[00.02.00] [in to NPACT logo--weird rotating 3-D Capitol Dome effect, very dated--with title "impeachment debate"--cut to LEHRER in studio] LEHRER welcomes viewers introduces live coverage of President NIXON's speech on the economy [cuts to stage, two dozen men flank podium in two wings, a moderator takes podium to introduce the President, as sponsored by four major LA business organizations--NIXON takes podium--cut to side view shows audience of middle-aged white people clapping--cut to close head/shoulders of NIXON smiling broadly, ready to give the SAFE AUDIENCE one of the most BORING SPEECHES ever delivered--note, however, that NIXON is in no worse form as a public speaker than usual, employing strange head movements, monotonous tone, and strange spinal contortions of the body, as if there were no IMPEACHMENT CRISIS at all] NIXON thanks the moderator, the audience, and the business groups. Says he wants to discuss the major problem facing the US--Inflation, and the fight against it. Says that the inflation is the result of longterm failure of industrialized world to increase productivity to meet demand, government deficit spending, increase of money supply to facilitate borrowing, which all add to rising prices. [cut to a reverse angle shot of the audience] Add to this grain production shortages due to crop failure, and the oil embargo, NIXON says that fortunately food production is increasing, and the oil embargo has ended, leveling oil prices, slowing the rate of inflation. Says there will be some delay before this settles out. Says also that the effects of minimum wage increases have added to prices Mentions demands raised for "swift, spectacular action" , proposals for wage and price controls, draconian constrictions on money supply at risk of recession, or lower taxes to stimulate economy, or the defeatist pose of learning to live with inflation. NIXON says that none of these paths will be taken. Instead, he will proceed from the proposition that "short-term relief brings long-term grief", and concentrate more on POLICIES than on PROGRAMS. I.E., policies respecting basic market forces, First, "what we are not going to do". Not going to resort to controls [pavlovian applause from free-marketers in audience], saying that controls will only create new market distortions. Not going to resort to new deficit spending, tax cuts, or credit loosening. Such would be fighting fire with gasoline (NIXON'S analogy). Neither will they resort to tight-money shock treatment, which would raise unemployment too high. Are going to control inflation by increasing productivity. Look toward long term, willingness to stick to a plan despite pressures. The administration will continue to monitor the entire economy, and will not allow any hardship to take effect. Says that anti-inflationary policy is simply effort to check growth of demand in proportion to growth of supply. In short run, must be focused on reducing demand, because increasing supply can take time. Exceptions to this are returning farmland to cultivation and sale of raw materials. Longer term emphasis on producing more, [Nixon reiterates his topic sentence for the fifth or sixth time, displaying a remarkable flair for redundancy, not to mention redundancy] NIXON claims that the most important thing the Federal Government can do to check demand is to reduce spending. Pledges not to accept new spending, [ taking care to make "eye contact" with camera so you know he's telling the truth--draws applause from the budgethawks in the audience] Announces that 40,000 federal employees will be fired next year. [thanks, Dick!] Savings will be $300,000. [00.13.40]
Selections: Unknown Title "Galloping Horses-- Allegreto D Minor Sonata" (Beethoven) "I'll Be Seeing You" with vocal (the closing theme song) Unknown Title "Prelude in C Sharp Minor" (Rachmaninoff) "Start the Day With A Smile"
Selections: "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" "Sophisticated Lady" "Lullaby" with vocal "Lady of Spain" "Traumerei" (Schumann) "There'll Be Some Changes Made" with vocal
Selections: "Cumana" "Variations of I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover" "I'm Loved At Last" with vocal "Crazy Rhythm" "Ava Maria" (Bach- Gounod- Schubert) "Ragtime Joe- This Old Piano Of Mine" with vocal
Selections: "12th Street Rag" "Torna Sorrento" (Italian Medley) "September Song" with vocal "Tico, Tico" "Liebestraum- Dream of Love" "Walkin' My Baby Back Home"
Selections: "Beer Barrel Polka" "Malaguena" "As Time Goes By" with vocal "Humoresque" A SKIT INVOLVING LIBERACE AND PUNCH AND JUDY PUPPETS "Punchinello" (Rachmaninoff) "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window" with vocal
Selections: "Dardanella" "Happy Birthday Medley" Rock-a-by-Baby... CU of birthday cake with one candle in it London Bridge... CU of a birthday cake with six candles in it. Dream of Love... CU of a cake with numerous candles in it. Wedding March... CU of a wedding cake, icon of bride and groom in it. "All Of A Sudden, My Heart Sings" with George Liberace "Brazil" "14th Hungarian Rhapsody" (Liszt) "Lover"
Selections: "Almost Like Being In Love" with vocal "Autumn Nocturne" "I'd Never Forgive Myself" with vocal "Habanera" from "Carmen" "Clair de Lune" "Yakety Yak Polka"
Selections: "Dark Eyes" "Tales From The Vienna Woods" "All In The Game" with vocal "La Cucaracha Boogie" "Chopin's Piano Music" "Spaghetti Rag"
Selections: "Sleigh Ride" (Leroy Anderson) "Last Time I Saw Paris" (Parisian Medley) "These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You" with vocal "Si, Si" "Nocturne In F Sharp Major" (Chopin) "After You're Gone"
Selections: "Carmen's Boogie" "Paderewski's Minuet" "My Foolish Heart" (Victor Young) with vocal "Per fida- Tonight" "Concerto in A Major" (Liszt) INCLUDES FIRST PERFORMANCE STORY "Don't Ever Marry For Money, Just Love" with vocal
Selections: "Dizzy Fingers" "Peer Gynt-- Concerto in A Major" (Greig) "Tenderly" with vocal "Maiden's Wish" "Concerto in B Flat Minor-- Highlights" (Tchaikovsky) "Crazy Rhythm"
Selections: "Stars and Stripes Forever" Broadway Medley: "Lullaby of Broadway" "Give My Regards to Broadway" "Streets of Ole Broadway" "Don't Take Your Love From Me" with vocal "Carioca" "Chopin Medley-- Piano Music" "Beer Barrel Polka"
Selections: "Saber Dance" "St. Louis Blues" "I Don't Care" with vocal "Blue Tango" "Moonlight Sonata" "Nola"
Liberace Show #22, Master 206
[00.13.40] [NIXON'S economic speech from Los Angeles continues--NIXON's demeanor is as wooden as ever, giving the impression that he is unaware of an IMPEACHMENT CRISIS] NIXON continues to give the friendly audience of businesspeople a pat speech about his plans for economic recovery, giving free play to orthodox freemarket economic ideas. Talks boldly about the budget that he will submit for the next fiscal year, implying his intention to remain in office. This proposal includes lots of spending cuts. Mentions the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act, recently enacted, which allows Congress to consider entire budget as whole, not as constituent parts, designed to effect spending cuts, calls on Congress to cooperate with spending cuts. Expresses confidence in his support in Congress , drawing applause. Moves on to monetary policy. says that interest rates may have to go up a bit in order to fight inflation to lower rates eventually (fat chance!) Calls for a general "fat cutting" from the Federal Government down to the individual citizen, expressing faith in the will of the American people to take active part in saving to reduce inflationary pressure. In discussion of energy policy, mentions "Operation Independence", an effort to reduce American dependence on foreign oil supplies. [this draws applause with great enthusiasm] Panders to the audience by lamenting the way that the "creative energies" of the American economy are "stifled" by "burdensome overregulation". Cites the obviously ridiculous example of regulations requiring some trucks to run even when empty. Pledges a sweeping review to weed out wasteful regulations for increasing productivity. Demonizes environmental protective policies as a drain on productivity--offhandedly concedes that such goals are important, but then raises the canard that such policies of environmental protection are having any significant effect at all on industry. Pledges "reevaluation" and "adjustment" [lots of applause]. [00.26.39]
[00.26.39] [President NIXON continues his economic speech before a FRIENDLY AUDIENCE of LA businesspeople. His demeanor and delivery are just as wooden as usual, indicating no stress from the IMPEACHMENT CRISIS] Makes thinly veiled allusions to "other nations" who are in economic slump because individuals are dependent on the government. Suggests that it has been true in the United States, and calls for a more rugged individualist perspective on social welfare. [the strongest applause yet in the speech] Implies that nonspecific "special interests" are manipulating the government to ignore the interests of "the people" who "favor sound anti-inflationary policies". [00.32.13] NIXON takes the opportunity to pat himself on the back--while he doesn't claim direct responsibility, he does slyly mention that young americans are finding work instead of facing the draft, then repeats himself in slightly different words for good measure. [00.37.51] after a conclusion about "the children" and "America's future", Nixon concludes, leaves the podium to applause.
[00.37.51] [applause for NIXON, the moderator takes podium, gestures NIXON to return for a final word] NIXON thanks the four sponsoring groups, mentions that he has spoken to all of the groups at some time or another, and wishes that he could shake hands with all individually. [applause, NIXON sits, the moderator thanks NIXON, applause, NIXON leaves stage, waving to crowd, is escorted out door by S.S. agents--uh, that's S-ecret S-ervice] [00.40.09] [cut to LEHRER in studio] LEHRER describes the speech briefly, promises a summary and commentary after a break [PBS network ID] [00.41.50--in to title screen, shot of judiciary committee members at bench with title "Impeachment Debate"--pullback to LEHRER in studio with title screen projected over shoulder] LEHRER summarizes the President's speech [00.49.19--LEHRER concludes summary--cut to shot of LEHRER and Paul DUKE seated] LEHRER asks DUKE for comments DUKE says that the speech was "Standard Republican Fare", and seemed tailored to a business group, with no spectacular pledges, and general freemarket formalities--tight spending, tight money, etc. Says that NIXON is advocating that inflation is the more severe problem than unemployment. says that many economists feel that raising unemployment is the only possible remedy for some severe inflation, and that NIXON has with this speech implied that he is willing to take such steps. DUKE says that inflation is at 12%, very high for the American economy, and that there is no consensus among economists, most suggesting combination measures, and that the inflation can only be controlled gradually. DUKE describes the President's economic prescription as "Old Time Religion". LEHRER concurs that the speech was to a friendly audience and stressed the free market, and was well, received, and there was no mention of the impeachment, DUKE cuts in to say that NIXON did remark about his budget submissions the next year, implying that NIXON intends to remain in office. LEHRER agrees, and notes that NIXON did not show any signs of strain over the impeachment inquiry. [00.48.11]
Selections: "Johnson Rag" "Tenderly" "I Miss You So" with vocal "C'Bonne" "Dream of Olwen" "Piano Roll Blues"
Selections: COLORADO SHOW "Good Day From Morning Till Night" with vocal "Stardust" "Over the Rainbow" with vocal LIBERACE TALKS ABOUT HIS ALLOWANCE AND BANKS "The Bull and the Chihuahua" "Waltz in A Flat Major" (Chopin) "Comin' Around the Mountain"
Selections: "Hawaiian War Dance" "Solitude" "My Heart Cries For You" with vocal "El Cumbanchero" "Cornish Rhapsody" "I'll Be Seeing You" (Closing Theme) with vocal
Selections: "Dark Town Strutters Ball" "Stella By Starlight" "Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart" with vocal "Si, Si" "Ballet for the Clouds" "English Country Garden" with vocal, Liberace singing to two children
Selections: "Lady of Spain" "Via Con Dios" with vocal "Open the Door Richard Opera-ala R. Wagner" (comic song) "Rachmaninoff's Fantasy"
Selections: "Skater's Waltz" LIBERACE RECITES A POEM FROM A CHRISTMAS CARD "Among My Souvenirs" with vocal "Dance from Spanish Suite-AnnaLucia" "Melodies of Tchaikovsky" "Sweet Sue" with George and Trio