Description: Overview of the Contras in Nicaragua and the question over whether the United State should get involved. Contras training in Nicaragua, different politicians (including TIp O'Neil and Ronald Reagan) comment on support for the Contras, Pro-Contra TV commercials, reporter standup, interview with historian Hugh Ryan about previous United States military involvement in Nicaragua, and footage of people in Nicaragua. Reporter voice-over through reel. Sound
Collection: WCVB Collection
Date Created: 03/19/1986
Description: Overview of the history of presidential debates in advance of the debate between Walter Mondale and Ronald Reagan. Footage of debates between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, Reagan and Carter, and Mondale and Gary Hart. Interview with a man about televised debates. Some video problems. Reporter voice-over throughout reel. Sound.
Collection: WCVB Collection
Date Created: 09/06/1984
Description: Overview of the Democratic Primary candidates and what has happened in the race so far and the mistakes that have been made. Footage of John Glen, Walter Mondale, Gary Hart, and Jesse Jackson at debates and on the campaign trail with reporter voice over about their mistakes. Reporter standup. Footage of Ronald and Nancy Reagan on the White House lawn. Sound
Collection: WCVB Collection
Date Created: 07/11/1984
Description: History of the Philippines and how Ferdinand Marcos ruined early hopes for democracy in the country. Footage of elections and the USA ceding sovereignty after WWII, Ronald Reagan speaking, rally for Corazon Aquino the Philippines, people praying, Clark Air Base and US military in the Philippines, and a statue of Marcos. Reporter voice-over through reel. Sound
Collection: WCVB Collection
Date Created: 02/24/1986
Description: Story on political polls and why they are inaccurate. Footage includes Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, poor poll predictions from the last year, 1984 Democratic Convention, and a shot of John Glen. Reporter voice-over throughout. Sound.
Collection: WCVB Collection
Date Created: 07/24/1984
Description: Meg Vaillancourt interviews Geneva Evans (working mother) and Jason Evans (son of Geneva Evans) in their home. Evans describes her experiences as a working mother. She says that she cannot support herself and her son on her salary. Evans explains that she is not allowed to work if she goes on welfare; that welfare benefits alone are not enough to live on, especially with the cost of health care. Evans says that she has not felt the effects of the economic recovery. She accuses Ronald Reagan of taking food from her son's mouth. Evans promises to vote against Reagan. She criticizes the government's policy of cutting welfare benefits for people who work part time. Geneva Evans and Jason Evans have a snack at their kitchen table. Jason tells Geneva about his day at school. Jason says that he hopes Walter Mondale will win the presidential election. Jason Evans and a girl walking outside of the Evans' apartment building.
1:00:04: Visual: Meg Vaillancourt sets up an interview with Geneva Evans (working mother) in her home. Vaillancourt asks Evans about her experiences while on welfare. Evans says that her welfare benefits were cut in 1982; that she had been working part time while on welfare; that she had been earning $113 per week. Evans says that she made do with her small salary; that she no longer needed a babysitter because her son entered school. Evans says that she received no aid to pay her rent; that her son was no longer eligible for the meal program at school. Evans says that she lost her welfare benefits, her food stamps and her medicare; that she had to switch medical clinics for her son's allergy treatments. Evans says that her son could no longer attend the South End medical clinic where he was receiving treatment; that her son was cut off from the food program at his daycare facility. Evans says that she got a part-time job, which was allowed under the welfare program; that her welfare and medicare benefits were cut off. Vaillancourt asks Evans if she is better off than she was four year's ago. Evans says that she is worse off than she was before Ronald Reagan (US President) was elected. Evans says that she is paid $188 per week before taxes; that she makes $152 per week after taxes; that she pays $210 per month in rent. 1:05:06: V: Vaillancourt asks Evans how she survives. Evans says that purchases her son's school clothes on layaway at Zayre's (local discount store). Vaillancourt asks Evans her opinion on Reagan's welfare policy. Evans says that she is capable of working; that she would like to work part-time and still receive welfare benefits; that she cannot support herself and her son on her salary. Evans says that she is not eligible for food stamps. Evans talks about the expense of buying clothes for her son. Vaillancourt asks Evans if she has considered going back on welfare. Evans says that she would make less on welfare than she makes now. Vaillancourt asks Evans to comment on Reagan's claim that the economic recovery has brought inflation and unemployment down. Evans says that she has not felt the effects of the economic recovery; that she has not seen an increase in her paycheck; that food prices have not declined. Vaillancourt asks Evans how she will vote in the elections. Evans says that she will vote for Mondale; that she wants to vote Reagan out of office. Evans says that she and her son have suffered from being cut off from food stamps and medicare; that Reagan has "taken food out of my son's mouth." Vaillancourt closes the interview. 1:09:14: V: The camera crew takes cutaway shots of Vaillancourt and Evans. Evans talks about how she survives on a small weekly paycheck. Evans talks about how she is hoping for a small raise in her salary as a "homemaker." Evans talks about the government's policy of cutting welfare benefits for people who work part time. 1:10:37: V: The camera crew sets up a shot of Evans and her son in the kitchen. Jason Evans sits at the kitchen table while Geneva Evans prepares a hot drink. Shots of Jason Evans sitting at the table. Jason Evans talks about his day at school. Geneva Evans gives her son some crackers. Geneva Evans sits down at the table across from her son. Geneva and Jason sit and talk. Shot of Geneva Evans drinking coffee; of Jason Evans eating crackers. The crew asks Geneva Evans to talk about the interview. Geneva Evans asks Jason if they are better off now than they were four years ago. Jason says that he thinks that they are better off now; that he hopes Mondale wins the election. Geneva Evans says that Jason does not fully understand the question. Jason says that Reagan got off to a good start in the campaign; that he does not know who will win. 1:16:10: V: The camera crew sets up a shot of Geneva Evans and Jason at the entrance to their apartment building. Jason and a girl exit the building. Geneva Evans tells Jason to be home in time for supper. Jason and the girl walk away from the building in the rain.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/30/1983
Description: Written on tape: "Preview/ Debate Pres. Candidates." Analysis of what Walter Mondale and Ronald Reagan need to do in the upcoming debate to win, and how they currently stand in the election campaign. Footage from the previous debate, Mondale and Reagan on the campaign trail, and newspaper articles on whether Reagan is senile. Reporter voice-over throughout reel. Sound.
Collection: WCVB Collection
Date Created: 10/19/1984
Description: Scenes from the Republican National Convention including Bob Hope performing at Billianare Bunker Hunt's Little Clam Bake, people chanting "Four more years" and "USA" at the convention, the Republican Platform Committee, interview with former RNC Chairperson Mary Louise Smith who is disappointed with the radical changes to the platform, overview of the new platform, interview with Vice President George Bush about how the majority of Americans are conservative, excerpts from Reagan's speech, and balloons falling from the ceiling. Reporter voice-over throughout. Sound.
Collection: WCVB Collection
Date Created: 08/24/1984
Description: Meg Vaillancourt reports on the street violence that resulted in the accidental shooting of Darlene Tiffany Moore (eleven-year-old Roxbury resident). Vaillancourt interviews Maleka Few (Roxbury resident, age twelve) and Jessica Moore (Roxbury resident, age 10). The girls are afraid of the violence that resulted in Tiffany Moore's death. Vaillancourt reports that Roxbury residents went to City Hall to ask for more police protection in the neighborhood. Vaillancourt's report includes footage of Roxbury community leaders at a press conference. Amanda Houston (Roxbury resident), Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council), and Louis Elisa (Roxbury resident) talk about the need for more police on the streets. Vaillancourt reports the Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) has put more police on the streets and has pledged a full investigation of Moore's shooting. Vaillancourt's report includes footage of William Celester (Deputy Superintendent, Boston Police Department) and Flynn at a press conference. Vaillancourt reports that Roxbury is experiencing its worst violence in twenty years. She notes that city and state officials gathered at a press conference to discuss the problem. Vaillancourt's report includes footage of the press conference in Roxbury with Francis "Mickey" Roache (Police Commissioner, City of Boston), Royal Bolling, Sr. (former State Senator), and John Kerry (US Senator). Roache blames drug traffic for the violence. Kerry criticizes the ineffectual drug policy and social programs of the Reagan administration. Vaillancourt's report includes footage of police officers stopping African American men on the streets of Roxbury.
1:00:26: Visual: Footage of Maleka Few (Roxbury resident, age 12) saying that she thinks it might happen to her next. Shot of a Boston Herald newspaper article with a headline reading, "Police vow to capture girl's killers." A photo of Darlene Tiffany Moore (Roxbury resident, age 11) accompanies the article. Meg Vaillancourt reports that Moore was sitting outside on Humboldt Avenue in Roxbury when she was killed by a stray bullet; that Moore was the unintentional victim of a war between two rival gangs. V: Shot of a Humboldt Avenue in Roxbury. Footage of Few saying that the gang members were not shooting at Moore; that Moore was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Few says that she does not want to go out to the store with her mother anymore. Footage of Jessica Moore (Roxbury resident, age 10) saying that she used to sit in the same place on Humboldt Street. Shots of African American girls standing on a street in Roxbury. Vaillancourt reports that Roxbury parents went to City Hall today to ask for more police protection. V: Footage of Amanda Houston (Roxbury resident) saying that she is a "gutsy lady;" that she is starting to feel frightened. Footage of Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council) speaking to the press. Bolling says that there is open warfare going on in the city. Shot of media camera crews. Footage of Louis Elisa (Roxbury resident) saying that Roxbury residents pay their taxes; that Roxbury citizens are demanding equal protection under the law. Vaillancourt reports that forty extra police officers are patrolling Humboldt Avenue; that Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) has pledged a full investigation of the shooting. V: Shot of two police officers patrolling a street. Footage of William Celester (Deputy Superintendent, Boston Police Department) speaking to the press. Flynn stands beside him. Celester says that the community has been providing information about the shooting to police; that the police are investigating suspects. Footage of two white police officers stopping an African American man to search him. Vaillancourt reports that Roxbury is experiencing its worst violence in twenty years. V: Footage of Francis "Mickey" Roache (Police Commissioner, City of Boston) speaking at press conference in Roxbury. John Kerry (US Senator) and Royal Bolling Sr. (State Senator) are among the crowd standing with Roache. Roache says that drugs equal violence. Shots of the press at the press conference. Vaillancourt notes that Kerry visited Roxbury today to talk to residents about the drug problem. V: Footage of Kerry saying that the government cannot ask kids in Roxbury to say no to drugs if the Reagan administration cannot say no to General Manuel Noriega (leader of Panama). Kerry says that the drug policy of the Reagan administration is hypocritical and ineffective; that the administration's policy is contributing to the drug problem. Vaillancourt reports that Roxbury residents are calling for drastic measures to fight violence; that some curfews, night-court sessions, and the National Guard have all been suggested. V: Footage of Kerry saying that the presence of the National Guard will not solve the drug problem; that overcrowded prisons, an inadequate school system, and a lack of treatment centers are all contributing to the drug problem. Shot of two white police officers talking to an African American teenage boy on a street in Roxbury. Vaillancourt reports that Roxbury residents want increased aid on all levels. Vaillancourt notes that residents are worried that the situation will not improve after Moore's killer is found. V: Shot of a cameraman filming a man in a business suit on the street; of Humboldt Avenue in Roxbury.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 08/22/1988
Description: Overview of Tip O'Neill's career. Interview with O'Neill on President Lyndon Johnson, the Vietnam War, Watergate and Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and the Contras in Nicaragua. Some static in the soundtrack. Reporter voice-over through reel. Sound
Collection: WCVB Collection
Date Created: 03/17/1986
Description: Story about the controversy surrounding John Zaccaro's, Geraldine Ferraro's husband, finances. Reporter believes that Ferraro and Zaccaro have done no wrong and are being lynched by the media. Footage of Ferraro and Zaccarro, and an interview with Lyn Nofziger, a consultant to Ronald Reagan and George Bush. Video problem. Reporter voice-over throughout. Sound.
Collection: WCVB Collection
Date Created: 08/1984
Description: Written on tape: "Analysis Debate." Summary of highlights from the debate and an analysis of how Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale performed. Footage from the debate and excerpts of statements from the candidates, followed by a statement from Reagan Campaign Director Ed Rollins and a piece of Mondale's post-debate speech to his supporters. Reporter voice-over throughout reel. Sound.
Collection: WCVB Collection
Date Created: 10/22/1984
Description: Story on George Gipp, Reagan's adoption of the phrase "do it for the Gipper", and a comparison of the real George Gipp with the character who Reagan played in the film. Footage of Reagan quoting Gipp, old football footage, scenes from "Knute Rockne, All American" with Reagan as George Gipp, and quotes from Frank Leahy's book "Shake Down the Thunder." Some bad video. Reporter voice-over throughout. Sound.
Collection: WCVB Collection
Date Created: 1984