient

Reagan the first president since Kennedy to be persuasively at ease with himself on TV.

Live reporting from WH was convenient by then

the man matched the medium

For a decade, RWR had been spokesman for GE all-electric homes, highly experienced on TV

self-deprecatory humor valuable on TV

Successes are comfortable with themselves on TV, use humor

JFK "life is unfair" speech

RWR Normandy memorial speech

JFK family very interesting and entertaining for TV, but Carter family dull on TV

RMN: "I am not a crook" speech

LBJ and RMN under great pressure from reporters.  TV showed graphically the flaws in each man.  TV coverage of VN and Chicago riots felled LBJ, televised Watergate hearings felled Nixon.

LBJ installed TV studio in WH, staffed around the clock -- unfortunately, LBJ interrupted late night Bonanza for announcement of sending troops to Dominican Republic, 1965.

LBJ so persuasive in private but so unsettling on TV -- people recoiled from his TV character

Tet, Vietnamese new year offensive by Vietcong, and riots at home, 1968 Chicago Democratic convention -- widely shown on TV.

LBJ "will not seek and will not accept the nomination" speech wrenching on TV

RMN understood systematic use of TV with a daily event before noon deadline for TV

VP Spiro Agnew campaigned against press

but Nixon staff learned never to blame the press

TV was way behind print on the Watergate story, and they were well behind the Washington Post.  Wire services were not picking up the story.

McGovern complained about campaign dirty tricks, but not covered much except for a late effort by Walter Cronkite on CBS.

Watergate hearings shown on TV extensively, with daily testimony

Ford was a graceful athlete, but appeared bumbling and was shown golfing while VN fell.

Chevy Chase caricatured Ford falling all over SNL TV set

Carter comfortable in answering questions but awkward in set pieces (fireside chats).

Era of constant videotape, faster editing

Carter damaged by attack rabbit story and more seriously by hostage crisis in Iran

Clinton?

had a poor introduction to TV giving the convention nomination speech for Dukakis, too long.

Reintroduced in 1992:

Unconventional in using TV, eg Larry King alk show, playing Sax on Arsenio talk show, and answering questions about underwear on MTV.

But he avoided using White House press corps, thereby failing to reach the 30M viewers on nightly news, worsened his relations with press.

Shines intense light on subject's character strength or flaws.

Three commanding networks now mutated in age of constant CNN coverage where everything abroad is covered from perspective of White House beat.

Global reach and instant reactions

CNN gives equal weight to all incidents, puts pressure on President to intervene abroad and to respond urgently, rhetorically to visual coverage of atrocities,

eg Bosnia where in a live hookup Christiane Amanpour of CNN demanded that Clinton intervene.

Ornstein: TV works for congress occasionally vis-a-vis presidency -- but normally shows just a few speakers in an empty chamber, inability to speak in a nutshell

national daily clip on nightly news placed focus strongly on presidency

1950s: Senate and House leaders held weekly press conferences, carried on TV -- but never since then

TV needs stars and president fills the bill

centralization of stories on WH requires reporters to be generalists -- no more experts out covering the departments

Salinger: foreign policy deeply affected by TV coverage of foreign places

Dee Dee Myers: Berlin wire (later wall) under JFK took 3 days for film to reach US -- today's instant coverage could have meant war.

Clinton ambushed on Bosnia by Christiane Amanpour on live TV via satellite -- he responded firmly

Nessen: presidents feel need to respond instantly

Jody Powell: Carter and the "attack bunny" story.

Gerry Ford caught on vacation at palm Springs when pressed by Press about Vietnam.  Wisely decided on on action.

Ron Nessen: 1975 Fall of Saigon, boat people stories, during Ford's golf vacation at Palm Springs.

Kennedy also pressed on action.

Imagine Cuban Missile crisis in instant TV era -- difficult to wait for second, moderate letter from Soviets

Clinton pressed on Somalia: Crisis atmosphere from Mogadishu incident, troops dragged through streets

Clinton and Beverly Hills haircut on AF1.

Fitzwater: Tiananmen Square 1989, Bush had to measure his response daily to speed of events, intensity of images

Gwen Ifill: FDR spoke on submarine attack on camera -- but press did not show his disability.

Reagan "shining city on a hill" rhetoric. manipulation of TV

Ed Fouhy: TV is the agora of modern times -- but internet may replace it.

Russell Baker: complaining about TV is like complaining about the air we breathe

Staff initially didn't understand how vulnerable Clinton would become to "bimbo eruptions".

Gays in military forced as issue by press, required delicate compromise with Defenses dept.

Zoe Baird nomination, first female Attorney General, not properly vetted.

Press office walled off from White house staff, causing much dissent from media.

Chaotic style of Bill Clinton, used to free wheeling seminars.

Panetta argued young staff needed to be reduced in order to streamline, structure meetings.

Shock of discovering Republicans had left budget in dire shape, hence Clinton would have to break campaign promises to keep down federal spending.

Clinton hired conservative economic advisers such as Robert Rubin, and refocussed on reducing deficit.

Powerful Greenspan was given seat at State of Union /Budget message to highlight his importance.

Obliged to sacrifice the investment agenda.

Gergen advised Clinton he had lurched to left in campaign, misunderstood Washington.

Gergen then took over Stephanopoulos' duties, who became presidential adviser.

Liberal staff from campaign very disappointed by policy and staff changes.

Summer: suicide of Vince Foster, Hillary's law partner from Arkansas.

Budget stalled in congressional gridlock, prompting TV address which moved public.  Arm-twisting for votes on floor.  Sen. Kerrey cast essential vote, then VP Gore broke tie to pass budget through Senate.

Health care task force under First Lady, return for Hillary's support, and fulfillment for "Vote for one, get two" slogan from campaign.  Novel use of First Lady.  West wing offices "Hillaryland" for First Lady's staff.

Whitewater investigated by Washington Post, involving Hillary.  WHS declines to hand over Whitewater papers.

Co-presidency on Whitewater and health care issues.

Troopergate: accusations that Gov. Clinton had used troopers to procure females.  War room approach again: parse the story, deny details, check the sources.  President made mistake of calling troopers after story broke, as he had with Gennifer Flowers.

Hillary baked cookies and rallied staff in opposition.   Sealed her position on health care as Bill was in dog house over scandals.

Paula Jones scandal.

Special prosecutor called for in Whitewater scandal, prompted by stonewalling by withholding records, particularly from East wing.  Hillary fiercely controlled staff response (had lost father and Vince Foster same year, resented criminal accusations against her).

Congressional republicans launched investsigations, domestic agenda blocked.

Sen. Maj. Ldr. Mitchell announced health care reform was dead.

Speaker Newt Gingrich reaches power, Clinton lost confidence.

Press Sec. Myers, Begala and Carville sacked: staff shuffle.

Mystery of adviser leading Clinton to center (Dick Morris, Republican consultant).

Clinton wrote own State of Union '05, surprising staff with typing (Morris's work)

Centre-right direction of policy, leaving liberal staff angered.

"Triangulation", based on polling data and Dick Morris's advice.

Hillary takes traditional role, showing off white house renovations.

Clinton has to defend his status, "relevance," despite Contract with America.

Clinton: "evil cowards" speech, unifier, stand against forces of fear, preaching.

Balance federal budget, shocked staff.  Devastated Dems. but aimed at Clinton's re-election.  Clinton seen as willing to sacrifice Dems for own sake.

Staff feared Clinton would compromise as before, wanted President to fight for Medicare budget against congressional version. President stood up against Gingrich.

Whitewater billing records emerged for Senate after two years. Reporters hounded Hillary with questions during her book tour.  Unprecedented treatment of First Lady.

Ken Starr, prosecutor, incensed by the withholding of records, ordered her appearance in front of grand jury -- initiating war with White House.

Morris sex scandal; Clinton loses adviser.

Begala and (liberal) campaign team return to White House.

Categorical denial by Clinton "not a sexual relationship" with this young woman -- to PBS Jim Lehrer.

Varied denials by Clinton, parsed by staff as incomplete.

Clinton returns to Morris and polling.

Privately admits to sexual affair (if not specific allegations) and fear of impeachment.

Morris advises public will accept the adultery but not the lying.

Cabinet officers support president.

Jan. 1998 "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss. Lewinsky.  I did not tell anyone to lie." to CBS Sixty Minutes.

Hillary: "Vast right wing conspiracy."

Aug. '98 admission of relationship "not appropriate.  In fact, it was wrong."

Strikes against Afghan and Sudan targets, but viewed by many as politically timed distraction.

Possibility raised of deputation of Dems suggesting resignation (a la Watergate.)

Video released of grand jury testimony, intrusive sexual questions -- actually released sympathy of public.

Impeachment crisis, with trial in Senate, presided over by Chief Justice but without a 2/3 majority of Republicans in Senate for conviction.

Economy growing, but Clinton had used all his political capital just to survive.

Feb. '99 "profoundly sorry for what I said and did to trigger these events."

Air war in Kosovo using NATO against Serb ethnic cleansing.  78 days of bombing succeeded.

Greenspan: never seen such as strong economy.

President able to poke fun at himself, as house husband.

Hillary announces candidacy for Senator of New York [Moynihan's seat].

Middle east peace negotiations, midnight discussions with Albright, Barak and Arafat.

Disappointment that peace agreement proved elusive.

Clinton upstaged Gore at Dem. Convention, Aug. 2000: "better off today than 8 years ago?"

Gore lost 2000 race despite peace and prosperity, hence Clinton failed to deliver successor.

Special counsel's prosecution continued after the presidency.

But liability to get into difficulties repeatedly during career.

Legacy of leaving country in much better shape, even though unable to escape his past.

Tale of two presidents: one bright, capable and passionate; other, terrible personal mistake.

Staff disappointed by the outcome: potential for greatness not fulfilled.