CENTRAL AMERICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000303310031-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 23, 2010
• Sequence Number: 31
• Publication Date: April 27, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/23: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303310031-9
Y
STAT'
PBS MACNEIL-LEHRER REPORT
27 April 1983
A_?NNOUNCER: President Reagan confronts a skeptical Congress and raises the political
ante on Central America.
k CNEIL: Good evening. President Reagan takes the fairly
M. rare step of going before a
joint session of Congress this evening'. his aim is to persuade a somewhat reluctant
Congress to back him in resisting leftist forces in Central America. This dramatic
gesture thus pushes the controversy over the U.S. role in El Salvador and Nicaragua to
the top of Mr. Reagan's foreign policy agenda and raises the political heat
surrounding it. This afternoon "ir. Reagan gave a preview of what's on his mind when
he spoke to the American Newspaper Publishers Association in New York. REAGAN: This
last point brings up the first respgnsibility of the president of the United States
and of the Congress: the security of this country and the well-being of our people.
Tonight I will speak directly to that issue in the context of Central America. Were
not accustomed to thinking very much about that region, not accustomed to worrying
about possibly a military threat in our own hemisphere. We've almost taken for
granted the friendly independent neighbors that we have, but we can no longer ignore
there's a fire started and burning in our front yard. and we must respond with both
unity and firmness of purpose. The peoples of the hemisphere, this hemisphere. are
a Ameri:zns, and all of us share a vital stake in the future of democracy and
freedom. W? have it within our power to act now to keep the situation, manageaCle, and
1t's in this spirit that I Sall speak to the Congress ant to the nation tonight.
CNEIL: Earlier today Mr. Reagan said in an interview with Gannett Newspapers that
Central America does not add up to another Vietnam. a fear expressed by some of his
congressional critics. Tonight with two leading critics and U.N. Ambassador Jeane
Kirkpatricik, the Central American policy debate that forms the background to tonight's
presidential speech. Jim Lehrer is off: Charlavne Hunter-Gault is in Washington.
Crarlavne"
HINTER-GAULT. Robin, the president's highly unusual move comes at a time when his
Cen'_ral American poi icy is mired in deep criticism and skepticism on Capitol Hill.
That was underscored yesterday when an administration reouest for S60 million in aid
for El Salvador was cut in half by a House Appropriations Subcommittee. That
Committee a.sc attached strings to the remaining S30 miilor anc extracted a pledge
from the adr.:nistration to name a special envoy to seek. a negotiates peace in El
Salvador. It is reported that former Sen. Richard Stone, Democrat of Florida who has
been advising the administration on Central America policy, is in line for the post.
Nicaragua is a sore spot as well. mid charges that the administration, is i.llegaliv
funding covert operations in that country. the house Intelligence Committee meets
tomorrow to consider cutting off funds for such actions against the Nicaraguan
government. Thus, the man known as the great communicator faces a formidable test
when he comes before the Congress tonight. Robin"
CNE1L: The policy the president takes before Congress this evening was shaped in
considerable part by his U.N.\:~mbassad or \Jeane\}hirkoatr;. ci.. Mrs. Kirkpatrick has long
be. eved'that the U.S. should actively support those in Central America it sees as
a:es and oppose the -forces that threaten then. Macau. Ambassador. why does the
Si:uoti0r it Central ..,merlca warrant such a cram2:lc gesture by the president'
K:RKP-TRlc: Well. I think, the president said .t when he said that the first duty of
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/23: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303310031-9