[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26778]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       MINISERIES ON THE REAGANS

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 30, 2003

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I don't know how many people have seen that 
CBS will soon air a miniseries on the Reagans. I must admit that the 
only reason I'm aware of it is because our esteemed colleague, John D. 
Dingell, was good enough to share the letter below with us.
  He's got it right. If CBS is going to commemorate the Reagan years, 
they should do it accurately. I recommend the letter below as an 
effective tool for remembering the host of egregious events that 
occurred during the Reagan Administration.

                                                 October 29, 2003.
     Mr. Leslie Moonves,
     President and CEO,
     CBS Television, New York, NY.
       Dear Mr. Moonves: I write to you with regard to your 
     upcoming mini-series ``The Reagans.'' I share the concerns 
     expressed by others that it may not present an accurate 
     depiction of the Reagan administration and America during the 
     1980s. I trust that CBS will not be a party to a distorted 
     presentation of American history, and that the mini-series 
     will present a fair and balanced portrayal of the Reagans, 
     the 1980s and their legacy.
       As someone who served with President Reagan, and in the 
     interest of historical accuracy, please allow me to share 
     with you some of my recollections of the Reagan years that I 
     hope will make it into the final cut of the miniseries: $640 
     Pentagon toilet seats; ketchup as a vegetable; union busting; 
     firing striking air traffic controllers; IranContra; selling 
     arms to terrorist nations; trading arms for hostages; 
     retreating from terrorists in Beirut; lying to Congress; 
     financing an illegal war in Nicaragua; visiting Bitburg 
     cemetery; a cozy relationship with Saddam Hussein; shredding 
     documents; Ed Meese; Fawn Hall; Oliver North; James Watt; 
     apartheid apologia; the savings and loan scandal; voodoo 
     economics; record budget deficits; double digit unemployment; 
     farm bankruptcies; trade deficits; astrologers in the White 
     House; Star Wars; and influence peddling.
       I hope you find these facts useful in accurately depicting 
     President Reagan's time in office.
       With every good wish,
           Sincerely yours,
                                                  John D. Dingell,
     Member of Congress.

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