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Religious Broadcasters 1/29/90 [OA 8310] [3]
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Religious Broadcasters 1/29/90 [OA 8310] [3]
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Speech Backup Chronological Files
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Religious Broadcasters 1/29/90 [OA 8310] [3]
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26
19
6
1
12-07-89
Lutheran Church Gets a Bigger Role
By CRAIG R. WHITNEY
According to some leading members
gime, Pastor Widrat said: "There was
Special to The New York Times
of the clergy, the church had no politi-
no other social force to the country that
EAST BERLIN, Dec. 4 - With the
cal program of its own. Now, they say,
had independence both from the state
virtual collapse of the East German
its role will be simply to get all parties
and the party. And we had an under-
Communist Party, the leading moral
talking to one another, and let them de-
standing of the Christian Gospel as a
authority in this part of Germany is
cide what they will.
message with a political content.
once again what it has been for most of
"The new Government has expressly
The liberation theology of the Latin
the time since the Reformation, the Lu-
encouraged the churches to play an in-
American church was an influence, be
theran Church.
dependent role, and recognized the role
said, as was Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the
So it is that the Lutheran Bishop of
Berlin-Brandenburg, Dr. Gottfried
they played earlier in the process of re-
Protestant minister who bore witness
newal," said one of the key figures, the
against Nazism.
Forck, will hold the chair when round-
Rev. Bernd Albani, one of the three
Pastor Krätschell said be was now
table talks among all the political
ministers of Gethsemane Church in
counseling a career Communist Party
forces in East Germany sit down on
East Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg neigh-
official who was in despair in contem
Thursday to try to find a way out of the
plating what he called the wreckage of
political crisis - with the Communist
his life's work.
Party, the leading social force in the
"My wife and be said, are trying
country only a month ago, now just one
A bishop takes
to help people like him get through this,
among many, struggling for its very
to see that suicide is not the answer.
existence.
But the German Communists weren't
The Protestant church in East Ger-
the chair in talks
prepared for the exercise of power.
many provided shelter, working space
They were always in opposition, and
and moral authority to the protest
to stem the
suddenly they were thrust into it"
groups that gave birth to the popular
He referred to the establishment of
revolution that swept the country in
September and October. Hundreds of
political crisis.
East Germany by the Soviet authori-
ties in their zone of occupation in 1949.
thousands of people, taking to the
streets, and fleeing the country by road
Tide of Demands No Surprise'
through neighboring Hungary and
borhood. In that church members of
"For someone who's been living here
Czechoslovakia, forced the Communist
New Forum, Democratic Awakening
all these years, the tremendous
rulers to oust the leader who built the
and other unofficial political groups
momentum of demands for change in
Berlin wall, Erich Honecker, and fi-
gathered daily at the height of the revo-
recent weeks is no surprise," Pastor
nally to declare the wall and all the
lutionary movement this fall.
Krätschell said.
country's borders open on Nov. 9.
The church became a focal point of
He sees echoes of scripture in the
the growing popular demand for
events that are changing East Ger
change, with daily protest meetings,
many now day by day.
vigils and candles burning outside the
"He hath scattered the proud in the
iron front gate to symbolize support for
imagination of their hearts," he said.
political prisoners. The Nikolaikirchein
"He hath put down the mighty from
Leipzig and the Kreuzkirche in Dres-
their seats, and exalted them of low de
den played similar roles as magnets
gree. He hath filled the hungry with
there.
good things; and the rich he hath senta
"Our secret services kept telling us
empty away."
that the churches here, like Solidarity
When Mikhail S. Gorbachev came to
in Poland, were a tool of Western intel-
Berlin in early October, the motorcade
ligence," an East German party offi-
passed through Pankow, and Pastor
cial said. "That was nonsense. The
church didn't create the protest move-
ment. It made itself available to them,
gave them meeting places and encour-
The main job will
agement."
One leading churchman, the Rev.
Werner Krätschell, superintendent of
be to get all the
the Lutheran Church's Berlin-Pankow
district, traced the origins of the move-
sides talking to
ment to the East-West tensions of 1982,
when the United States and the Soviet
one another.
Union were stationing medium-range
missiles in Europe.
State Infiltrated Meetings
Krätschell's young son was in the
"We had a peace group here that met
crowd.
every Friday," Pastor Krätschell said,
"All could think of then, as the
sitting in his vicarage across from the
crowd cheered him, was Christ's entry
brick parish church in Pankow, "and
into Jerusalem." he said.
the state always sent about 20 young
Though this thought has also im
people in, to pose as participants.'
pelled the Roman Catholic Church to
"Their tactic was to try to sabotage
play an active social role in other coun-
the meetings by asking provocative
tries like Poland and those in South
questions," he said. "So the movement
America, it remained relatively in the
had to learn how to exercise control,
background here, according to clergy-
and self-control, with the 'enemy' right
men and diplomats. There are esti-
in the room with them. This training
mated to be only one million Catholics
bore fruit in the big demonstrations in
in East Germany, who took part in the
Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden in October
last year in an ecumenical movement:
and November - the first peaceful
for "peace, justice and preservation of
revolution on German soil."
the creation" that has since found an
Nor did the East German church
echo in a patriotic appeal signed by the
lack experience in dealing with the
Communist Party leader, Egon Krenz,
"enemy." The Rev. Werner Widrat,
in a last desperate effort to hold onto.
pastor of Gethsemane Church, was a
power before he was forced to resign
member of the Communist Party him-
on Sunday.
self until 1974.
"In this land," Pastor Krätschell
"As I wasn't married at the time,"
said, "there are precious, tender, deli-
he said. "It was relatively easy to
cate values - of social solidarity, deep
make the decision. I didn't have to
friendship, caring - that could perish
worry about anybody else. There were,
in a moment. It would be a shame if
of course, some discussions at work
they did, but the people of this country
and in the party - they were looking
right now see only the golden face of
for the class enemy, the influence from
capitalism. We've become a city of
abroad that had made me turn."
plastic bags from Western department
But, Pastor Widrat said, the cause
stores since the wall went down.
lay within himself.
"Erich Honecker had begun to see
"My work in automation and com-
the churches as repositories of cultural
puter technology involved armed po-
strength and continuity that went back
lice units," he said. "I thought about
hundreds of years, he said. "Now that
what I saw. I did not want to force peo-
their power has collapsed, they will
ple to accept happiness that the party
perhaps also notice that history did not
had thought up for them."
begin with them, but Goethe, Luther,
J. Bach and Hegel also all left their
Asked to explain why the church be-
imprint on this land, on this part of
came the rallying point for so much of
Germany, which is where they lived
the opposition to Mr. Honecker's re-
and worked."
Freedom at Issue May June 1989
Communism, religion, freedom
The following conversation with Mi-
control, repressed or put under brutal
speak of absolute freedom and that is
lovan Djilas took place in Belgrade,
ideological pressures; or rather he can
also a utopia. If we read the American
on 15 December 1988. Lief Hovelsen
be restricted for a while, but not for
Constitution, it says that man is born
is a member of the Norwegian Hel-
generations. The Communist society
to be free; that is also utopian. We
sinki Committee Council.
of today is decadent really and will
don't know for what reason man is
become more and more decadent; the
born. But he must fight to be free and
MILOVAN DJILAS: Communism can
alternative is change.
fight for good aims and only in this
exist only as a totalitarian system.
way may he be free. You may be free
Communism with a human face is not
LH: Do you mean to say that man
in most totalitarian systems if you
possible. Human rights as we in the
is not only a materialistic creature,
are fighting for freedom, that means
free world visualize them are not
but a spiritual being as well?
for good aims. When I was last in
possible under communism: they are
prison, I was free, free from the Party,
contradictory to the system. Glasnost
MD: The essential thing is the spirit-
from all Marxist-Communist ideas. I
and perestroika may open up a little
ual element. It is the foundation. I con-
was as free as I am now.
more tolerance here and there but in
sider myself an atheist, but I believe
Religion becomes dangerous when
essence communism will remain a
in the spiritual dimension of man. This
it is linked to an ideology, national
monopolistic power. In its ideals com-
is the reason why freedom of religion
or otherwise. Orthodox anti-commun-
munism is very good, but in practice
is important. Religion and religious
ism as an ideology is also dangerous.
it is the contrary. It is not working.
feelings are elementary feelings. There
Man should strive for spiritual free-
is no. human being without some
dom. Every human idea may be
LIEF HOVELSEN: Where is the flaw,
faith, some belief. Atheism is also a
wrongly used against man. There is
why doesn't communism work?
belief. It is not a religion but it is
no better idea than Christianity, but
not much different from one. In some
at times it has been wrongly used—
MD: Communism is contrary to hu-
way the human being is born with
history tells us that. Today we have
man nature. The Communist party is
religion. We do not know the human
fanatical Khomeiniism; it is really
monopolistic and totalitarian in its
being without a religion. From early
some sort of totalitarianism.
structure. Human nature is pluralistic
prehistoric man there are drawings
Freedom of religion is important
in its being. Human nature is sinful.
and signs indicating some religion.
because it opens the way to political
If human nature was perfect, com-
This is because man must explain the
freedoms. With freedom of religion,
munism might be possible but that
world, explain his destiny, his situa-
belief is free and thinking is free and
would be a "dead" society. Human
tion, his death.
this may open the way for political
nature is evil, and at the same time
We now have scientific explanations,
thoughts and beliefs as well. This is
gentle and good. The constant struggle
not religious ones. But scientific ex-
the essential reason why communism
of different tendencies in us is essen-
planations are not absolute. They are
is against freedom of religion and of
tial for the existence of humanity. If
restricted, limited to the knowledge of
the church. For Communists it is non-
there was absolute evil or absolute
this time. Science cannot completely
sense, it is stupid, to believe in God.
good, it would die. That means that
explain the universe and the situation
But I emphasize that this is not
we must fight to be good, seek good
of man in the universe. Religious ex-
dangerous to them; rather free expres-
ideals, have good aims, but we must
planations are not rational but abso-
sion of religion and free church
know that the evil will be always there.
lute. Religion is explaining, not ration-
organization opens the way to other
Capitalism functions better because
ally, but by faith, using pictures, try-
freedoms. Of course freedom of re-
it is closer to human nature. It permits
ing to include man in the universe,
ligion diminishes the ideological
the human being to express more
in God really.
influence of monopolistic power. The
freedom. Communism has failed and
believers have some other loyalty,
will fail because human nature can-
LH: Man's place in the world, his
outside the Party and the ideolo-
not live without freedom, without
purpose, his striving towards a human
gy. They are not completely, but part-
choices, without facing alternatives. If
society-from that perspective it is
ly, free from the totalitarian sys-
man is not creative, if he does not
obvious that communism has failed.
tem; they have something higher than
change, does not have ideas, he can-
But doesn't man still need a utopia,
the Party and Marxist-Leninist ideol-
not exist, he cannot be truly alive. This
a vision of a society he can live and
ogy.
is the difference between human be-
strive for?
Religion in politics is not so good
ings and animals. Man is creative, full
for politics. Politics is a painful job.
of ideas, imagination and vision. He
MD: Every society is utopian. Even
It cannot be without sin. Even the very
cannot be restricted, put under police
the Western societies are utopian. They
best of us are sinful every day.
Religion &
Commism
Moral Quantions
preconditions is still apparent in the current Western rush
the Communist party. It should be a sort of "constitutional
to provide loans to the Soviet Union, the West has shown
communism" in which the Party keeps its leading role,
some restraint in dealing with the biggest East European
but delegates some of its power to the state or shares
debtors, namely Poland, Yugoslavia and Hungary. Western
it to a degree with other political parties and independent
pressure for change in the Soviet bloc has focused on
groups. In return for concessions in the area of human
two areas: the centralized economic system and the
rights and other freedoms, including rights of individuals
observance of human rights.
and groups to independent economic practices, the Party
Further, the process of de-Stalinization initiated by
expects more individual initiative, better economic
Mikhail Gorbachev attempts to change the fossilized
performance by enterprises and citizens, and the renewal
Communist ideology, which remains much as it was un-
of trust between the Party and the rest of society.
der Stalin. However, since Stalin's times the realities of
the world surrounding the Communist bloc have changed
Human rights & communism
profoundly. Thus the process of de-Stalinization cannot
The Communist rulers realize, of course, some of the dan-
be a simple return to Lenin, as originally envisioned, but
gers tied to this new approach to human rights. How-
must take into account the realities of the modern world.
ever, those leaders who really want to improve the perfor-
The idea of human rights is one of them. While human
mance of the system realize that a major consequence of
rights as an idea has been present on the international
the continuous violations of human rights is total eco-
scene for decades, it has dominated international politics
nomic retardation. There is little chance that people can
only lately. In fact, human rights issues have become an
be spurred to exercise initiative in the economy if great-
inherent part of East-West relations. Communist leaders
er economic freedom is not accompanied by political
realize that they cannot escape Western questioning of their
relaxation and better guarantees for their basic human
human rights performance if they want greater economic
rights. Thus the acceptance of human rights appears to
cooperation with the West. And they cannot shun such
be a necessary part of the remodeling of the Commun-
cooperation because Western technology and money are
ist system. Some Communist leaders probably still be-
necessary to any possible economic revitalization of
lieve, as did Alexander Dubcek in Czechoslovakia in 1968,
Communist systems.
that the observance of human rights and other democratic
principles can indeed humanize the Communist system-
In return for concessions in the area
bring about socialism with a human face-and that these
of human rights the Party expects
ideas are fully compatible with the nature of the system.
Is this in fact true? Could Dubcek have been right in
more individual initiative, better
1968? Are other Communist leaders right today?
economic performance, and the
A close examination of the basic international docu-
renewal of trust between the Party
ments that enumerate internationally recognized human
and the rest of society.
rights-the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
Helsinki Accords, the Human Rights pacts of the mid-
70s and the newest Vienna Accords-indicates that a
Still another factor that has influenced the change in
consistent observance of human rights by Communist
human rights policies is the rise to power of young, bet-
systems would lead to the transformation if not the
ter-educated leaders. They are more aware of the extent
disintegration of those systems. While not all of the basic
of the crisis faced by the societies they lead and of pos-
human rights contained in these documents are incom-
sible ways out of the crisis. Human rights are now seen
patible with the totalitarian nature of Communist systems,
as a component of the policy that may turn the unfavor-
some are clearly "dangerous" to the system.
able development around. If, reason the leaders, the vio-
For example, Yugoslavia has shown that freedom of
lation of human rights has been for decades one of the
travel, which is guaranteed by article 13 of the Universal
causes of the current crisis of the Communist system, then
Declaration of Human Rights, does not significantly threat-
perhaps it is time to give the people more freedom.
en the stability of the Communist system. The same is
probably true of the presumption of innocence, which is
Human rights & the legal state
required by article 11 of the Universal Declaration. There
The leaders see the change as one that should improve
is no reason to believe that an end to the "arbitrary in-
the overall performance of the one party-system. The changed
terference with one's privacy, family, home or cor-
system is seen as a continuous Communist party dicta-
respondence," which is envisioned in the Soviet Union,
torship in which, nevertheless, the Communist party co-
will threaten the foundations of the Communist system.
operates to a certain degree with independent groups and/
More problematic is the implementation of article 17 of
or other political parties, takes into account the opinions
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which stipu-
of its citizens, and guarantees constitutional rights. This
lates that "everyone has the right to own property alone
is to be achieved through the introduction of the "legal
as well as in association with others." The state monopoly
state," meaning the state in which justice is guaranteed
on property in Communist regimes allows for only a lim-
through a court system truly independent of the will of
ited application of this right. Its full implementation would
May-June1989/Freedom at Issue 7
amount to the gradual disintegration of the state's owner-
cal pluralism is not eventually recognized as one of the
ship in many areas. That, in turn, would lead to the crea-
goals of reform in the USSR, the observance of human
tion of new centers of economic power that could even-
rights there will remain selective. There may be efforts
tually rival the economic power of the state.
to guarantee freedom of thought, religion, conscience and
The rights stipulated by the Universal Declaration in
expression, but the state will place limits on these free-
articles 18-21 contradict the very nature of Communist
doms wherever they might serve as a basis for organ-
systems, whether these systems are built on Leninist or
ized political or trade unionist opposition. However, even
Stalinist principles. It is hardly imaginable that Commun-
this limited observance of human rights is bound to lead
ist regimes could truly accommodate such rights as free-
to further tremors in the already destabilized structure of
dom of thought, conscience, expression, assembly and
the Communist state.
religion and still be able to control their societies as they
Finally, while some Communist states will ostensib-
do now. The Party's monopoly on ideology and infor-
ly follow in the footsteps of the Soviet Union, Poland
mation would be affected. If these rights were combined
and Hungary, in reality they will try to use the cause
with the consistent observation of article 21 of the Uni-
of human rights merely for propaganda purposes. This is
versal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that
especially true of Czechoslovakia and East Germany. Ro-
"everyone has the right to take part in the government
mania and Bulgaria do not appear ready to modify their
of his country, directly or through freely chosen rep-
human rights stances at all. However, even attempts to
resentatives," the distribution of political power would be
exploit some human rights for propaganda purposes can
affected as well. The same article also stipulates that
lead to situations that the Communist regimes may find
"everyone has the right of equal access to public service
hard to manage. Citizens will try to take advantage of
in his country." Article 23 says that everyone has the right
the regime's gestures of tolerance, originally intended on-
"to form and join trade unions for the protection of his
ly for Western consumption. Last years' developments in
interests." Such rights are hardly compatible with a one-
Czechoslovakia may serve as a good example.
party, one-trade union system.
The road that Communist systems take toward guaran-
It is obvious that any totalitarian or authoritarian polit-
tees of human rights will be marked by returns to oppres-
ical regime that decides to guarantee all or most of the
sion and therefore to the system of political control of
rights included in the Universal Declaration of Human
society. However, none of the Communist leaderships has
Rights (or the Helsinki Accords whose "second basket"
many alternatives to the observance of human rights. It
basically reconfirms the human rights described by the
is becoming increasingly clear even to Communist lead-
Universal Declaration) paves the way toward political
ers that without economic pluralism, a change for the bet-
pluralism. Were the Communist state to guarantee such
ter cannot be expected. In turn, economic pluralism must
basic freedoms as freedom of expression, assembly and
be accompanied by a degree of political pluralism.
conscience, or such basic rights as the right to form
Communist leaders hope that they can guarantee ba-
independent associations or trade unions, it could expect
sic human rights and still stop short of threatening one-
that a growing number of its citizens would demand an
party rule. That, in the opinion of Communist regimes
end to the one-party system.
that now experiment with human rights, should be enough
Different countries, different approaches
to propel the democratization of the economic system.
They see the implementation of human rights, guaranteed
Only Hungary and Poland seem to have recognized the
by the modernized legal institutions of a one-party state,
tendency to create a system of political pluralism that is
simply as a possible alternative to political pluralism.
inherently present in the modern concept of human rights.
That idea is wrong. Human rights cannot be fully
Its leaders have repeatedly promised the introduction of
guaranteed within a one-party state, and partial "de-
a multi-party system, starting in 1990. While some Hungarian
mocratization" cannot propel the development of free mar-
leaders continue to emphasize that the leading role of the
ket mechanisms within the Communist economy. The idea
Communist party must be preserved, others have suggested
of human rights is inherently tied to the idea of politi-
that the Party must "earn it." That is, of course, an invita-
cal pluralism. Any totalitarian or authoritarian system that
tion to a full-fledged competition for political power. The
tries to give its people basic human rights but attempts
accords recently signed by the Polish government and the
to separate this process from political pluralism faces an
opposition also pave the way toward limited political
inescapable dilemma. Fearing the growing signs of de-
pluralism. Some Yugoslav leaders have also been leaning
stabilization, it will either retreat from such a policy and
toward following the Hungarian road; but so far only Hun-
accept growing economic retardation or, fearing economic
gary and Poland, among all Communist countries, appear
retardation, it will involuntarily set into motion a process
to be able to honor human rights, which are closely tied
that will ultimately disintegrate the system which the rul-
to the introduction of political pluralism.
ers were trying to save. That is the dilemma now fac-
In the USSR, the question of political pluralism is still
ing the Communist world.
"off-limits," although the Soviet leaders now appear ready
to recognize that independent groups other than the
Jiri Pehe is a political analyst at Radio Free Europe,
Communist party have the right to exist. However, if politi-
Munich, West Germany.
8 May-June 1989/Freedom at Issue
01
SWEARING-IN CEREMONY AT OPENING OF 91ST CONGRESS.
BUSH reports
on the action!
HAIL AND FAREWELL: I was privileged to
be selected as one of those to escort
former President Johnson down the aisle
at the joint session of Congress when he
presented his State of the Union message.
Those who agreed with his policies and
those who disagreed were united in their
respect for his long service to this
country. I liked his call for unity
behind our new President.
On January 20, 1 gathered with other
Members of the 91st Congress in the
House Chamber before proceeding to the
inaugural platform for the Inauguration
of President Nixon. Although it was a
very cold day, I had a warm feeling in-
side as I listened to the prayers that
were offered for our country and its
new leader and to the President's mes-
sage.
I once again felt a deep sense of grat-
ituoe to you who chose me as your Rep-
resentative in Washington and gave me
THE
this opportunity to be a part of these
hign moments in history. Another high-
light was seeing our many friends from
the 7th District and other parts of
Texas at the open house at our home and
President Nixon taking the oath of
at my congressional office before and
office with Mrs. Nixon holding the
after the Inaugural Ceremony.
family Bibles.
THE 91st CONGRESS: Legislation I have introduced since the opening of the first
session of the 91st Congress includes:
A bill calling for Conoressional veto of the pay raise of Members of Congress and
other too Administration and Judicial officials. I think a good textbook case can
be made for the increase, but the overriding point is that other working people are
being asked to keep their wage and salary increases down while Congress receives an
increase. I don't think it is fair to ask the people to stick with one standard
and then to have the Congress given another. Unfortunately, the majority decided
they would rather not have this bill taken up and it was left to die in Committee,
and the raise took effect.
A bill calling for a Constitutional Amendment that would invalidate any interpreta-
tion of the Constitution that would abridge the right of persons lawfully assembled,
in any public building, supported in whole or in part by public funds, to partici-
pate in nondenominational prayer. I think it is very important that this Congress
uphold the people's right to pray in public buildings, schools, homes or at any
public gathering. The bill is carefully drawn so as not to force a given religion
down anyone's throat. I think we must keep church and state separate, but we must
safeguard the right to prayer.
On the opening day of Congress, I reintroduced legislation aimed at removing poli-
tics from the Post Office. This legislation, first introduced in March of 1967,
would have put the appointments of postmasters and rural carriers on a merit basis
and prohibit individuals from seeking political endorsements for such appointments.
1. was gratified by the announcement this month of President Nixon and Postmaster
General Blount which achieved this result. There is no question in my mind that
this will help facilitate a smooth-running and more efficient postal organization.
The federal government is responsible for the mail service and I am glad to see
that this challenge has been accepted by the new Administration.
I have just introduced a bill proposing the establishment of a Joint Select Com-
mittee on Population and Family Planning. I am convinced that we can never come
to grips with the problems of poverty and hunger without a really enlightened
family planning effort both in this country and abroad. This Committee, to be
composed of five Members of the Senate and five Members of the House of Represen-
tatives, would conduct a complete investigation and study of the problems of pop-
ulation growth and the need for family planning in both the United States and the
world in order to provide the Congress with a comprehensive basis for future scru-
tiny in this field.
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE is where the
action is in the 91st Congress. We are
now in full swing on important tax reform
hearings. I strongly favor tax reform,
not to raise more revenue but to eliminate
some of the inequities.
The hearings on tax-exempt foundations
have just ended. They showed many abuses
by some foundations. Foundations have
done a tremendous amount of good in. edu-
cation and charitable deeds, but regret-
tably some have used their tax shelter
improperly. The taxpayer ends up financ-
ing all kinds of non-charitable or non-
educational programs. I am convinced the
Ranking Minority Member of the Ways &
law will be changed to protect all of the
Means Committee, John Byrnes, with Con-
taxpayers and to force the foundations to
gressman Bush welcoming newly-appointed
operate only for the purposes approved by
Committee Member, Congressman Rogers
the Congress.
Morton of Maryland.
SCHOOL BUSING: As your Congressman, I have tried at all times to work for fair play
in race relations. Recently, I have received a lot of mail on school busing. Last
year I voted with the majority of the Congress against using federal funds to achieve
racial balance through busing. in my view, Negro and white parents alike oppose bus-
ing. They favor the neighborhood school concept and the freedom of choice approach.
They want quality neighborhood schools, fair play for all, good teachers, good class-
rooms and facilities; but, they do not want their children carted miles away from
their homes.
In Houston, the matter is now in the Federal Court. The School Board must make its
best case to the Court. in Washington, I will continue to battle for good federal
programs in education, but I will continue to fight against the use of federal funds
for busing. Contrary to the opinion of much of my mail, the Nixon Administration has
not come out in favor of busing.
ACADEMY APPOINTMENTS: I have just completed my recommendations for Academy appoint-
ments for the July I, 1969, class. I am now accepting applications from boys inter-
ested in competing for appointment to West Point, Annapolis, the Air Force Academy,
or the Merchant Marine Academy in the class entering July 1, 1970. This year,
I
plan to stop taking applications at Thanksgiving for the next class.
APPOINTMENT
IU
NEW
pleased to be appointed by the Speaker of
the House to the 12-man House Delegation on
the Mexico-United States Interpartiamentary
Group, whose main objective is better under-
standing between our two countries. The
Committee, which alternates on meeting sites,
will meet this year in Mexico April 2-9.
I
feel that my work on this Delegation will be
another means of better understanding the
problems of our Mexican-American citizens as
well as the relations between our two coun-
tries. The Mexican delegation is made up of
members of the Mexican government comparable
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Johnston with Mrs.
to the U. S. Representatives and Senators.
Bush, were among the many visitors at
During the meeting, we will have the oppor-
the open house in Congressman Bush's
tunity to meet with the President of Mexico.
office after the Inaugural Ceremony.
SINCE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, I have had the privilege of speaking in the district at
the annual dinner meeting of the Family Service Center, the annual meeting of the
Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Council; the annual luncheon meeting of the
United Nations Association; a "town meeting" of the First Congregational Church; at
SCORE, a counseling organization of retired executives; at Prairie View A&M College's
President's Lecture Series; was honored at an appreciation dinner given by some of my
Mexican-American friends; and was honored to be the first Member of Congress to speak
at a student assembly at Katy High School. I also spoke at the general meeting of the
American Association of University Women and the Spring Convention of the Southeast
Gulf Coast District of Student Councils
at MacArthur Senior High School.
During this same time, Barbara has
given her program on historic Washing-
ton through the use of slides for eigh-
teen schools and other groups. We both
get our "batteries recharged" through
these meetings at home.
DR. COOLEY COMES TO WASHINGTON: I had
the privilege this month of taking Dr.
Denton Cooley, Houston's famed heart
surgeon who has performed more heart
At National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
transplants than any surgeon in the
Dinner in Washington; left to right from top
world, over to the Department of Health,
of picture: Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Melendy of
Education and Welfare to meet the new
Houston, Rep. and Mrs. Bush, and Mr. and Mrs.
Wesley Nelson of Katy.
Secretary, Robert Finch.
WHO SAID THERE'S INEFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT? In a recent Newsletter I asked your help
in correcting our mailing list. Many of you responded. We carefully sorted the enve-
lopes on which you noted your corrections. Then, a particularly conscientious member
of the building cleanup crew removed the box of alphabetized envelopes! So -- one
more time -- if there's an error on this mailing, or you're getting more than one
newsletter, please note it on the envelope and return it to us. We plan to lock them
up in the safe!
Cug Buh
10
(NOT PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 1, 1990
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT
NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST
The Washington Hilton Hotel
Washington, D.C.
9:25 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Thank
you all. Thank you very, very much. Vice President and Mrs. Quayle,
and Chuck Grassley, Sam Nunn, and my dear friend, Billy Graham, and
Ruth. Jim Baker, that was a very inspiring testament of faith. I
also want to salute our very special guests who have travelled far to
join us in a prayer for peace and understanding. President Moi of
Kenya, President Ershad of Bangladesh. Major Buyoya, the marvelous
head of Burundi. President Cristiani, a longtime friend. The Prime
Minister Kisekka. And I just express for all of us a very hearty
welcome, and to President Ershad, a happy birthday greeting to go
with Bev Shea's. (Applause.) We're delighted you're here.
And I want to thank Bev Shea; and Billy, it'll probably
read: Prayer Breakfast, Bev Shea; Supporting Cast: Secretary of
State; Billy Graham. (Laughter.) A lot of Presidents out here.
Senators and Congressmen. He was magnificent. (Laughter.)
Magnificent music.
used
It's often said, in my line of work, that a candidate or
a proposal hasn't got a prayer. Well, I'm pleased to be with an
audience about whom that will never be said. (Laughter.) And this
every
breakfast is the result of years of quiet diplomacy -- I wouldn't say
secret diplomacy -- quiet diplomacy by an ambassador of faith, Doug
Coe. And I salute him. (Applause.)
And I was moved once again by what Sam and Liz told us of
members and staffers on the Hill who like to regularly meet to share
a few quiet moments of prayer and Bible reading. The values that
NRB
spring from our faith certainly tell us a lot about our country. And
consider that for more than two centuries, Americans have endorsed,
and properly so, the separation of church and state. But we've also
shown how both religion and government can strengthen a society.
After all, our Founding Father's documents begin with
these words: All men are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights. And Americans are religious people, but a truly
religious nation is a tolerant nation. We cherish dissent, we
cherish the fact that we have many, many faiths. And we protect even
the right to disbelieve.
A truly religious nation is also a giving nation. A
close friend of mine sent me a poem recently which eloquently
embodies this spirit of giving.
"I sought my soul, but my soul I could not see. I sought
my God but my God eluded me. I sought my brother and found all
three."
Thousands of Americans are finding their soul, finding
their God, by reaching out to their brothers and sisters in need.
MORE
- 2 -
You've heard me talk about A Thousand Points of Light across the
country. Americans are working through their places of worship,
through community programs, or on their own to help the hungry of the
homeless, to teach the unskilled, to bring the words of men and the
word of God to those who cannot even read.
And so I believe that this democracy of ours is once
again proving, as it has throughout our history, that when people are
free, they use that freedom to serve the greater good and, indeed, a
higher truth. As freedom blossoms in Eastern Europe -- and Jim was
talking eloquently about that -- I am convinced that the 1990s will
be the decade of the rebirth that he so beautifully spoke about. A
rebirth of faith and hope.
And one example, I met this week Father Calciu, a
Romanian Orthodox minister. Father Calciu had spent 21 of his 64
years in jail. A third of his entire life in prison. And in fact,
it was while in prison for opposing the government that he found God.
And once released, he risked his freedom by preaching a series of
Lenten sermons. And for that, he was imprisoned again and tortured
beyond belief.
And yet, Father Calciu had faith and he refused to break.
He was sentenced to death. And as he stood in the corner of the
prison yard, praying for his wife and son, awaiting death, it was
then that something remarkable occurred. His two executioners called
to him and surely, he thought, well, this was the end. But instead
they said, "Father," -- and that was the first time they had called
him that -- "we have decided not to kill you." And three weeks later
he received permission to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, and when he
did, he saw these same two guys -- the same two guards -- approach,
and to his astonishment, his would-be executioners got on their knees
and joined him in prayer. This is one man's story -- a humble
priest.
And today, the times are on the side of peace, because
more and more brave men and women are on the side of God. And so
that is the end of these few words. That is my prayer, that we will
continue to recognize the power of faith. Thank you all and God
bless you. (Applause.)
END
9:40 A.M. EST
Christmas
24 189
Sound of Carols and Bells Ends 40 Years of Silence
By The Associated Press
Millions of Eastern Europeans yes-
terday celebrated their first Christmas
For the first time,
their homeland in 1968. "It is euphoric
with everybody chatting about the fu-
the path of freedom, John Paul said.
ture.
Amid the sounds of gunfire on the
free of Communist domination in four
decades: political prisoners rejoined
live broadcasts of
streets of Bucharest were the sounds of
On Prague's 15th-century Charles
Christmas carols broadcast by the
their families, East Germans and
a Mass.
Bridge, young carolers sang raditional
Bucharest radio for the first time since
Czechoslovaks watched Mass on televi-
Christmas songs. In previous years,
December 1947.
sion and Rumanians listened to carols
the police chased carolers from the
Yugoslav and Finnish journalists
long banned on state radio.
city's broad, cobbled King's Road.
brought Christmas presents for chil-
Pope John Paul II prayed for Ruma-
toppled Communist leaders, created a
Millions of Czechoslovaks attended
dren in the western Rumanian city of
nians "celebrating this Christmas in
Mass or watched a live television
Timisoara, the state press agency Ta-
freer press and brought promises of
broadcast of one at Prague's 13th-cen-
nyug reported. The gifts had been pro-
fear and trembling," mourned the
free elections.
tury Strahov Monastery. The Mass at
vided by a candy company in ugosla-
thousands killed overthrowing the
via, it said.
hard-line leadership of Nicolae Ceau-
feel like this is a miracle, said
the monastery was offered by the Rev.
Ivan Martin Jirous, who was reunited
Vaclav Maly, a dissident priest who
Also for the first time in four dec-
sescu and praised the democratic
was banned for 11 years for his human
ades, Bulgarian radio and television
changes remaking his native Eastern
with his family after being released
Europe.
from prison a month ago. Mr. Jirous, 45
rights activities.
broadcast the speech of Christmas and
the New Year by the head of the Bul-
years old, was imprisoned more than
In both parts of Berlin, people min-
garian Orthodox Church, Pattriarch
'Everybody Is So Happy'
eight years for 'subversive' acts like
gled freely, attending joint church
Maxim.
unauthorized lecturing and publishing
services for the first time since the
"Everybody is so happy, so cheer-
Berlin wall went up 28 years ago. East
Offices Closed in the Baltics
Church bells pealed across Czecho-
ful," said Dagmar Vogel, 22, who was
slovakia to mark the new freedoms
Germany on Sunday began allowing
back in Czechoslovakia for Christmas.
West Germans to enter the country
It was a working day in Bulgaria the
won in a democracy movement that
for the first time since her family fled
without visas, and thousands used the
state press agency reported, but peo-
opportunity to cross to East Berlin to,
ple are wishing merry Christmassto
join relatives for a Christmas service.
each other, maybe for the first time
without fear that they would ac-
Prayers for Rumania
cused of being religious
East Germans also watched their
In the Baltic republics of the Soviet
Leads an Ode to Freedom
first Mass on television, as the Pope de-
Union, which have large populations of
livered his traditional Christmas mes-
Roman Catholics and Protestaints, all
sage in 53 languages from St. Peter's
offices were closed for the first-official
Square in Rome. Many of his remarks
Dec. 25 holiday in the four declades of
were directed at Eastern Europe.
Sovietrule there
In Vilnius, the capital of Lithmania, a
"May this Europe open her doors
Roman Catholic political campiaigner,
and her heart to understand and re-
Antanas Terleskas, said many people
ceive the anxieties, the fears and the
attended church on Christmas Eve.
problems of the nations which seek her
But he said people were not especially
help," the Pope said. "May she respond
happy, because "the freedom of ex-
with the strength and the generosity of
pressing religious beliefs is just an illu-
her Christian roots to this very special
sion we are permitted to toy with.
moment of history, which the world is
Estonians watched religious pro-
now experiencing as if awakened from
grams with Christmas carols om televi-
a nightmare and opened up to a better
sion, as well as the Pope's Ma:ss. The
hope."
Mass was also seen in Latvia, where all
"In particular, bless at this hour, o
television and radio program:s were
Lord, the noble land of Rumania, which
religious-oriented.
is celebrating this Christmas in fear
and trembling, with sorrow for the
Christmas in most of the Soviet
many human lives tragically lost and
Union will be celebrated on Jam. 7, ac-
cording to the Russian Orthodoxx calen-
in the joy of having taken once more
dar.
The Baltics
5
Soviet Party Leaders Debate
The Breakaway by Lithuania
MOSCOW, Dec. 25 (Reuters) - Com-
pants certain to have been critical.
munist Party leaders addressed a Cen-
tral Committee meeting today devoted
Also among the speakers wa:s a rep-
resentative of the minority of Lithua-
to the decision by Communists in the
nian Communists who refusecy to ad-
Baltic republic of Lithuania to break
here is the new body and pledged alle-
with Moscow and form an independent
giance to the Soviet party.
party.
A statement issued by Tass; before
The official Tass press agency gave
the start of the meeting suggested that
no details of the meeting other than a
the Central Committee would declare
Associated Press
list of speakers with both conservative
the Lithuanian move invaliid and
Leonard Bernstein conducting Beethoven's Ninth Symphony yester-
and liberal outlooks, suggesting that
against party statutes. It said the Polit-
lay in the Schauspielhaus in East Berlin as part of a three-day festival
discussion had been heated. It said de-
buro had submitted the matter to a
demise of the Rerlin wall.
bate would continue Tuesday.
meeting of the national party
The list was headed by President Mi-
basis that it concerns not only
Photocopy-Preservation
ae
C
Uncaptive Minds
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 1989
VOL.II, NO.5 (9)
$3.00
HGO 14 " 0210 98
WHITE HOUSE LIBRARY
WHITE HOUSE LIBRARY
AND
RESEARCH CENTER
RESEARCH CENTER
R
Poland/Hungary
PROBLEMS OF THE TRANSITION PERIOD
Bulgaria
SPRING APPROACHING
Soviet Union
FREE VOICES FROM MOSCOW
Czechoslovakia
internal and external threats and thus preserve it for future gen-
government's attempts to deny the public sphere its freedom.
erations.
The decision to enter the parallel polis, then, should not be
For all the obvious differences between ancient Athens and
seen as'a retreat from the world: it is a decision to move to
today's parallel polis, the ideas of freedom in each are remark-
the very center of the crisis besetting our country. Individuals
ably similar. This similarity underlies Benda's disagreement
take this step because they believe that only through personal
with Patočka. According to Benda, the identity of the "dissi-
initiative and personal participation can they overcome the crisis.
dent" community stems not from being more ethical or more
Deciding between Patočka and Benda, I would suggest in
devoted to the truth than the rest of society, but rather from
conclusion, is ultimately impossible. There is merit in the ar-
its members' concept of freedom. While others around them
guments of each and, more importantly, their positions might
think of freedom as freedom of volition - which anyone can
be complementary rather than contradictory. Indeed, the de-
cultivate in the privacy of his own home - the members of
bate between Patočka and Benda encapsulates the issues that
the parallel polis have recovered the Greek idea of freedom,
have confronted the independent community in Czechoslova-
the ideal of freedom as political initiative. They are not non-
kia for the past twelve years. I think, however, that the argu-
political, as Patočka maintained. Quite the contrary: denied
ment is not about the independent community: rather, the
political expression by the totalitarian state, they have redis-
independent community is the argument itself. This argument
covered politics and free action. They have given priority to
is the force behind all events, the force behind the nonpolitical
the life of the community and have set aside the comforts of
politics of the independent community. As the situation changes,
private life. As a result, they have seen the benefits that the
one aspect of the independent community will remain constant,
existence of a genuine public sphere bestows upon individuals
namely the motives individuals have for joining. The desire
as well as the entire community. They also recognize the threat
for freedom is, after all, an eternal human desire.
to society, the danger of social paralysis, that stems from the
The Church:
A Growing Threat to the Authorities
An Interview with Father Václav Malý
more and more people are becoming involved in activities as-
Father Václav Maly lost his government license to
sociated with the Decade, particularly the mass pilgrimages.
conduct pastoral work in 1979 because of his involve-
As more laymen become active, so too do more clergy. The
ment in Charter 77 and VONS. He continues to be active
Decade has not only deepened the faith of believers, but also
in these organizations and is also a member of the Czecho-
made them more aware of their duty to society. The Decade
Helsinki Committee. Uncaptive Minds spoke. to
of Spiritual Renewal is meant to be a renewal not only of the
him in Prague this fall about the situation of the Catholic
Catholic faith and Church but of the whole society. It will also,
Church in Czechoslovakia.
I believe, bring about a deeper national awareness, which is
bound to have political consequences. Unlike Poles or Hun-
garians, we don't really feel like a nation.
Uncaptive Minds: In the spring of 1987, the Catholic Church
Have believers put more pressure on the authorities to satisfy
of Bohemia and Moravia announced a program called "The
their demands? For example, have the authorities responded
Decade of Spiritual Renewal" [see Uncaptive Minds, March-
to the demand that bishops be appointed to vacant sees?
April 1989 for an article on the Decade by Václav Benda]. What
impact has this initiative had in the year and a half since then?
Malý: Three new bishops were appointed, but seven dioceses
remain empty. An empty diocese is a visible sign of oppres-
Václav Malý: When the Church announced this program, the
sion, so the government made the token gesture of filling a
authorities thought it would be only a private matter for indi-
few of them in hope of improving its image in the West and
vidual believers; they are now increasingly nervous because
appeasing Catholics at home.
page 40
Uncaptive Minds
Czechoslovakia
The authorities have also allowed female orders to accept
a very limited number of new novitiates. All nuns, however,
are considered employees of the state-controlled organization
Czech Catholic Charities; they can do charity work, but are
not allowed to teach or pursue other activities. Lay orders are
still forbidden, and laymen cannot perform religious functions
publicly. Children cannot receive religious instruction in par-
ish houses. Religious instruction is very limited in school and
nonexistent at the university level. In short, the authorities'
concessions are really only a very small step. Their aim is simply
to give the impression abroad that they are complying with the
Helsinki accords and the Vienna document they recently signed.
The authorities have another reason for making token con-
cessions to the Catholics: they are very much afraid of the con-
nection between the Church and the growing independent
movements. So their strategy has been to try to satisfy some
of the Catholics' demands, such as the nomination of bishops
and allowing the Church more freedom for carrying out clearly
religious activities. This strategy is designed to isolate believ-
ers from independent activities.
Are believers now allowed to attend pilgrimages abroad?
Malý: This November, there will be a ceremony in Rome for
the beatification of St. Agnes, and over a thousand priests and
Father Václav Malý
gust 21. He also said that, given the tension in Czechoslovak
society, the only solution is a genuine dialogue between the
[The authorities] are very much afraid of the coñnec-
government and the opposition, and he offered to serve as me-
tion between the Church and the growing independ-
diator. This significant step demonstrates that Catholics aren't
interested solely in the Church's internal affairs and that they
ent movements. So their strategy has been to try to
are willing to apply Christian teachings to public life. The Car-
satisfy some of the Catholics' demands. By this
they
dinal also appealed to people of good will from inside official
want to isolate believers from independent activities.
structures to start negotiations with representatives of the in-
dependent movements. For the first time, he not only offered
counsel, but also volunteered to play an active role. This is
bound to encourage Catholics to follow his lead and be more
believers from Czechoslovakia will be attending the rites of-
active in public life.
ficially. Many others are going to Rome privately for the oc-
casion. I don't believe the government will prevent people from
The Cardinal's letter was read on the Czech and Slovak
going.
broadcasts of several Western radio services, and the next day
the deputy prime minister responsible for religious affairs re-
What has happened to the petition for the rights of believers,
ceived Cardinal Tomášek. This was clearly an attempt by the
"The Thirty-One Points"? [see Uncaptive Minds, March-April
government to warn the Church against any political involve-
1988 for the text of the petition]
ment. Generally, the Church's increasing influence has the au-
thorities very worried. As the head of the Catholic Church in
Malý: Over 600,000 people signed it while it was still circu-
Czechoslovakia, the Cardinal has a duty to speak out against
lating. Unfortunately, the authorities have addressed virtually
injustice and brutality - a duty that has political ramifications,
none of the demands. In fact, the government continues to
of course. He has taken a carefully balanced position. He has
slander the petition in the press.
openly recognized that the demands the independent movements
have put forward represent the true views of the nation, while
How active has Cardinal Tomášek been lately?
at the same time acknowledging that there are individuals within
the government who want real change. His position, in short,
Malý: In early August, Cardinal Tomášek wrote to the state
is that of a Christian who seeks to resolve conflict.
authorities urging them not to suppress demonstrations on Au-
November-December 1989
page 41
listed
L.A. TIMES 12-08-89
From 'Opium of the People' to Savior
Religion: The conversion of
searchers" were right. Religious renewal
standing peace movement among East
Mikhail Gorbachev to the
will strengthen the moral fiber that holds
German Christians. The nascent ecological
together marriage, family, workplace, vol-
movements in several East Bloc countries
virtues of spiritual life may
untary association and, yes, even the
are led by Christians. Human-rights activ-
backfire. After all, true belief
nation. But the essence of religion is that it
ists are likewise drawn heavily from
marches to the beat of a different drum-
religious communities, particularly Jewish.
also seeks true social justice.
mer. Authentic religion "obeys no other
Religion is a source of discontent in all
178/194
God." It shapes a morality not in order to
societies because it operates from a frame
be socially useful to the state, though it
of reference that transcends earthly ac-
By ROBERT BENNE
may in fact be so, but rather to become
complishment. This has been borne out not
There's a perhaps apocryphal story of a
obedient to God. Further, obedience to God
only in communist societies but in every
high-level Soviet official pleading with an
does not end with private, personal morali-
society where human possibilities are se-
American religious society to send Bibles
ty. It extends, as indeed the prophets
verely repressed. Witness the role of
to the Soviet Union. It seems that research
extended it, to the public life of the society.
religion in Central America, the Philip-
on the characteristics of efficient factories
The prophetic call for justice is discomfort-
pines and the Islamic countries.
had found in them a high percentage of
ing to every nation.
All of this should not prompt too much
serious Christian workers who were hon-
Among Eastern European peoples, par-
celebration among those of us in the
est, came to work on time, were sober and
ticularly the Poles and the Ukrainians, this
"successful" West. The "victory" of demo-,
generally gave a full day's work for their
prophetic impulse is closely intertwined
cratic capitalist ideas should be greeted by
pay. Intrigued by this, the researchers
with aspirations for national self-determi-
no more than one cheer. For the moral
pressed further. These Christians, they
nation. Religious fervor will intensify the
foundations of the West, which make both
found, were guided l by a code called "The
nationalism of those peoples and provide a
democracy and capitalism viable, are erod-
Ten Commandments," found in the Bible.
volatile mixture that should awaken Com-
ing. We will need as much religious
Mikhail Gorbachev himself seems to be a
munist leaders from their drugged illusions
renewal in the long run as the East Bloc
recent convert to the social utility of
about the irenic qualities of religion.
needs right now. We will all need
religion. In promising to relax oppressive
Religion at its best, however, maintains a
measure of what the Russians call dukhov
restrictions on religion, he almost para-
distance from every national movement or
nost-the spiritual life of the people.
phrased our own George Washington's
achievement, lest it be reduced to a sacred
opinion that religion and morality are the
tool for secular purposes. It presses for
Robert Benne is a professor of religion
twin pillars of healthy national life. Other
justice and peace within nations, as has
and director of the Center for Church and
Communist leaders of the East Bloc are
already been demonstrated by the long-
Society at Roanoke College in Salem, Va.
offering similar opinions and making simi-
lar moves. The leaders who once con-
demned religion for being an opiate that
WE'VE GIVEN. UP ON
WE'VE
diverted the attention of workers from
DICTATORSHIP WE NO LONGER
CHANGED!
unjust social conditions are now intent on
INSIST ON WHAT PEOPLE MUST
using religion to rescue their societies from
BELIEVE OR NOT BELIEVE. WE
calamity.
Now LET PEOPLE FOLLOW
Will such a strategy work? Or is it an
THEIR OWN CONSCIENCES.
opiate of the leaders themselves, diverting
their attention from other, less "socially
useful," effects of religion?
There is a great likelihood of major
religious renewals in the Eastern Bloc
countries. The human spirit's aspiration for
transcendent truth has been bottled up for
decades by ideological and social practices
that have attempted to reduce the human
horizon to a drab one-dimensionality. The
YOU SHOULD
religious bodies that have resisted this
TRY IT:
1 KNEW
pressure and kept the faith have gained
SOMETIME
YOU WERE
enormous respect from the people and now
GOING TO
offer them a liberating alternative to a
SAY THAT
failed Marxist vision. Catholics in Poland
and Hungary, the Eastern Orthodox in
Russia and Lutherans in East Germany
have remained credible islands of moral
and spiritual transcendence in a flat sea of
state-enforced materialism. Indeed, it
seems as if the non-coerced materialism of
the West is far more lethal to religion.
No doubt these revivals will produce
WHAT ARE YOU
- EVA).
more productive citizens. The Soviet "re-
Dren THE
WRITING BOLAM??
people need Spectual Sustenan
1946 Stalin ordered Orthodox Che
to about Utrainian Cathol
12-28-89
A Bright Moment for Christian Churches
N this Christmas season, 1989, the
from studying for the priesthood or the
the church as well as outside. Under less
The churches can, in areas of bitter
I
Christian churches occupy a role in
ministry. In Romania, ancient monaster-
pressure, people will turn to more mate-
political strife, find themselves both di-
the life of nations unprecedented in
ies have been cut off and isolated with
rial objectives. New ideas and new ap-
vided and in the middle of the struggle.
recent times.
their aging monks and nuns. Yet when
proaches may well question the ortho-
This has happened to the Catholic
Pope John Paul receives President
the regimes began to collapse, the institu-
doxy that often accompanies religion.
Church in Central America where activist
Mikhail Gorbachev and the head of the
tions within society that were most ready
And in the adversity that will inevitably
priests, close to the poorest of the
Roman Catholic Church is invited to visit
to assist in change were the Christian
occur following the collapse of one sys-
population, identify with opponents of
communist Soviet Russia. Mr. Gorbachev
churches. In no country, despite such
tem and the building of another, some
the traditional governments. The killers
promises him greater freedom for reli-
measures and strong efforts at anti-reli-
will lose faith in all institutions, including
of the six Jesuits in El Salvador have still
gious expression. Reportedly the Soviet
gious education, were the
the churches. Already there
not been brought to light, yet assump-
churches totally suppressed.
D
A
V
I
D
leader also gives assurances that he
are reports that more liberal
tions are probably valid that their con-
would lift Stalin-era restrictions on the
And in nations such as Poland
NEWSOM
elements in Solidarity in Po-
cern with the education and welfare of
Ukrainian church.
where the church rep-
land are seeking to diminish
the less advantaged in that country was
A Roman Catholic layman is installed
resented not only the faith
the close ties between Soli-
deeply resented by more conservative el-
as prime minister in Poland, culminating
but also the nationalism of a
darity and the church be-
ements.
the efforts to overturn communist rule in
people, the communist re-
cause Catholic leaders are
Perhaps Christianity, a religion found-
which the church played a leading role.
gime was forced to coexist.
considered too conservative.
ed in the crucifixion of Jesus and nur-
In East Germany, Lutheran churches
In recent days, in each
In another region, in
tured in the persecutions of the Roman
are the rallying points for the protest
land, priests and pastors have
South Africa, the Archbishop
Empire, thrives on adversity. Nowhere
marches and Evangelical Lutheran stu-
kept alive a faith through
of Cape Town, Desmond
today do people seem as ready to declare
dents are in the forefront of those press-
years of suppression and,
Tutu, was in the forefront of
and identify with their faith as in the
ing for reform. Churches have been sim-
more recently, have provided
protests against apartheid
lands where it has been under the great-
ilar centers of support for reformers in
spiritual counseling and encouragement
earlier this year. As the government in
est pressure. The churches will probably
Hungary and Czechoslovakia.
and church properties as sanctuaries for
Pretoria shows a more permissive atti-
not retain the central role they have
Communist leaders long recognized
those seeking to organize protest move-
tude toward the African National
played during this period of communist
the threat to their rule of a strong reli-
ments. In societies where the ruling elite
Congress, the role of Archbishop Tutu
collapse, but millions of this generation
gious faith. They sought to suppress and,
have lost touch with the people, the rep-
and other activist clergymen may become
in Eastern Europe will long remember
where that was not possible, to control
resentatives of the churches maintain
less central to the political struggle. Less
the vital role churches played in restor-
the churches. In the Soviet Union many
that touch. What is less clear is what the
is heard today - at least abroad - of the
ing their freedoms.
were desecrated or turned into muse-
role of the churches as institutions will be
role of Jaime Sin, the Catholic Cardinal
ums. Stalin asked with contempt, "How
in the reconstruction of political life in
of Manila, who played a major role in the
David D. Newsom, former undersecretary
many divisions has the Pope?" In Eastern
Eastern Europe.
coming to power of President Cory
of state, is director of the Institute for the Study
Europe. young people were discouraged
Freedom will bring divisions, within
Aquino.
of Diplomacy at Georgetown University.
aleksands O90RO,ONIK
Fr Colo Vab.
WASH. TIMES 11-24-89
Bible
triumphs
over KGB
194
By Chris Mosey
LONDON OBSERVER
178
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -
The word of God triumphed
against them at their trial.
over that of Lenin in the battle
for the heart and mind of my-
"Unhappily, I helped to put Ar-
opic KGB man Vladimir Gri-
kady Tiurkov in a labor camp for five
goriev.
years. His friend Alexander Skobov
Mr. Grigoriev, 30, was sent to
was sent to a mental hospital, even
the West to penetrate an organi-
though he was completely sane."
zation smuggling Bibles and re-
Mr. Grigoriev said he recruited
ligious cassettes and videos into
students from Syria, Sudan, Egypt
the Soviet Union, but he became
and various Palestinian organiza-
a born-again Christian himself.
tions to work for the KGB. By 1982,
He defected to Sweden,
he had done so well he was promoted
where this week he told his
to lieutenant - but his career was
strange story.
severely hampered by his near-
"During the years I worked
sightedness.
for the KGB, I was involved only
"The KGB told me I should be-
in lies and dirty tricks," he said.
come a member of the free church
"Now I want to bear witness to
the truth. Only that enables hu-
movement and encouraged me to
man beings to be free."
train as a priest," he said. "They said
Mr. Grigoriev, born in a small
Christians were a threat to the state,
village near Leningrad, is the
but I never understood that. On the
son of a former officer in the
contrary, the Christians I met made
Soviet navy. When his parents
an extremely good impression on
divorced, he was sent to a Com-
me. I began in secret to pray to God."
munist Party youth camp in Tal-
He was sent to Finland this year
to penetrate a radio station broad-
linn, the capital of the Baltic repub-
casting Christian programs to the
lic of Estonia.
East bloc, with instructions to send
"In 1976, I made contact with the
back detailed plans of the building
KGB and offered to work for them,"
and its computer systems. Instead,
he said. "I thought then the organi-
he defected to Sweden, where he has
zation was a good thing for Soviet
been granted political asylum.
society."
Distributed by Scripps Howard.
A year later, he received a visit
from KGB Capt. Vadim Churbanov,
code name "Sergeiev," who in turn
introduced him to Maj. Mikhail II-
larionovity, head of a special branch
of the KGB in Tallin concerned with
stopping the flow of Christian prope-
ganda into the Soviet Union.
He was given the code name
"Hertz" and received instruction on
microfilm photography, bugging and
taping.
His first job was to collect infor-
mation on ham radio operators in the
Baltics suspected of being in the pay
of the CIA. Then, in 1978, he pen-
etrated the underground newspaper
Perspektiv.
"My job was to collect evidence
against the people running Perspek-
tiv," he said. "This was then used
CHRIS. 12-01-89
'Pause, Hear the Silence' in Russia
IKHAIL GORBACHEV'S sched-
ing opened at an increasing rate.
The pope has been pressing for the Ukrai-
M
uled visit with the pope in Rome
A new Sunday evening program on na-
nian Catholic Church's reinstatement.
today will be a test of the extent to
tional television is bringing to Soviet citizens
Does the cautious relaxation of curbs
which the Soviet Union is abandoning its
a cautiously approving view of religion. A
against religion in the Soviet Union mean
oppression of religion and religious ob-
Russian Orthodox clergyman urged view-
that the Communist Party is undergoing
servance.
ers: "Pause and tear yourself away from the
theological change, conceding the possibility
Since the revolution of 1917, the church
conveyor belt of your factory, from the con-
that God exists? Is it part of the overall pol-
has been relegated to obscurity at the hands
veyor belt of our streets
hear the silence
icy of glasnost, offering citizens more free-
of communism in the Soviet Union. Lenin
that carries healing and creative
dom of thought than they have
was scathingly critical of religion, and Soviet
force."
J
O
H
N
enjoyed in a long time? Or is
leaders since him have discouraged its prac-
Named Thoughts on the
H
U
G
H
E
S
the relaxation a safety valve, a
tice, closing down churches and jailing cler-
Eternal: Sunday Moral Ser-
way in which citizens frustrated
ics. Citizens who pursued their religious
mon, the show is a respite for
by the economics and politics
faith have been denied entry to good
many from the harsh realities of
of Soviet life can find nonvio-
schools, frozen out of opportunities for ad-
life in the Soviet Union. The
lent escape and solace?
vancement, barred from good jobs. For
show's producer, Natalya G.
Some observers believe that
communism's atheistic hard-line purists,
Chernyshov told The New York
a bolder Gorbachev is willing to
there is no God.
Times: "People cannot live only
take a chance on careful
Under Mr. Gorbachev things have
on negativism." She promises
observance of religion in the
changed. There is certainly not religious
that a Muslim imam, a Jewish
Soviet Union on grounds it is
freedom. Religious organizations must be
rabbi, and other spiritual lead-
relatively harmless and may ac-
registered and approved by the govern-
ers will soon appear on the show.
tually be helpful to his political cause.
ment. There are restrictions on the publish-
Gorbachev's scheduled meeting with the
Life for many ordinary Soviet citizens has
ing of Bibles. Many Soviets are still nervous
pope is itself a dramatic event. Key to their
for years been one of gray, monotonous
about public identification with religion.
discussions will be the future of the Roman
humdrum, an endless battle with state con-
Some sects are singled out for discrimina-
Catholic Church in the Ukraine. The Ukrai-
trol, political repression, an awesome bu-
tion. There is still harassment of Jews. Fol-
nian Catholic Church has been outlawed for
reaucracy, and continuing shortages of food
lowers of Islam are often under official
more than 40 years, placed forcibly under
and consumer goods. For many, vodka has
scrutiny.
the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox
provided an escape into alcoholic uncon-
But churches hitherto closed are now be-
Church Just recently some 180,000
sciousness. Gorbachev has been cracking
ing reopened. More than 8,000 Russian Or-
Ukrainians staged a massive demonstration
down on drunkenness, but the tedium and
thodox churches are open for worship, and
against the ban, demanding reinstatement
shortages of Soviet life remain. Might it be
though these amount to only some 15 per
of their outlawed church. This was a striking
that he sees religion replacing vodka as a
cent of the Russian Orthodox churches ex-
indication of the continuing influence of
more welcome diversion from the harsh re-
isting prior to the revolution, more are be-
their church, even under Soviet repression.
alities of Soviet existence?
CTON POST
That uncharacteristic reasonableness
from the government encouraged others to
join the protest. By Saturday night, tens of
thousands of citizens were in the streets,
chanting anti-Ceausescu slogans.
On Dec. 17, as the crowds headed for city
amp
hall, Ceausescu miscalculated and decided
aited
to treat the protesters as rabble, or "anti-
socialist hooligans."
"Relay my order to all officers," he told
party leaders by closed-circuit television.
Anyone who tries to enter a state in-
stitution or party headquarters, or who
breaks a shop window, must immediately be
shot. I want calm restored in Timisoara in
one hour. Call everybody. Give orders and
execute them."
The shooting started late that Sunday
afternoon and continued through the night.
But instead of quelling the violence, it
seemed to enrage the people.
All fall, the citizens of Timisoara had
been watching Yugoslav and Hungarian
television coverage of the revolutions in
East Germany and Czechoslovakia. They
were ready.
Little Timisoara was gripped by a kind of
euphoria. "At last, we were doing some
thing," recalled Laszlo Szabo, a chemical
engineer who joined the demonstrations
Sunday night.
The army did fire on civilians in Ti-
misoara, but not willingly. At least 42 sol-
diers were executed on the spot during the
operation for refusing to fire on the crowd.
"He Did This Thing to Himself"
By Wednesday, Dec. 20, the soldiers in
Timisoara had had enough. When 50,000
workers marched through the streets,
headed for the local Communist Party head-
quarters, the soldiers joined them. That
afternoon, the soldiers pulled their tanks
into defensive positions around civilian
headquarters at the Opera House.
Exactly how many died in the massacre
at Timisoara is not yet known, but in the
first days the figures were wildly inflated. In
a country where information had been rig-
idly controlled for a quarter century, Ro-
6
BY FRANK JOHNSTON-THE WASHINGTON POST
manians were ready to believe anything.
men pray over the dead in a cemetery in Timisoara,
As the revolution gained strength, the
NOVEM
uprising began.
lack of real information and exaggerated
atrocity stories worked against the regime.
"Timisoara" came to mean the massacre of
moon and into the
edge what they already knew from 24 years
of life under the Ceausescus.
thousands upon thousands of unarmed peo-
ay, Romanians mi-
Their country was different. Its history
ple. It was the rallying cry for the students
had heard about in
28
from Czechoslova-
was marked by cruelty, fascism and vio-
who infiltrated Ceausescu's final rally.
Bulgaria, where up-
lence. There was no tradition of democratic
Ceausescu's decision to call an official
demonstration on Dec. 21 "was the biggest
seated other long-
rule. The national history books celebrated
Vlad the Impaler, a 15th century nobleman
mistake he ever made," said a Bucharest
who modern historians believe killed more
resident. "He was so arrogant he believed
23
ront of the Central
waved flags and
than 100,000 people by forcing them to sit
he could win the crowd over by speaking to
on sharpened stakes.
them. He did this thing to himself."
With Us!" But the
Vlad's descendants were the Securitate,
Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu were cap-
ture.
-better trained,
Ceausescu's private army of 30,000, who
tured by the government the same day they
fanatically loyal
that night began a guerrilla war against the
tried to get away. Their capture was an-
Romanian people. For the next five days,
nounced the next day, along with a promise
oved to be in East-
the Securitate terrorized the country like a
that they would be given a fair trial.
not given up.
deranged dragon, breathing fire in Bu-
But as hundreds of civilians were killed
ed.
charest and other cities, including Ti-
by Securitate bullets, and the army post
18
Securitate began
misoara, where the uprising had begun,
where the Ceausescus were being held
round the Palace
came under attack, leaders of the new gov-
treets refused to
A Window on the West
ernment concluded they could not quash the
As the Army re-
des and then with
In Timisoara, a city of 350,000 near the
Securitate unless they played by the dicta-
tor's rules.
Yugoslav and Hungarian borders, a small
people remained
demonstration had started on Thursday,
The only way to slay the dragon was to
16
We Will Die, But
Dec. 14 in support of a Lutheran minister,
cut off its head. On Christmas Day, after a
the Rev. Laszlo Tokes, who was to be de-
two-hour "trial" that was little more than a
army there, too.
ported for preaching pro-democracy ser-
shouting match, Nicolae and Elena Ceau-
iddle of a firefight.
mons. When the demonstrators formed a
sescu were executed by firing squad. Short-
urreal evening, as
human cordon around Tokes's house to pro-
ly after their bodies were shown on televi-
sniper and tank
tect him, the first reaction of the local au-
sion, the shooting stopped.
6
rced to acknowl-
thorities had been not force but negotiation.
- Mary Battiata, Blaine Harden
ocToB
S Reconstruction Begins
World
The
com-
ljing
down. Party spokesmen claimed that Milea
D-de-
then committed suicide, but it was more
least
likely that he was shot by Securitate men.
Next morning an unidentified general ap-
A Revolution's Unlikely Spark
were
may
peared on television to say, "I am very sor-
were
ry that my friend the Minister died. It is a
A
S pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church in the Transylvanian city of Timi-
after
lie that he committed suicide." With his
soara, the Rev. Laszlo Tokes seemed an unlikely figure to spark a revolution.
for-
defenses crumbling, Ceausescu fled.
But Tokes, 37, possessed a sharp tongue at a time when that attribute was rare in
they
Of all Warsaw Pact party chiefs, only
Rumania. Not only did he lash out against the tyrannical regime in Bucharest, but
ies,
Ceausescu dared to order his security
he even accused Hungarian Reformed Church leaders of collaborating with com-
forces to shoot after Gorbachev had made
munist authorities.
d ri-
it clear that the Soviet army would not back
No cause aroused Tokes's wrath more than the plight of his fellow 1.7 million
1 sti-
them up. But then Ceausescu for many
ethnic Hungarians, who make up 8% of the Rumanian population and are concen-
hree
years had set himself apart from his East
trated in Transylvania, the country's westernmost region. Long a center of ethnic
Timi-
bloc brethren. He was cheered by the West
turbulence, Transylvania passed from Hungary to Rumania in 1918, after World
e
us
as the "maverick" of the Pact and praised
War I. The region reverted to Hungary in 1940, and was ceded back to Rumania in
ined
for his refusal to allow Soviet troops on his
1944. Ethnic Hungarian leaders charge Bucharest with attempting "cultural geno-
read,
soil, to participate in the invasion of
cide" by shutting ethnic schools, dissolving Hungarian communities and seizing
hout
Czechoslovakia in 1968 or to support the
historical archives. Some 18,000
ent's
Soviet war in Afghanistan.
nica-
Washington, Paris, London and other
LIAISON
ethnic Hungarians fled Rumania
last year.
tion.
capitals chose to overlook Ceausescu's
Tokes ran afoul of authorities
Yu-
steel Stalinist hand at home, where he en-
last August in an outspoken inter-
d of
forced a shameless cult of his own person-
view with Hungarian television.
East
ality. He tolerated neither dissent among
Among other things, he attacked
tant
citizens nor a difference of opinion inside
Bucharest's plan to raze up to 8,000
ma-
the party. He appointed his wife to the Po-
villages and resettle their residents
the
litburo, his sons to high party and govern-
in high-rise apartment complexes.
exe-
ment rank and more than 30 other rela-
Some 50,000 ethnic Hungarians
fire
tives to official positions. He basked in
would be relocated in the program,
vere
such honorifics as the Genius of the Carpa-
which has brought denunciations
thians and the Danube of Thought while
from international human rights
be-
treating the Rumanian people with ex-
groups and strained relations with
side
traordinary cruelty.
the Budapest government.
of
Denied a ration book by the
aud
To repay his $10 billion foreign debt, he
halted imports, exported food, rationed
state after the broadcast, Tokes was
nity
rian
electricity and impoverished the popula-
unable to buy bread, meat or fuel.
tion. He wasted scarce investment funds
Parishioners who tried to bring him
syl-
on giant party office buildings and decided
provisions were confronted by po-
o a
ned
to bulldoze thousands of villages and force
lice. The pastor was barred from
for
farmers into high-rise apartment buildings.
meeting relatives, and his tele-
His go-it-alone stubbornness in foreign
phone was shut off. In a surreal
on-
with
policy was only one more sign of his deter-
Tokes inside his besieged and battered church
form of harassment, authorities oc-
:kly
mination to depend on no power but his
casionally turned on the phone to
ce.
own. As it turned out, that was not enough.
deliver threats to Tokes, then billed him for the calls at long-distance rates. To pro-
in
Though Ceausescu is out of power, he
tect his four-year-old son, Tokes sent the boy to live with relatives.
eru
still casts a black shadow over his country's
In November four masked thugs broke into the apartment where Tokes lived
ds.
future. Rumania has no history of demo-
with his pregnant wife, and they beat and stabbed the minister. Two friends who
ith
cratic government and Ceausescu permit-
were visiting Tokes helped fight off the attackers. In a smuggled videotape made
and
ted no institutions to develop outside his
last fall, a haggard Tokes showed clear signs of strain. "They've broken our win-
ni-
control. The Communist Party, if it is not
dows every day," he said. "Now they've started breaking them in the church as well.
of
completely discredited in the eyes of the
Our friends sleep here now. The nights, are terrible."
the
people, will have to enter negotiations with
Threats of violence were just part of Tokes's troubles. Church officials tried to
nk
nascent political organizations, if they can
transfer him to a less volatile parish in southern Rumania. When Tokes refused,
th-
take solid shape. With security men still
Bishop Laszlo Papp accused the pastor of "violating the laws of both church and
wn
fighting desperately to avert a reckoning
state" and obtained a court order for his eviction. But hundreds of supporters
13
with the nation they brutalized, the regular
formed a human chain around Tokes's building to protect him, thus triggering the
rt-
army will play a stabilizing role.
crackdown that helped inspire the nationwide demonstrations that toppled Nico-
nd
The European Community has already
lae Ceausescu.
dispatched planeloads of food and medical
Tokes and his wife were taken into custody, present whereabouts unknown. After
:
supplies to Bucharest. Gorbachev and the
Ceausescu's fall, Rumanian television said Tokes was alive and well and "calling on
ed
Soviet parliament have passed a resolution
people not to give up their fight for freedom." The once obscure minister has already
)e-
of "support for the just cause of the peo-
joined the ranks.of Eastern Europe's foremost fighters for liberty. Wrote Solidarity
tly
ple of Rumania." In the days ahead, the
leader Lech Walesa in an open letter to Tokes last week: honestly admire your activi-
on
people of Rumania will need all the help
ty in a country oppressed by dictatorship. Even prison walls will not be able to hide what
a
they can garner from both East and West if
is noble and good from the eyes of the world."
By John Greenwald.
rs,
rebirth. they are to recover from their bloody
Reported by John Borrell/Vienna
k-
Reported by John Borrell/Vienna
and William Mader/London, with other bureaus
TIME, JANUARY 1, 1990
37
SPECIAL REPORT
ing at home they loaded up at a local
supermarket and drove to Rumania
(where they paid $50 for a visa at the
frontier).
It wasn't safe to travel alone. Only
the previous day a truck on the same
route had its windshield smashed by
a securitate sniper. In every village
we were stopped by armed check-
points but after a few words of expla-
As the Communist grip on Central and Eastern Europe has
nation the guards waved us through
weakened, the various churches have, one by one, emerged into
with signs of joy and gratitude.
Timisoara's main hotel, the Conti-
the sunlight after their long stay underground. The first stage of
nental, sported a Christmas tree in
the voyage toward freedom reached a climax this Christmas, with
the car park and, above the entrance,
formerly banned churches-as in the Baltic nations-celebrating
a huge photograph of Ceausescu, with
the holiday openly for the first time in nearly fifty years, and ones
prison bars added by hand. I came to
the reception counter. "Any rooms?"
that have been permitted to operate-as in Poland-celebrating
"Yes, plenty." At that moment there
more hopefully than at any time in recent memory. The grimmest
was a burst of gunfire outside and the
celebration, to be sure, was the one witnessed by all the world:
crowd in the hall dispersed in panic.
Rumania's, which was marked by what one observer called the
I run out; trams zoom past, people
dash for doorways, tires screech and
death of the "Antichrist."
drivers run for cover. Glass shatters
Our correspondents report on the celebrations, and on the prep-
as bullets hit the hotel windows.
arations for the next stage of the battle.
Where are the shots coming from?
Soldiers from a nearby barracks run
across the road and hide behind trees,
lamp posts, and trash bins. Forward,
Christmas Day in Rumania
from one doorway to another. Two
hundred yards ahead-a square with
RADEK SIKORSKI
an abandoned van. A bullet hole in
the windshield, keys in the ignition,
After ten days of fighting, things
the radio playing (carols, actually).
seemed to be calming down on
No sign of the driver-probably he
Christmas Day. Young men with Ru-
escaped in time.
manian tricolor armbands, army
A few armed civilians take cover in
belts, and makeshift weapons still
the doorway of a large house. "Come,
stood on every corner checking pa-
come, we'll show you"-they motion
pers. Streets in the city center were
me upstairs. They are the personnel
full of litter; shattered shop windows
of the military prosecutor's office de-
were blocked with boards or wooden
fending their workplace. In a large,
cases; many buildings were blackened
dark office, a soldier takes aim with
with soot. Churches. were still closed,
a Dragunov sniper rifle. He pulls the
and the danger from armed securitate
trigger; my eardrums almost burst.
forces was still great. Thousands of
Did he score? I edge forward and look
candles burned in front of the Or-
over the window sill. A hundred yards
thodox cathedral on the spot where
in front of us runs a railway on a
Jennifer Lawson
several civilians had fallen to securi-
ridge, and beyond it is an industrial
tate bullets. But life seemed to be
expanse of factories and railway
getting back to normal: trams were
branches. But where is the enemy?
already functioning, people lined up
I leave the house, run across the
T
IMISOARA-With its parks and its
for newspapers and bread, and clean-
street, and follow two soldiers with a
natural springs gushing from the
ers were sweeping the sidewalks.
crate of ammunition. We get to the
fountains in a charming Austro-
I arrived in a Hungarian Red Cross
railway ridge, where about thirty sol-
Hungarian square, Timisoara in west-
truck carrying hundreds of loaves of
diers are shooting into the factory. A
ern Rumania was a minor Ruritanian
bread and thousands of plastic pack-
fat major holding a machine gun
tourist attraction, best known as the
ets of milk. Several trucks and ci-
takes charge. "Hold your fire," he
first town in the world to have horse-
vilian cars formed a convoy at the
shouts in Rumanian, raising his
drawn trams, and the first in Europe
Hungarian-Rumanian border. One
hand. Silence. Now we can hear the
to install electric street lights. It
van had French license plates. Two
sparse flutter of incoming fire, per-
would have been happier had it re-
couples had planned to spend Christ-
haps two bullets a minute. There can-
mained in quiet obscurity.
mas together. But instead of celebrat-
not be more than a few of the securi-
22 NATIONAL REVIEW / JANUARY 22, 1990
tate. The soldiers reload and fire in
concert: a short burst from thirty ma-
Now Available
chine guns at once sounds much more
impressive than individual fire. A
new command is passed down the
National Review 1990 Pocket Diaries
line. While two platoons shoot, a third
goes over the top. Then another. I tag
along with the last.
We must have fired several hun-
July 90
dred bullets although nobody has
MONDAY
seen the enemy. Soldiers shoot to re-
assure themselves. In their World
War II-style uniforms, with thirty-
year-old Kalishnikovs and old-fash-
ioned helmets, amid this industrial
PRIDAY
TUESDAY
wasteland, they remind me of old
newsreels of the Red Army's assaults
on Berlin. This is in fact a "factory
of houses," where Ceausescu's favor-
ite "agro-industrial complexes" were
NDAY 22
SATURDAY
built-concrete collectivist hovels—
AVUSENCE
which were meant to replace Ruma-
nia's traditional villages. Very fitting
that his last supporters should be de-
fending themselves here.
Platoons separate to search and de-
ROVEMBER
OCTOBER
stroy. Suddenly a white flag on a pole
rises above a pile of concrete slabs.
Securitate giving up? No, thirty em-
ployees run across the temporary no-
man's-land and tell the soldiers where
"the terrorists" are: one in a small
For the very first time,
comprehensive listing of toll-
shed, another in the cabin of one
National Review has available
free numbers; U.S. and Canada
of the cranes. Both locations get
genuine leather 1990 pocket
air distances; road distances
splashed with a hail of bullets. It's
diaries for just $12.95 each,
between U.S. cities; weights
impossible to say whether we killed
postpaid.
and measures; world time;
anybody, and somehow none of the
soldiers volunteers to climb up and
Each gilt-edged diary has
birthstone, gift and Zodiac
check. Shots keep coming. Soldiers
reinforced edges with National
information.
throw a hand grenade and storm in-
Review and the legend "America's
This handsome, dark blue
to a factory. It is empty. A large
Conservative Magazine" stamped
diary also comes with a silken
poster on the wall proclaiming the im-
in gold. It also includes a 1989
page marker for easy refer-
position of martial law bears a name
at the bottom: President of the Ru-
and a 1991 calender as well as
encing. We have only a limited
manian Socialist Republic-Nicolae
space to write down daily
number of diaries in stock and
Ceausescu. A soldier takes his bayo-
appointments, important tele-
all orders will be handled on a
net and scratches it out.
phone numbers, personal
first-come, first-served basis.
The operation at the factory ended
expenses, and reminder notes.
To get your NR diary, just
with the capture of a man: unshaven,
in drab clothes, frightened out of his
Plus, each diary is chock
fill out and mail the handy
wits, a typical Rumanian peasant.
full of useful information: a
coupon below.
The soldiers suspected him of being a
securitate sniper, but a search of the
1990
Yes, please send me
copy(ies) of the
shed revealed no weapon. The securi-
National Review pocket diary at the special
tate men had the reputation of being
price of just $12.95 each.
able to take on any disguise. Most
Enclosed is my check for $
Please allow at least three weeks for delivery.
Rumanians I spoke to were convinced
that soldiers who shot at them in the
Send to:
early days of the uprising were really
Address:
securitate men in army getup. This is
a convenient myth now that the army
City:
State:
Zip:
is the nation's savior.
Please mail to: National Review, Attn: Pocket Diary
Only the next day did I see a real
150 East 35th Street
New York, N.Y. 10016
We cannot accept charge or credit card orders on this special offer.
securitate man. Called Dominic Par-
soara became the flashpoint. But why
have dared to challenge him from that
aschiv, he was a hairy, powerful man
did all of Rumania follow Timisoara's
square, in front of that fortress. In
in his fifties, a chemical engineer who
lead? "Look," said my Rumanian
what was no doubt the intended ef-
was known as a quiet, nice fellow.
guide, a shabby, friendly, talkative
fect, standing before Ceausescu's pal-
Only he spent many weekends away
man of 42. "This was my plan for
ace one feels powerless as if before
from home, supposedly on business
escaping to Hungary"-he unfolded a
the temple of an evil god.
trips. He was captured red-handed on
tiny, easily digestible piece of paper
Christmas Eve after he had shot sev-
with a sketch of a border region. "My
salary is 3,200 lei per month, but we
R
UMANIANS paid dearly for their
eral people and only after he himself
courage. In Timisoara alone I
got hit in the leg and liver. When he
were taxed 250 lei per month for not
saw a graveyard with twenty
came to, the nurse on duty told me,
having childrens. My wife and I no
corpses, some tortured, their hands
he said he was sorry-sorry he didn't
like making childrens for Ceausescu.
and legs bound with wire. The local
kill more people. Now, pale and un-
This coat is 2,000 lei-you can only
citizens' committee published a list of
shaven, mumbling incoherently, he
buy them on the black market. A kilo
one hundred dead. This tallies with
was tied to the bed, looking like a
of coffee is 1,500 lei. I haven't seen a
estimates by doctors I interviewed at
trapped wolf. What training does it
banana for ten years. In-a country
Timisoara's main hospital. When a
take to turn a man into such a beast?
where television, heating, "and elec-
proper count is made, perhaps the
The shooting from the factory was
tricity were rationed to two hours a
casualty figure will have to be dou-
one of the last acts of resistance by
day, reasons for discontent are easy to
bled or even trebled. A few hundred
the securitate. A few hours later a TV
point out.
died in Bucharest. I would estimate,
announcer, his face beaming, said,
But you have to go to Bucharest to
therefore, that it took the lives of
"Good news this Christmas Day. The
appreciate the depths of Ceausescu's
about one thousand people to topple
Antichrist is dead." The staff of the
depravity. The Avenue of the Victory
Ceausescu. That is a lot of innocent
Bucharest TV station apologized for
of Socialism has been built on the
blood but a far cry from the Western
not being able to show the tape of
ruins of Bucharest's medieval quar-
estimates of 12,000 dead in Timisoara
Ceausescu's execution, but there were
ter. At the apex of the avenue rises
and seventy thousand in all of Ruma-
some pockets of resistance on the way
one of this century's prime monu-
nia. As usual in revolutions rumor
and the historic recording could not
ments to megalomania and cruelty.
had a field day.
be risked. It transpired that when
What was to become Ceausescu's
How will Ceausescu's 24-year rule
Ceausescu was tried and condemned
presidential palace is set off from the
be remembered a few decades hence?
to death an entire army unit volun-
public space by a stern fence which
Will some academic Marxist argue
teered for the firing squad; only three
takes over half an hour to walk
that, with all his faults, he neverthe-
men drew the lucky lots. The man
around. The palace itself expresses
less left Rumania non-aligned and
who had called himself "the fairest fir
perfectly the character of its sponsor.
debtless, with plenty of low-income
tree of the Carpathians," and who
It is as if someone had read 1984,
housing (to match the low incomes)
had declared only a few weeks previ-
liked it, and had a fantasy of repro-
and a brand-new subway in Bucha-
ously that sooner would apple trees
ducing the Ministry of Love. One
rest? It seems unlikely. But Ceaus-
bear pears than socialism be endan-
thing is certain. If, in another few
escu does have two paradoxical
gered in Rumania, was now dead.
months, Ceausescu had moved in, he
achievements: a Communist Party SO
I made my pilgrimage to the place
would never have been dislodged by
discredited that it will probably dis-
where it had all begun 11 days before,
people power. He would never have
appear altogether, and a people who
the house of a Protestant pastor
had to flee ignominiously by heli-
are proud of having regained their
whose parishioners were willing to
copter from the roof. No crowd would
freedom by their own efforts.
die rather than let him be arrested by
the securitate. "Laszlo Tokesz, we are
waiting for you," someone scrawled in
white paint on the brick wall. The
Christmas Eve in Poland
name of the priest, a Hungarian
name, gives part of the reason why
RADEK SIKORSKI
the trouble began here in Timisoara.
Besides Hungarians there are Ger-
ARSAW-When I was a child,
man, Yugoslav, and Jewish minori-
W
the disappearance of my grandfather.
Christmas Eve had an eter-
He would say he was going to fetch a
ties in this town. Very few Rumani-
nal, unchanging quality. My
paper, even though newsstands were
ans have been allowed out of the
mother cooked carp for the traditional
closed at that time of night. When I
country since World War II, but Ti-
meatless supper. One was supposed
grew older I joined everybody at mid-
misoarans have watched Yugoslav
to eat 12 other courses, but by the
night Mass, and it was solemnly ex-
and Hungarian television for years.
time of my childhood-the Sixties—
plained to me why in such times the
Keeping in touch with families
this was only a memory. I did, how-
last words of the traditional hymn
abroad, the remaining ones knew only
ever, always set an extra place at
were changed to "Bring us back, 0
too well how much the official propa-
the table, for a guest who always
God, our free fatherland.
ganda lied. This plus the tradition of
came late: only at the age of ten or 11
This year, at five thousand zloties
civilized Habsburg rule in this part of
did I begin to wonder why the appear-
per kilo, many families could hardly
Rumania helps to explain why Timi-
ance of St. Nicholas was preceded by
afford the traditional fish. The mood
24 NATIONAL REVIEW / JANUARY 22, 1990
was somber. Everybody's thoughts
more hardship: inflation is predicted
ing more, and it is impolite to say no.
were with Rumania where the securi-
to continue at 40 per cent per month,
By now, topics of conversation are
tate gangs were still running amuck.
living standards to decline by a quar-
changing with dizzying speed, but all
Memories of previous tragic Decem-
ter; millions might lose their jobs.
have to do with the latest develop-
bers lingered: of 1970, when workers
Yet, looking over the past decade, my
ments in Eastern Europe. Thoughts
were shot in front of Lenin Shipyard
family and friends were proud of
again turn toward Rumania, and how
in Gdansk; of 1981, when General Ja-
what has been achieved At midnight
East Germany's "quiet revolution"
ruzelski crushed the Solidarity revo-
Mass for the first time in half a cen-
barely escaped the same kind of
lution; of 1979, when Soviet tanks in-
tury the faithful sang a different ver-
crackdown. The theory is that it
vaded Afghanistan.
sion of the ancient hymn: "Our free
should have come on October 9, as
The coming year promises Poles
fatherland protect, O God."
some seventy thousand people demon-
strated in Leipzig. Rumors were ram-
pant that night that the army was on
Speaking Up at Last
alert, but the protestors' rallying cry
was: "Let them shoot, we still march."
BENNETT OWEN
The upcoming elections are a sore
point. "Democracy sounds fine," says
Grandpa. "But wait for some inflation
and unemployment and the protestors
will hit the streets of Leipzig with a
different slogan."
"Maybe it is better if we vote the
Communists back in," someone rea-
sons. "At least they're experienced."
The reply is angry. "Yeah, and
what then, another thirty-year social
experiment?"
That exchange brings up a joke
about a lady who walked into the
Jennifer Lawson
local Party headquarters and asked,
"Who created socialism, the scientists
or the workers?"
The Party boss answered, "The
AST BERLIN-It first appears as
dom is sadly overshadowed by events
workers, of course."
a pulsating blob of blue light,
in Rumania," he laments. Almost as
"Oh, that makes sense," said the
somewhere far down the dark,
an afterthought he adds, "Jesus' birth
woman. "If it were scientists they
deserted road we are traveling on in
brought holiness to an unholy world."
would have tried it out on rats first."
the south side of town. As we get
The mood is somber, indeed.
"The Beast is feeding on its own
closer, the drone of sirens reaches us,
But the true spirit of the season
offspring," someone says, noting that
and we finally realize that what we
awaits us back at the apartment, and
the former minister of security, Erich
are seeing is a literal caravan of am-
the clinking of glasses in the first
Mielke, is now in a cell inside a jail
bulances. We count twenty of them as
toast of the evening signals the start
he personally had built to house po-
they speed past us. Our taxi driver
of an old-fashioned Christmas cele-
litical prisoners. He has been charged
soon gets the story from his two-way
bration. The tree is simply and beau-
with crimes against the state.
radio-victims of the power struggle
tifully bedecked with red ribbons and
And Grandpa provides yet another
in Rumania have been flown into
candles, and the scent of pine and
piece of political humor-the six mira-
East Berlin and are being rushed to
burning wax mixes with the smell of
cles of socialism:
hospitals here. "Blutbad," he whis-
roasting duck. Underneath the tree
-There is no unemployment, but
pers. East Berlin on Christmas Eve.
lies the most important thing of all,
no one works.
It is unseasonably warm, and a
"the package." It's a big box of goodies
-No one works, but everyone gets
great grey ceiling of clouds drops a
sent every year by relatives in Ham-
paid.
silent mist as the family and its
burg. On past Christmases, "the pack-
-Everyone gets paid, but there's
American guest follow the quiet side
age" seemed like a treasure chest
nothing to buy with the money.
streets from the apartment to a
filled with unimaginable delights
-No one can buy anything, but
nearby church. It is supposed to be a
from the West. This year, the parents
everyone owns everything.
children's service, but the pastor
have already been toy shopping in
-Everyone owns everything, but no
speaks of urgent matters. He pleads
West Berlin, but, still, opening "the
one is satisfied.
for donations of blood and money to
package" remains the event of the
-No one is satisfied, but 99 per
help the victims of the Rumanian
evening.
cent of the people vote for the system.
massacre. "The joy of our new free-
Soon, it is coffee time, with
It is Christmas Eve, after all, and
schnaps, sherry, beer, cognac, and,
our hosts seem to savor what may be
Mr. Owen is an editor at RIAS-TV in West
yes, even coffee, consumed in stagger-
the most important gift of all: the
Berlin.
ing quantities. The hosts keep offer-
freedom to speak their minds.
JANUARY 22, 1990 / NATIONAL REVIEW 25
Stars Burning Bright
Latra
Red Army occupied Latvia in 1940-a
Christmas pageant was held. There
JURIS KAZA
were lavish Christmas trees set up,
apparently at city expense, in the
spoken message in reminding people
Riga Market.
that their culture was one of the old-
But another Latvian journalist says
est and richest in Europe, with an
she saw "horrible poverty" in shops
oral tradition of nearly one million
everywhere before Christmas. "The
folk songs.
churches were full, to a large extent
For years, Christmas had been cele-
because it was the only place you
brated in secrecy and fear, just one
could find peace from the open mock-
week ahead of the official surrogate,
ery of the population by the authori-
New Year's Eve, when decorated trees
ties through the standard of living
and Sala vecis, the Frost Man (a kind
they are able to give us," she said
of ersatz Santa Claus), were officially
bitterly.
allowed. I celebrated one such New
In 1989, Latvians give frank, fear-
Year's Eve with relatives in Riga,
less Christmas Eve man-in-the-street
ringing in 1983, a year that proved to
interviews to local television report-
be one of the most repressive for Lat-
ers. They say that although they
Jennifer Lawson
via's then-tiny democratic movement.
would rather not talk politics at the
In a sweep on January 6, the Latvian
rebirth of the official Christmas hol-
KGB ransacked the homes of up to
iday, they feel compelled by Gor-
fifty Latvian families and seized for
bachev's and the Kremlin's latest
R
IGA-With the slight background
questioning a Latvian woman from
threats against Lithuania.
hiss of a distant AM broadcast,
Sweden and her 16-year-old daughter.
As long as the struggle for the res-
the choir sings Klusa Nakts,
One man suffered a heart attack dur-
toration of democracy and complete
Sveta Nakts (Silent Night, Holy
ing a KGB search, and his body was
independence has not ended, no for-
Night) in Latvian on Radio Riga.
left more or less where he collapsed
merly suppressed tradition or holiday
Playing in the background during a
until the secret police were through.
will ever be free of politics. In many
transatlantic call from Stockholm, it
(The man died.)
windows all across Latvia, three can-
amazes and moves my family in the
A Latvian editor, reached by phone
dles were left burning as symbols of
U.S., who never thought this would
from Stockholm, reports that in the
defiance and hope, echoing the three
be possible.
Dom Square-called, until recently,
bright stars atop the Latvian Free-
On Christmas Eve, the Lutheran
the June 17 Square for the day the
dom Monument in downtown Riga.
services from the Riga Dom Church
are beamed across Latvia on televi-
sion. In Ludza, a town near the Rus-
sian border in the predominantly
No Turning Back
Catholic province of Latgale, almost
Lithuarnia
all the students from the local high
PETER G. KAUFMANN
school, and younger children as well,
attend midnight Mass; two years ago
V
ILNIUS-Anyone watching the
milial consciousness in young people,
this would have been unthinkable de-
steady stream of people of all
based on traditional Christian values.
fiance. At the same time, Latvian
ages entering the Vilnius Cathe-
The fact that this event could take
television offers a surprise broadcast
dral on the morning of November 25,
place at all has lost much of its dra-
of midnight Mass from the Vatican,
1989, could have assumed that this
matic force against the backdrop of
relayed by satellite.
was an ordinary, everyday occurrence.
the revolutionary movements toward
Interspersed with the Christian cel-
Even the children scurrying through
democracy sweeping through Eastern
ebrations and caroling were eerie pre-
the door, genuflecting on both knees
Europe, but opening the churches has
Christian solstice songs with the an-
at the entrance before proceeding to
accomplished much more than a re-
cient refrain, "kaladu, kaladu," and
their places, behaved as if this had
turn to the open practice of religion:
the songs of merrymakers roaming
been the usual practice throughout
it has opened the door to freedom of
around dressed as gypsies, storks,
their lives. In fact, it was a new expe-
thought. Most of all, it has provided
dancing bears, and other animals. A
rience for any Lithuanian under the
new hope for a better future.
few years ago, the Soviet authorities
age of about sixty.
Today, the Catholic Church in Lith-
were even more upset by the Latvian
The occasion was the Mass which
uania recognizes both the difficulties
folklore movement than by Christian
marked the opening of the congress to
and the importance of its role. Many
activism. There was a powerful un-
re-establish the Catholic Youth Asso-
of its priests were persecuted, and
ciation, Ateitis, in Lithuania, an or-
have served time in prison and in
Mr. Kaza is a Latvian-American freelance
ganization which had been banned
exile. The priesthood had been infil-
journalist based in Stockholm, who has
since the Soviet occupation of Lithua-
been banned by the Latvian KGB from vis-
nia in 1940. Its objectives: to foster
Mr. Kaufmann is president of Ateitis in the
iting Latvia for five years.
spiritual, intellectual, social, and fa-
United States.
26 NATIONAL REVIEW / JANUARY 22, 1990
trated by agents of state security,
derstanding of the faith. No one ex-
Christmas this year has been a sym-
who used the few remaining seminar-
pects miracles, only dedicated and
bol of rebirth for the Armenian peo-
ies for their own purposes, ultimately
methodical work. In the words of Car-
ple.
forcing the establishment of under-
dinal Vincentas Sladkevicius: "Each
In Moscow there are relatively few
ground seminaries in which priests
of us is like a tiny rivulet feeding into
Catholics, most of them Poles living
could be trained, untainted by politi-
a river. Our individual contributions
here. On December 24 and 25 they
cal indoctrination.
may appear insignificant yet, to-
gathered, as they customarily do, in
The clergy recognize that many
gether, they form a powerful current
St. Ludvik's Cathedral, where they
handicaps remain: although a sizable
whose force can shape the world." The
listened attentively to the sermon by
core of Catholics exist, most of the
Catholic Church and the people know
the church's rector, Father Stanislav
population has only a superficial un-
that there is no turning back.
Mozheyko. This Christmas, however,
they were joined by a number of Or-
thodox believers. But even more of
the Orthodox went on December 24 to
A Christian Christmas
the new Moscow Art Theater, which
for the first time staged a Christmas
SERGEI GRIGORYANTS
play, organized and financed by the
Baptist newspaper The Protestant.
oscow-In the Soviet Union
ulation of this tiny country attended
The initiative came from Nikolay Gu-
M
Christmas normally begins in
church services. In the Dom Cathe-
benko, a famous dramatic actor who
the Baltics, for it is only there
dral of Tallinn there was a huge
is now the minister of culture. The
that Catholics and Protestants com-
Christmas concert. And a curious
play, Under the Star of Bethlehem,
memorate the holiday according to the
event took place right before Christ-
was specially written for the occasion,
Gregorian Calendar-the so-called
mas: a manifesto appeared in the
and it reached out not only to believ-
"new style." The other churches-the
press announcing the formation of the
ers: those in attendance included not
Russian Orthodox Church and the Ar-
"Party of Free Democrats of Estonia."
simply atheists and Communists, but
menian Gregorian Church, to be sure,
Among the scientists and cultural fig-
even People's Deputies, such as
but even the Ukrainian Catholic
ures who had signed the manifesto,
Gavriil Popov and Ilya Zaslavsky.
Church of the Eastern Rite and Bap-
half were former CPSU members.
At the end of the play everyone in
tists and other Protestants-celebrate
This year even in Yerevan and in
the audience received a gift that is
Christmas 13 days later, according to
Moscow the commemorations began
very precious in the Soviet Union-a
the Julian Calendar.
on the "new style" Christmas Eve. On
Gospel. There are plans to repeat this
This year, however, it would not
December 24 Armenian protestors
program in the Moscow Art Theater
suffice to describe only what was hap-
erected a Christmas tree on the
during the course of the Yuletide sea-
pening in the Baltics on December 24
tracks of the railroad that brings raw
son.
and 25, although there, for the first
materials to the nitrate plant in Yere-
There is no more room for Commu-
time in dozens of years, Christmas not
van, which for a long time has been
nist idols in the festive light of
only was celebrated nationwide, but
poisoning the city's inhabitants.
Christmas.
was even recognized as a national hol-
iday by the Communist authorities. In
Lithuania all 630 Catholic churches
summoned believers to Mass by toll-
Keeping the Faith
ing their church bells for the first time
since the Soviet takeover in 1940. In
OLGA S. HRUBY
Vilnius Cathedral, Archbishop Ju-
lionas Stepanavicius celebrated Mass,
T IS A principle of Marxist faith
In some Communist-dominated
which was broadcast over the radio
that with the progress of Commu-
countries-for example, in Poland-
and television, to be heard by all Lith-
nism religion will wither away. Be-
believers were able to worship the
uanians. Throughout the republic
cause in practice this process moved
Lord openly. In other instances they
there were concerts of religious music,
much more slowly than predicted,
were forced into the underground
and city squares for the first time dis-
Communist governments tried to
church, thus risking persecution or
played brightly shimmering Christ-
speed it up by various means at their
worse. In either case they were part
mas trees.
disposal, among which gentle persua-
of a vast network which provided
Estonia, which is primarily Protes-
sion was the least popular one. Yet it
spiritual guidance, personal contacts,
tant, was almost as colorful this
seems that no matter what method
and information mostly unavailable
Christmas as its Catholic neighbor,
they apply, religious convictions are
from other sources.
Lithuania. Practically the entire pop-
extremely difficult to eradicate. Even
In the post-Stalinist Soviet Union,
in Albania, where Enver Hoxha
demands for religious freedom were
closed all houses of worship and im-
sparked by the Jewish emigration
Mr. Grigoryants is the editor of the inde-
pendent magazine Glasnost and chairman
prisoned or killed all clergymen, there
movement. Many refuseniks were in
of the Trade Union of Independent Jour-
are strong indications that believers
nalists in the Soviet Union. This article
-both Christian and Moslem-have
Mrs. Hruby is editor of Religion in Com-
was translated by Ludmilla Thorne.
kept their faith alive.
munist-Dominated Areas.
JANUARY 22, 1990 / NATIONAL REVIEW 27
From Country
sive, and uninspiring, unlike the lead-
openly defying the restrictions on
ership during World War II.
their activities and are reclaiming
To Country,
their churches. This conflict may in-
Hungary: Under Janos Kadar, the
flame the population in Western
Church to Church
churches were relatively free, as long
Ukraine.
as the clergy stayed in line. Hier-
The Lutheran Church is very in-
Bulgaria: Small evangelical churches
archs, particularly Protestant, were
fluential in Latvia and Estonia. Other
are active. The Orthodox Church is
accommodating. The Catholic Church
Protestant or Evangelical churches
submissive.
worked well within the limits stipu-
are growing fast.
lated by the state.
The Church in Armenia and Geor-
Czechoslovakia: Here the Catholic
gia has always retained a large de-
Church, headed by ninety-year-old
Poland: The Catholic Church never
gree of independence and is keeping
Cardinal Tomasek of Prague, is out-
lost its authority and prestige. It was
the national spirit alive.
spoken. Some priests and theologians
most fortunate to have such a dynam-
Muslims are increasingly assertive.
are active in dissident organizations.
ic leader as Cardinal Wyszynski dur-
The officially sponsored Pax in Terris
ing the worst years. Cardinal Glemp
Yugoslavia: Despite its more liberal
Association of Catholic Clergy collabo-
commands far less respect and affec-
image, the country is fragmented into
rates with the government; its mem-
tion because of his cautiousness and
national and religious entities. Reli-
bers are distrusted by the faithful.
accommodating ways.
gious intolerance exacerbates the cur-
The underground church has secretly
rent crisis. While in Soviet-bloc coun-
ordained bishops and priests, and is
USSR: Major changes in the attitude
tries religion was a force for positive
active mainly in cities. Large pilgrim-
to religion are of most benefit to the
change, here it adds to the problems.
ages to various shrines offer a plat-
Orthodox Church. In the past it has
form for exchange of information and
been controlled and manipulated for
Rumania: The hierarchy of the Or-
planning of strategy.
the purposes of the government; its
thodox Church with all its servility
The Evangelical Church of Czech
patriarch is an ex-prisoner, now ail-
failed to save churches and monaster-
Brethren (Presbyterian) seems to
ing, very obedient to the state.
ies from destruction by Ceausescu.
have overcome a long period of in-
The Catholic Church in Lithuania
Local churches provided spiritual sup-
ertia. A number of its members are
has openly challenged the govern-
port to the faithful, and so did the
involved in Charter 77 and other civic
ment and has a well-organized action
minority denominations. The Hungar-
associations, and many were impris-
group which provided reliable infor-
ian minority suffered the heaviest
oned. The Hussite Church has been
mation about numerous clashes and
losses, and it is ironic that the perse-
quiescent and is in decline. In Slova-
conflicts. The Ukrainian Catholic
cution of its pastor in Timisoara
kia, the Lutheran Church is coasting
(Uniate) Church remains unrecog-
sparked the revolt which toppled the
along. Its leadership is weak, submis-
nized, although the Uniates are now
megalomaniac and his clan. -OSH
contact with friends in the West and,
their countries, and secretly aided the
peasement has prevailed. Yet even
thus, received support and informa-
persecuted. Others, however, glorified
those bodies in many ways advanced
tion they shared with believers of
the powers that be in the most ser-
the revival of churches in Communist
other faiths. Their struggle was occa-
vile, unctuous manner. The Holy
countries by providing a meeting
sionally successful enough to encour-
Synod of the Rumanian Orthodox
place and a vantage point from which
age others, particularly members of
Church recently addressed the mega-
the representatives from the Soviet
ethnic groups, to apply for emigra-
lomaniac Ceausescu as "the illustri-
bloc could gather information, gain
tion. Again, churches provided the
ous and experienced leader of the
experience, and learn how to negoti-
network for strategic planning. This
Rumanian people, an eminent person-
ate.
was also the case with the Solidarity
ality of the contemporary world." The
But among the factors advancing
movement in Poland, with the demon-
same church leader who sang these
the cause of captive churches, the ex-
strations against the Honecker re-
praises presided on Christmas Day at
istence of a multi-lingual Polish Pope
gime in East Germany, with the re-
thanksgiving services for Ceausescu's
should not be underestimated. The
sistance in the Baltic states, and to
downfall.
persecuted churches have looked up
some extent also with Charter 77 in
The intensity of believers' determi-
to Pope John Paul II for inspiration
Czechoslovakia. It would be difficult
nation varies from country to country
in their struggle. He may be criticized
to find a dividing line between reli-
even in the same denomination [see
in the West, but behind the Iron Cur-
gious, nationalist, and political pro-
box]. But the differences in denomina-
tain he gained many admirers even
test in many of those instances.
tional attitudes may be partly ex-
among Protestants, Orthodox, and ag-
Even some of the churchmen who
plained by the fact that while the
nostics. They know that he shares
publicly defended the Marxist policies
Catholics have a strong supporter in
their sorrows and hopes, and above
of their countries would confess their
the Vatican, the Protestants and the
all, that he is a man of peace. It is
dissatisfaction in private. They spread
Orthodox could not expect such help
gratifying that this spirit prevailed in
the word about Western democracies
from the World Council of Churches
the revolutions that have swept the
among their friends, smuggled Bibles,
and other international religious or-
Communist-dominated countries from
forbidden books, and periodicals into
ganizations where the spirit of ap-
Poland to Bulgaria.
28 NATIONAL / JANUARY 22, 1990
TIMES 12-20-89
Jews Meet in Moscow,
First Time Since Czar
178/194
By FRANCIS X. CLINES
Special so The New York Times
MOSCOW, Dec. 19 The first nation-
cence of anti-Semitism in old and new
wide gathering of Jewish representa-
ways, congress delegates said.
"Nobody is authorizing us to call is
tives since the fall of the Czar was con-
In interviews, they said the new
rael the motherland of Kievan Jews," a
vened today, and it underlined the par-
wave of hatred has generally not been
delegate from Kiev quickly objected
from the audience in a downtown
ticipants' quandary over the future:
violent, although, for example, a reviv-
how to see to the great tide of those who
ing Jewish community in Kazan re-
movie auditorium, where a hubbub of
want to emigrate yet still protect the
cently had its Torah stolen by two
discussion was under way well beyond
interests of those who stay in hopes of a
thugs who posed as believers.
the microphone; he said that the term
Jewish renaissance.
"There is a paradox to this problem
"repatriation" would comfort anti-
Several abusive pickets from Pamy-
under the greater freedom of glas-
Semites who propagandize that all
at, a far-right chauvinist organization,
nost," said Josef Zissels, an organizer
Soviet Jews are "temporary" citizens
stood outside to jeer the arriving dele-
of the congress and chairman of the
yearning to flee to Israel.
gates to the first Congress of Jewish
Jewish Culture Society in Chernovtsy
Another speaker identifying himself
Committees and Organizations of the
in the Ukraine. "In the areas where
as a Zionist said he was "insulted" by
Soviet Union, shouting "yids!" and
anti-Semitism historically was strong-
the suggestion that Israel might not be
'Jewish prostitutes!"
est - in the Ukraine, Moldavia and
considered the motherland. "Tell the
But the spirit of the occasion carried
Byelorussia - we find less anti-Semi-
American Jewish organizations to
most delegates ebulliently into the de-
tism than in those areas in the depth of
start providing more aid to israel," he
bating hall. There, more than 700
Russia where the general explosion of
declared to some applause. "Israel will
Soviet participants and observers from
social activities has caused various
accept everyone."
around the world soon were witnessing
new feelings to come forward."
A third delegate, identifying himself
lively dispute at a grand convocation of
Nationalism and Anti-Semitism
as Grigory A. Weisberg, pleaded that
Jews from the western Ukraine to the
The Ukrainian nationalist movement
the congress not overlook the "small
has made a point of repeatedly con-
villages that remain the heart of the
demning anti-Semitism, "and that
Jewish community in the U.S.S.R." and
How to help Jews
never happened before," Mr. Zissels
that are out of the main flow of the
said. "But in Russia, anti-Semitism is
urban migration outlets.
taking on a particularly irrational,
A fourth delegate, Aleksandr S. Bora-
leave, and those
mystical form in the name of Russian
kovski, from the Jewish Cultural Soci-
nationalism. I think it is part of a cam-
ety in Kiev, cautioned: "Remember
who stay?
paign by political leaders there to di-
the Jews who are staying here as their
vert the general frustrations of the peo-
homeland. Every word uttered here
ple from the failures of the Govern-
and published in the papers tomorrow
ment."
can cause a lot of harm, or a lot of good,
Far East, from Siberia to the Trans-
The congress, which has voting dele-
to those Jews who stay."
caucus.
gates from 150 scattered cultural, so-
The Soviet majority at the congress
"It is hard to believe this moment
cial and ethnic Jewish organizations in
will debate a series of resolutions this
has arrived," said Yuly Sterenberg of
this nation of nations, spent much of its
week and vote on them Friday, but no
Lvov, one of the organizers of the con-
first full debating day on the pressing
time was being wasted as the hall
gress.
topic of the moment. This is the turn in
seethed with demands to be heard.
New Wave of Hatred
emigration in which the United States,
When Israel Singer, a representative
"This is the first time in the history
in this new era of greater Soviet free-
of the World Jewish Congress, offered
of the Soviet Union there was ever any-
dom, has put a quota on its once unlim-
help to the new congress, he was asked,
thing like this," he said, summarizing
ited acceptance of persecuted Jewish
in turn, what his organization's meet-
75 years of pogroms, warfare and polit-
emigrants.
ings were like. "They are pluralistic
ical persecution. "You have to go back
Israel has benefited, with record
and anarchic, like yours," he replied
to 1914 and the Czar to find the last
numbers of Soviet Jews heading there.
smiling. Then, saluting the moment
broad gatherings of Jews."
There were 11,000 in the month of
and promising a wide range of support,
In that time, hundreds of thousands
November and predictions are that the
he declared: "We have resources but
of Jews have fled this country and hun-
flow may average better than 100,000 a
we don't have dreams. We have come
dreds of thousands more of the esti-
year for the next five or six years.
here to ask you to dream for us."
mated two million who remain still
One initial flurry of debate focused
Gedaliah Rabinowitz, a Brooklyn-
want to leave. They are finding the
on a proposed emigration resolution
born rabbi from Israel who opened a
Soviet economic crisis discouraging
that used the word "repatriation" to
Moscow yeshiva last February, said
and the new era of political outspoke-
describe any Soviet Jew's migration to
the congress was badly needed for a
ness partly alarming for the recrudes-
Israel.
"situation so volatile and changing that
there is no way to predict the future.
"How many are leaving?" he asked.
"For Israel or America? And how
many are staying to help build a Jew-
ish renaissance?"
newfound sense of common
cause showed itself in other
ways. Women rushed out to
the army tanks rumbling along
Timisoara's streets and passed
LIAISON
baskets of bread and pails of
tea through the hatches. One
recalled another legacy of
Ceausescu's-the beggaring
of Rumania-when she ex-
plained, "We have nothing
else to give the soldiers except
bread."
Rumor swirled. Everyone
had heard about one place
or another where Ceausescu
followers had suddenly ap-
peared: "Last night we heard
that paratroopers loyal to
that murderer [Ceausescu]
had been dropped outside
the town," said Asofei Jorim,
21, a student who had sur-
vived the Timisoara massa-
cre and joined the militia
guarding the city. "We have
even heard that Palestinian
In Timisoara, among the exhumed corpses, survivors mourned loved ones killed by Ceausescu's forces
students who were being
trained as terrorists here are
also supporting the old regime."
A Kaleidoscope of Chaos
Everywhere, relief and triumph min-
gled with a persistent sense of danger. At
Moravita, a sleepy Rumanian frontier
On the road from the border to Bucharest: people ricocheting
post on the edge of the Yugoslav border,
between agony and elation, fear and hope
customs officials waved their arms high in
victory but warned, "Be very careful.
There is shooting all the time." In villages
BY JAMES WILDE TIMISOARA
bells were pealing. A procession of villag-
along the road to Bucharest, virtually ev-
ers, many of whom looked like Gulag vet-
ery Rumanian flag had the communist
On Christmas Eve in Timisoa-
erans in their shabby overalls and torn
logo scissored out of the center of the
Γa, the border city where the
jackets, streamed out of the small Ortho-
blue, yellow and red field; everywhere,
uprising against Nicolae
dox church and gathered on the village
signs lauding communism and Ceausescu
Ceausescu first bubbled up, a
green, singing in thanksgiving joy. A
had been defaced. In Craiova, an industri-
young woman stood in a field,
horse-drawn cart clattered by, and its eu-
al city west of Bucharest, jubilation
rocking back and forth, crying softly.
phoric driver shouted, "Long live the
reigned even as fighting between the army
"Bloody, oh, how bloody," she crooned
liberation!
and the Securitate was still going on. "We
over the corpse of an old man. His hands
Scenes that were part of an otherworld-
are all in ecstasy over our new freedom,"
had been cut off, his body disfigured by
ly mixture of triumph and fear, suspicion
said Eugen Radui, a 19-year-old student
boiling water and acid. He had been her
and hope: peasants making the V-for-
who was part of a group guarding a hotel.
father.
victory sign outside empty shops or beside
"I have had no liberty. It is impossible to
Nothing could have prepared the mind
wells said to have been poisoned by the Se-
describe what it was like living here." At
for Timisoara and the tableau of horrors
curitate. No one confident that those bru-
the town hall, where a provisional govern-
left by the regime's last and worst spasm of
tal defenders of the old regime were really
ing committee of 40 people had been in-
barbarity. In the same muddy field, laid out
gone; no one certain what kind of a govern-
stalled, the lights were kept dim so snipers
on white sheets, were two dozen other na-
ment was in charge. People ricocheting be-
could not spot potential targets through
ked bodies, more victims of a massacre
tween agony and elation. And fear
the windows.
Dec. 16 and 17 by the Securitate, Ceauses-
everywhere.
Even so, nothing could dim the realiza-
cu's secret police. These bodies too had
More than a week after the rebellion
tion that Rumania had entered a new era.
been subjected to efforts to render them
erupted, Securitate snipers were still
"It was the students who lighted the fire,
unrecognizable, an obvious attempt not
shooting at anything that moved, armed or
the students in Bucharest and Timisoara,"
only to spite those the victims left behind
unarmed, in the streets of Timisoara. Ev-
said Emilian Mercan, 36, a former travel
but also to intimidate them. The bodies
ery intersection had a checkpoint manned
agent and member of the Craiova commit-
bore various marks of torture: ankles en-
by young and visibly frightened rebels.
tee. "I never thought this could happen,
twined in barbed wire, stomachs crudely
Whenever a car appeared, they flagged it
this revolution." Later, after hearing that
sewn up where they had been slashed
down to search for weapons; even a
Ceausescu and his wife Elena had been ex-
open. On the corpse of one woman lay the
stooped grandmother might join in the
ecuted, Mercan summed up his feelings in
seven-month fetus that had been ripped
effort.
what might be close to a nationwide senti-
from her womb.
In a country thick with informers,
ment: "We are like children waking from a
But horror was not the only emotion
where the constant fear of betrayal to the
nightmare in the middle of the night. All
expressed in Rumania last week. In the
Securitate had destroyed people's ability to
we want is reassurance that it won't happen
village of Denta, near Timisoara, church
trust one another and work together, the
again."
TIME, JANUARY 8, 1990
35
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
Rostropovich and his wife, Galina Vishnevskaya, in Moscow yesterday.
Maestro in Moscow
Rostropovich's Bittersweet Return Home
recalled how exiled intellectuals of
By David Remnick
earlier eras asked that after their
Washington Post Foreign Service
deaths their bones be brought back
MOSCOW, Feb. 12-Mstislav
to the homeland. "You cannot
Rostropovich knocked on the door
imagine the feeling" of these ex-
of his old apartment today. After
iles, he said. "It is an endless emo-
16 years of forced exile, the cellist
tional strain."
and conductor had that feeling
Since their arrival here Sunday
common to those who return home
night, Rostropovich and his wife,
after a long time gone: The old
opera singer Galina Vishnevskaya,
rooms seemed smaller. "I" never
have crisscrossed the city, visiting
imagined I would have returned-
friends and remembering friends
here, to our home," said Rostropo-
lost. From the airport, they drove
vich, who is leading the National
directly to the grave of composer
Symphony Orchestra on a four-
Dmitri Shostakovich, their lifelong
concert tour in Moscow and Lenin-
friend. Tuesday night Rostropo-
grad this week. In a voice that
vich will conduct Shostakovich's
mixed elation and melancholy, he
See NSO, D6, Col. 4
2/12/90
Rostropovich_in Moscow
Rostropovich, 62, said he has e'
ery intention of maintaining his CO1
tract with the NSO "until get to
old and I can't keep up with the 0
NSO, From DI
and in 16 years abroad. When
chestra anymore. Asked if he ha
that happens, I will return to my
Symphony No. 5, Op. 47, at the
any plans to visit Moscow again, i
people. Solzhenitsyn's works are
NSO's first concert, which will be
least for longer visits, he said, "(
broadcast live on Soviet television.
now being published in dozens of So-
course. We will come as soon we ca
viet journals and magazines,
This morning Rostropovich and
to stay for some more time.'
Vishnevskaya laid flowers on the
In the Soviet Union, Rostropovich
Vishnevskaya, for her part, sai
grave of Andrei Sakharov, whom
was famous as a soloist and a con-
she was not ready to sing at the Bo
Rostropovich called "the greatest
ductor. The last piece he conducted
shoi Theater, her artistic home fc
man of the 20th century." They also
in the Soviet Union, Peter Tchaikov-
two decades. "When they kicked t
visited the grave of Rostropovich's
sky Symphony No. 6 ("Patheti-
out," she said, "that was the las
mother.
que"), will be a centerpiece of Tues-
straw. The Bolshoi's leading solois
Vishnevskaya, who seems more
day's program.
even went to the Communist Part
bitter than her husband about their
For exiles especially, the recent
Central Committee and told the cu
exile, said she had originally intend-
months of transformation through-
ture minister that Rostropovic
ed to return home to Washington af
out Europe have been an emotional
must be fired because he is an end
release. Suddenly they are struck
my of the people."
ter the NSO's tour of Japan last
week. The Soviet government's de-
with possibilities-freedom, the
Rostropovich, speaking in Russia
cision on Jan. 16 to return their citi
chance, to return-that they never
for a change rather than in a foreig
zenship helped change her mind. "Fi-
thought would come. Last Novem-
tongue, said he would "love to se
ber Rostropovich recalled, he was
Mikhail Gorbachev if he has time
nally, the Soviet government has
staying at his apartment in Paris,
but we know how full his schedule is
recognized their barbarian act as un-
where he had installed a satellite
I think highly of Gorbachev.
worthy," Vishnevskaya said.
"When we left here, this country
dish on the roof, the better to pull in
Rostropovich, insisting he was n
was a great island of lies," Rostropo-
the Soviet evening news program
politician, nevertheless stood befor
vich told reporters. "Now the Soviet
"Vremya. A friend called Rostropo-
a microphone at the Soviet foreig
vich and said, "Slava. Slava. Switch
ministry press center and reveale
Union is cleansing itself of those lies.
Our only wish is that all these won-
on your TV.
some of his political thinking. "Whe
M couldn't comprehend what was
people are happy and their stomach
derful promises that are being dis-
cussed are put into action.
We
happening, Rostropovich said.
are full, then maybe they will wan
"There was this wall and there were
nothing but music and art, he said
all pray to God almighty that all will
"But now they must stand in line jus
be well and that there will be no
these people climbing it and standing
to try and feed themselves. Also, W
more bloodshed here."
on it. And then I realized what it
have to do away with a syster
Nikolai Gubenko, a known ac-
was, and I began to weep, told Gali-
where the ordinary people stand 0
tor at the Taganka Theater and now
na, T must go there, must go to
line and the officials do not. The off
the country's minister of culture,
Berlin tomorrow.
cials must feel the pain of the people
said that Rostropovich's return was
Rostropovich called a wealthy
with their own stomachs."
"yet another beautiful instance of
friend who owns a plane and asked
During the day, in between re
justice prevailing." He said he hoped
for a ride. The next morning, cello in
hearsals and interviews, Rostrope
that soon Rostropovich's close
hand, he arrived in Berlin and took a
vich met with the Soviet Union'
friend, novelist Alexander Solzheni-
cab to the wall Rostropovich had to
best-known composer, Alfre
tsyn, will also get back his citizen-
borrow a chair from people living in
Schnittke. Rostropovich recalle
ship and return to the Soviet Union.
the nearest house. "And as Eplayed
how when he lived here unde
Before leaving for Japan and the
Bach, he said, "there was a young
Brezhnev and Stalin, he was "alway.
Soviet Union, Rostropovich visited
German man listening with his eyes
told what to play. Modernists and
Solzhenitsyn at his home in Caven-
closed. I could see a tear roll: down
rebels like Schnittke were rarely al
dish, Vt. "We talked day and night,"
his cheek. And I said to myself, This
lowed into the repertoire. "What ar
Rostropovich said, "and Solzhenitsyn
is the greatest reward for under-
abnormal system that someone
told me, 'Please tell my people that I
standing in the world.' For me, the
could tell Shostakovich or Prokofie
will return, but only when every per-
Berlim Wall was not only a wall of
what to write," Rostropovich said
son in the country can get my books,
politics, but a wall between my old
That's one good thing about Gorba
either in the stores or in the library,
friends at home and our new ones:
chev. He doesn't pretend to give
so they can see what I have done
Now that wall is gone.
music lessons."
Rostropovich in Moscow
Rostropovich, 62, said he has
ery intention of maintaining his c
tract with the NSO "until I get
there and in 16 years abroad. When
old and I can't keep up with the
NSO, From D1
chestra anymore." Asked if he 1
Symphony No. 5, Op. 47, at the
that happens, I will return to my
any plans to visit Moscow again,
NSO's first concert, which will be
people.' Solzhenitsyn's works are
least for longer visits, he said,
broadcast live on Soviet television.
now being published in dozens of So-
course. We will come as soon we
This morning Rostropovich and
viet journals and magazines.
to stay for some more time."
Vishnevskaya laid flowers on the
In the Soviet Union, Rostropovich
Vishnevskaya, for her part, S
grave of Andrei Sakharov, whom
was famous as a soloist and a con-
she was not ready to sing at the B
Rostropovich called "the greatest
ductor. The last piece he conducted
shoi Theater, her artistic home
man of the 20th century." They also
in the Soviet Union, Peter Tchaikov-
two decades. "When they kicked
visited the grave of Rostropovich's
sky's Symphony No. 6 ("Patheti-
out," she said, "that was the L
mother.
que"), will be a centerpiece of Tues-
straw. The Bolshoi's leading solo
Vishnevskaya, who seems more
day's program.
even went to the Communist Pai
bitter than her husband about their
For exiles especially, the recent
Central Committee and told the C
months of transformation through-
ture minister that Rostropovi
exile, said she had originally intend-
ed to return home to Washington af-
out Europe have been an emotional
must be fired because he is an en
release. Suddenly they are struck
my of the people."
ter the NSO's tour of Japan last
week. The Soviet government's de-
with possibilities-freedom, the
Rostropovich, speaking in Russi
cision on Jan. 16 to return their citi-
chance to return-that they never
for a change rather than in a forei
zenship helped change her mind. "Fi-
thought would come. Last Novem-
tongue, said he would "love to S
ber, Rostropovich recalled, he was
Mikhail Gorbachev if he has tin
nally, the Soviet government has
staying at his apartment in Paris,
but we know how full his schedule
recognized their barbarian act as un-
where he, had installed a satellite
I think highly of Gorbache
worthy," Vishnevskaya said.
"When we left here, this country
dish on the roof, the better to pull in
Rostropovich, insisting he was
was a great island of lies," Rostropo-
the Soviet evening news program
politician, nevertheless stood befo
vich told reporters. "Now the Soviet
"Vremya." A friend called Rostropo-
a microphone at the Soviet forei
vich and said, "Slava. Slava. Switch
ministry press center and reveal
Union is cleansing itself of those lies.
some of his political thinking. "Wh
Our only wish is that all these won-
on your TV."
people are happy and their stomac
derful promises that are being dis-
MI couldn't comprehend what was
are full, then maybe they will wa
cussed are put into action.
We
happening," Rostropovich said.
nothing but music and art," he sai
all pray to God almighty that all will
"There was this wall and there were
"But now they must stand in line ju
be well and that there will be no
these people climbing it and standing
to try and feed themselves. Also, v
more bloodshed here."
on it. And then I realized what it
have to do away with a syste
Nikolai Gubenko, a well-known ac-
was, and I began to weep. I told Gali-
where the ordinary people stand
tor at the Taganka Theater and now
na, T must. go there, I must go to
line and the officials do not. The of
the country's minister of culture,
Berlin tomorrow.'
cials must feel the pain of the peop
said that Rostropovich's return was
Rostropovich called a wealthy
with their own stomachs."
"yet another beautiful instance of
friend who owns a plane and asked
During the day, in between In
justice prevailing." He said he hoped
for a ride. The next morning, cello in
hearsais and interviews, Rostrop
that soon Rostropovich's close
hand, he arrived in Berlin and took a
vich met with the Soviet Union
friend, novelist Alexander Solzheni-
cab to the wall. Rostropovich had to
best-known composer, Alfre
tsyn, will also get back his citizen-
borrow a chair from people living in
Schnittke. Rostropovich recalle
ship and return to the Soviet Union.
the nearest house. "And as L played
how when he lived here unde
Before leaving for Japan and the
Bach," he said, "there was a young
Brezhnev and Stalin, he was "alway
Soviet Union, Rostropovich visited
German man listening with his eyes
told what to play." Modernists an
Solzhenitsyn at his home in Caven-
closed. I could see a tear roll down
rebels like Schnittke were rarely a
dish, Vt. "We talked day and night,"
his cheek. And I said to myseif, "This
lowed into the repertoire. "What a
Rostropovich said, "and Solzhenitsyn
is the greatest reward for under-
abnormal system that someon
told me, 'Please tell my people that I
standing in the world.' For me, the
could tell Shostakovich or Prokofie
Berlin Wall was not only a wall of
what to write," Rostropovich said
will return, but only when every per-
son in the country can get my books,
politics, but a: wall between my old
That's one good thing about Gorba
either in the stores or in the library,
friends at home and our new ones.
chev. He doesn't pretend to giv
so they can see what I have done
Now that wall is gone."
music lessons."
Services of Mead Data Central
PAGE
2
3RD STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
Copyright (c) 1989 Federal Information Systems Corporation;
Federal News Service
JULY 25, 1989, TUESDAY
SECTION: FROM THE WHITE HOUSE
LENGTH: 6228 words
HEADLINE: CB
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, DC
REGULAR BRIEFING
BRIEFER: MARLIN FITZWATER
KEYWORD: WHITE HOUSE-07/25/89
BODY:
MR. FITZWATER: (In progress) -- 500 E Street Southwest, to announce the
President's decision. We will simultaneously release the President's statement
here at 2:00, and she'll have it there as well.
On travel, the President will travel to Chicago, Illinois, Las Vegas, Nevada,
and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Monday, July 31, and Tuesday, August 1st. On
Monday the 31st, he will speak at approximately 10:00 a.m. Central Time to the
summer meeting of the National Governors' Association in Chicago. The President
will then travel to Las Vegas to make a 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time address to the
National Convention of the Disabled American Veterans. Overnight will be in
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The next morning, Tuesday, August 1st, the President
will speak to the National Conference of the Fraternal Order of Police at 10:15
a.m. Central Time. We'll have a late afternoon return on Tuesday. Bruce Zanka
will have a tentative schedule in the next day or so, and the press schedule at
the end of the week. So
Q Is there a theme to these speeches?
MR. FITZWATER: The basically, these are three commitments the President made
to these organizations - the Governors' Association, Fraternal Order of Police,
and the Disabled American Veterans. He is going to these cities to make those
speeches. It's not a theme trip. There are no side adventures to theme parks
or any of that sort of stuff
Q Are these commitments made in his presidential campaign?
MR. FITZWATER: Well, not necessarily, but during the last few months --- the
Governors' Association.
Q So can you give us some sense of what he'll be talking about in each place?
MR. FITZWATER: I will be able to, although I can't today.
Q No new initiatives, Marlin?
MR. FITZWATER: Oh, now, every opportunity is a new initiative, you know. Don't
rule out anything, although I don't know of any.
Q He wouldn't bet on it. (Laughter). He doesn't know of any.
MR. FITZWATER: I'd stake my life on this possibility. Frank?
Q The President spoke on May 15th to the FOP Conference here in Washington. If
that didn't fulfill his commitment -- that's where he first talked about his
crime package, which has now been tabled. Is he going to tell them what he's
going to do to fix that, or why it's been tabled?
MR. FITZWATER: Well, we're going to do it again, and we have some very important
things to say about the crime package.
Q So that's what he 11 talk about. See!
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Q Are you hyping this? Are you hyping this? It looks like a deadly trip.
MR. FITZWATER: It's a hype job.
Q Do you want to tell us now what he has to say about the crime package?
Q Are you trying to get us to go?
MR. FITZWATER: No, it's going to be good.
Q You'd better make it good if you say that.
MR. FITZWATER: Don't miss it.
Q Do you have any comment on (the crime package?) ?
Q (Inaudible.)
MR. FITZWATER: You'll be on the air every night with this trip. I'm not over --
(inaudible) -- this is a three-day -- a two-day trip. We go to three cities, we
make three speeches.
Q Why did you decide not to overnight in Las Vegas?
Q Right!
THE PRESS: Yeah!
MR. FITZWATER: We didn't think we could trust you on the town alone.
Q The speech in Oklahoma City; that's why.
MR. FITZWATER: All right, let's see. What else do we have here? The schedule
---
Q On that, Marlin, will there be filing time in Chicago?
MR. FITZWATER: Filing time everywhere -- all over the place. Hours, days.
Q Alixe says you're getting into trouble, Marlin.
MR. FITZWATER: Listen, I know Steve can file those stories in a minute's time.
Q Yes, but I won't be on the trip, and I'm concerned about my colleague who
will. (Laughter.)
MR. FITZWATER: (Laughs.) You benevolent devil you. (Laughter.) All right, let's
see. [At] 1:15, the President has a Rose Garden ceremony to name the winners of
the Job Training Partnership Participants Awards -- 12 outstanding participants
who have completed these programs. All are from economically disadvantaged
backgrounds who were in need of basic education and job training and have
successfully completed their programs and gone on to -- I mean, gone on to
employment and further education. And we'll have a list of the winners right
here and background on each one of them, for those of you who want to go into
it, with hometowns and everything you need.
All right, let's see. The rest of the afternoon is essentially spent in private
meetings - administrative time, Governor Sununu, et cetera. All right,
that's about all I have today.
Q Great.
Q Thank you.
Q The President is following the housing scandals. I mean, why has he taken no
stronger stand, some sense of outrage from him? He can be outraged about Bloch,
but he can't be outraged about these incredible scandals.
MR. FITZWATER: He has taken a strong stand. He has expressed his outrage that
these have occurred. He has talked to Secretary Bloch (sic) on a a number of
occasions about remedying the situation.
THE PRESS: Secretary who!?
MR. FITZWATER: Secretary Kemp, I'm sorry.
(A chorus of boos.)
MR. FITZWATER: And Felix --
Q (Inaudible.)
MR. FITZWATER: (Laughter.) Felix is still up in New York, I take it.
Q Mr. Mayor. (Laughter.)
MR. FITZWATER: (Laughs.) Can't you see the Bloch motorcade up there going
through Chappequa or wherever it was, by the way? The first half is FBI, the
second half is KGB, staff one and two -- (laughter) -- support cars, it's
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great, a great scene.
Q And then the networks.
MR. FITZWATER: And then the networks.
Q Camera one, camera two.
MR. FITZWATER: David?
Q (Inaudible) -- is he doing? I mean, he can pick up a newspaper every day and
read about this. You have no sense here that there is any reaction.
MR. FITZWATER: Well, I don't know why you say that. We've reacted any number of
times. Secretary Kemp has outlined before Congress innumerable changes, he's
closed down at least four programs. Steve had given me guidance which I don't
have with me today, but we have -- there's at least four or five programs that
Secretary Kemp has shut down entirely while this matter is being investigated.
He's gone through it on the Hill at great length. And although I'm not prepared
here today, I certainly have the material to go into this for hours on end.
Q Where has he been --
Q Well, did he call Thornburgh to tell him to press forward?
MR. FITZWATER: He has, several times, but he -- well, I'll have to go back and
get them for you. He's commented on the HUD situation in interviews, in press
conferences, many places.
John?
Q Marlin --
Q He has not.
MR. FITZWATER: Yes, he did, I'll get it for you. Q - there seems to be a
question on the Hill about the exuberance of the -- of the Attorney General in
going after this, and I know Runkel says that Thornburgh resents that, but has
the President called Thornburgh and said, "Let's move forward on prosecutions if
it's available"?
MR. FITZWATER: Everything that can be done is being done. This matter is being
looked into by all the investigatory authorities, including the Justice
Department, the Housing and Urban Development Department, the GAO and others.
And the President has spoken out on this issue many times, and I'm sure that --
Q No, he has not.
MR. FITZWATER: -- that all of the issues -- yes, he - Yes, he has!!
(Laughter.)
Q Tell me where.
MR. FITZWATER: Ann?
Q Does he share the concern of some that Felix Bloch --- because he now does, as
you talked about the motorcade -- that he might be spirited out of the country
by the Soviets?
MR. FITZWATER: Well, I don't really have much I can add on that. I've seen
press reports that that's an issue that's being --- that's been considered and
watched. But I don't have any individual information. I trust my colleagues in
the press on that.
Bill?
Q Marlin, along those lines, we were told out in the driveway that a number of
congressmen raised concerns about the Bloch case in the meeting with the
President. (Inaudible) -- Congressman Gingrich have told us that they were
worried worried most about what they viewed as an eroding US
counterintelligence capability and that they planned to put things in the
defense bill to strengthen that. What's the President's assessment of that, and
what sort of things are you all looking for?
MR. FITZWATER: There was one congressman who raised that issue and said he would
be looking at various ways to strengthen our intelligence capabilities,
strengthen security at embassies and security in the State Department and other
places, but he didn't go into any details. And, frankly, I don't know what he
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had in mind in terms of specifics. There really wasn't any other discussion.
I'll have to check. I can picture him in my mind, but I don't know who it was.
Q McCollum?
MR. FITZWATER: Who?
Q Was it McCollum?
MR. FITZWATER: McCollum? I think it was.
Q What does the President think about the need? Do we have to strengthen our
counterintelligence capabilities? What does he think?
MR. FITZWATER: Well, he certainly is concerned about that, just as he said he's
concerned about the -- any allegations of spying or treasonous activity by any
member of the government; certainly concerned about security in embassies and by
diplomatic personnel. And -- but we don't advocate any specific changes at this
point. We're still -- this issue is still under investigation, and it just
started in terms of many of the public aspects of it.
Michael?
Q Do you anticipate charges being filed against Bloch, or the man being
arrested? Or is he just going to be, you know, trailed and tailed and --
MR. FITZWATER: We can't speculate. We just have to wait and see.
David?
Q As we were coming in here, the House was starting to vote on a big cut in SDI.
Several Republican senators and some of the House as well said that the
President should veto the Defense Authorization Bill if the SDI budget is cut.
Has the President, in his lobbying on that, raised the possibility of a veto?
MR. FITZWATER: The -- we're a long way from considering a veto. It hasn't even
come up in any of the discussions. We're at the initial stages in which the
President has had several discussions with members of Congress. He raised this
issue again this morning with the GOP leadership, pointing out his commitment to
SDI, his commitment to the B-2 and the two-missile program, and how these all
add up to the strategic modernization program that he thinks is crucial. So, we
are just beginning the process. I think it's --- they may have a floor action
today or tomorrow, but there's a lot of debate to go on. We've got two Houses
to go through, so this is too early to talk about veto. We're talking now about
winning, not about vetoes.
David.
Q A slightly different subject. William Bennett said yesterday, "Crack is worse
than PACs." He wants some kind of drug war bonds, some other way to raise the
money. It's now almost the beginning of August and his plan will be out in
early September. What's the President's view of how we should pay for this drug
war, and will the President look kindly on recommendations from Bennett for
spending more money?
MR. FITZWATER: Well, I think everyone anticipates that there will be more money
needed, and more money spent. The sources of that money and so forth in future
budgets is a different question. But, clearly, there will be requirements for
more money.
As to some of these ideas, the drug czar, Bill Bennett, is looking at any number
of ideas. He has been charged, indeed, with coming up with innovative and
creative ways to approach this problem. He's due to have a strategy to the
President on September 6th, I believe it is, or 7th, something like that. And I
think he will have some innovative programs. My guess is there are a lot of
these kinds of ideas that he is suggesting. One, to kind of see what the public
reaction to them is; two, to flush out any problems that might be on the horizon
before they become proposals; and two -- and three, to just kind of get people
thinking about what kind of approaches we might be taking. Drug bonds certainly
are in that category in the sense that everybody would like to find some new
ways of financing, but there are a lot of very practical problems and reasons
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why that probably would be very difficult to do. But I would - I think you're
going to hear a lot of interesting and intriguing new possibilities from the
drug czar over the next few weeks, and hopefully they'll result in a very
innovative package on September 6th.
John?
Q Marlin, Rostenkowski has delayed the vote on the capital gains issue in the
Ways and Means Committee. Does the President sense victory in the House? And
has he started lobbying Bentsen and members of the Senate Finance Committee to
try to win it on the other side as well?
MR. FITZWATER: No, we sense that we're still struggling with this in the House.
We're still working with the Committee, talking with the members about the
capital gains provision and other revenue-raising provisions. But it is not
resolved at this point. We would not predict victory or defeat. We're still
hopeful. But it's not a foregone conclusion either way.
Saul?
Q Yeah, is the President absolutely opposed to raising taxes to fight drugs?
MR. FITZWATER: The President is opposed to raising taxes for any purpose. And
we consider -
Q Therefore he's opposed to raising taxes to fight drugs?
MR. FITZWATER: He's opposed to raising taxes for any purpose.
Q Is he opposed to raising taxes to fight drugs?
MR. FITZWATER: He's opposed to raising taxes for any purpose.
Peter.
Q Just to clarify on that drug bond question, Marlin. When you said there are
practical problems that would make that difficult to do, were you referring to
the bond idea itself?
MR. FITZWATER: Yeah, yeah.
Q Has it been put to the White House?
MR. FITZWATER: Not in any -- not in any official way, no.
Q Marlin?
MR. FITZWATER: Yes, Saul?
Q To follow up on my question, so that means that Bennett's innovative ideas --
has to come up with ways of financing this short of any kind of tax increase or
anything that would increase the deficit or increase the amount of money people
have to pay?
MR. FITZWATER: The - there would -- the financing programs would take the more
traditional route of appropriations from Congress, reprogramming of funds from
other areas, use of funds and facilities from other government agencies, and so
forth. So --
Q The more traditional route is usually taxes pay for what you spend.
MR. FITZWATER: Not since Ronald Reagan. (Laughter).
Johanna?
Q Marlin, on another subject, the Cambodian peace talks, the last in Paris
today. I wondered first if you have anything on that, and secondly, if you know
whether Baker still plans to go to Paris Saturday?
MR. FITZWATER: The Secretary does still plan to go. The talks were -- you
probably know more about this, but the reports just came in that no agreements
were reached in those talks. There appears to be a division over power sharing,
which I don't have a full description of, but we do believe it's important for
the parties to narrow their differences. We'll try to help advance that process
during the Paris conference this weekend.
I think you all are familiar with our position on the Cambodian situation, and
Secretary Baker's -- I don't know when he leaves for that. (To staff.) Do you
know when he leaves, Roman? Okay. But he does plan to head the delegation.
Q Is there any chance that --
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MR. FITZWATER: Nick?
Q - Baker would meet with the Chinese Foreign Minister who is going to be in
Paris at the same time? China also obviously has an interest in Cambodia?
MR. FITZWATER: I'd have to refer you to the State Department on his intinerary.
I have no idea who he is meeting with.
Q We did this as a question as to whether there is any lifting or public lifting
of the, I guess, embargo against the US --
MR. FITZWATER: oh, it's a trick question.
Q Huh?
MR. FITZWATER: It's a trick question. (Chuckles.)
Q No.
MR. FITZWATER: The answer is no, Nick.
All right. Paula?
Q What other revenue-raising provisions are you discussing besides the capital
gains?
MR. FITZWATER: Well, we won't go into details. We're - most of them are known
however, but there's a whole package of -
Q I'm talking specifically about the other provisions that Rostenkowski raised
in a $5.3 billion package.
MR. FITZWATER: Well, yeah, but ther's a whole range of them. Again, I don't
have those here, but that's not new. I mean they've been published in your
publication and everywhere else.
Q But they don't - they're not -- they don't coincide with all of these
suggestions that the administration would like to see in $5.3 billion -----
MR. FITZWATER: Well, we're still negotiating, still talking.
Q I'm going to change the subject. On the HUD scandal, a few weeks ago,
Director Darman had indicated that he felt this problem might be systemic, and
he had issued a memo for all of the agencies, inspector generals particularly,
to get back to him and record any problems, and he intends to meet with the
President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency soon. And I had wondered if the
President felt his plan to meet with this group at some point in time to discuss
this problem?
MR. FITZWATER: You'll recall that the President called a Cabinet meeting last
week, which we discussed here for the purpose of following up on that meeting
Darman had with deputy secretaries. And for --- no, it's exactly the same,
exactly the same -- and the President urged his Cabinet to follow through on GAO
recommendations, to be alert to the kinds of problems that came up with the --
in the HUD situation, to not ignore the signals that apparently were ignored in
the HUD case, and to use the reports that were being developed by the group that
met with Dick Darman and by the Integrity Council as a mechanism for evaluating
the ability of their departments to handle these funds, to conduct their
programs in a manner that would ensure these problems don't occur again, and to
make sure that these kinds of things don't happen. So the answer - the short
answer is yes, the long answer is the brilliant one I just gave.
Peter.
Q Back to the drug bonds again. What are the practical problems, in your view,
that would make it tough for this thing to come about?
MR. FITZWATER: On drug bonds?
Q Yes.
MR. FITZWATER: Well, it's just that it represents a financing mechanism that has
a lot of aspects to it that haven't been thought out about it; how would the
money be paid back, how would it be collected, interest rates, all those kinds
of issues. But, generally speaking, any kind of bond system is a part of the
general financing of the government. So, you have Treasury bonds and others,
but basically, you're still talking about government borrowing. So, it's
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still a part of the same process.
Helen?
Q The President issued a memo yesterday to the heads of government agencies
urging them to encourage adoption of children?
MR. FITZWATER: Yes, uh-huh.
Q On what, he wants federal workers to adopt children? Is that -
MR. FITZWATER: No. The President simply feels very strongly in adoption, that
it's one of the answers to the abortion problem. And as a part of general
concern about family values and about the abortion situation, he simply wants to
highlight the adoption option, as it were, and urge that people give more
consideration to that situation.
Q And he's willing to give them all kinds of time off from their government jobs
and so forth to pursue this?
MR. FITZWATER: There are certain - I don't know what the exact rules and so
forth are, but whatever would be necessary, yeah. (aside) - Do you -- is there
a - was there a specific rule proposed or something?
Q Marlin?
MR. FITZWATER: I read the memo, but I didn't think it proposed a new procedure,
did it? No. I think your question goes beyond what the statement ----
Q But isn't -
Q No. I think he said - (inaudible.)
MR. FITZWATER: Get me a copy of it, will you, Steve?
Q Isn't it the case already that there are more people out there willing to
adopt children than there are children? I mean, what -
MR. FITZWATER: The problem is the total system. That's true. there is --- there
are a number of problems, the time it takes to get chosen, availability of
children. Often it is the case that there are more people. But the problem
also is that you can't always - a lot of children aren't adoptable, as they say
in the business, for one reason or another. So, you have those kinds of
difficulties.
Q Does he want to set up some kind of mechanism to enhance this process?
MR. FITZWATER: Well, let's read this and see what we've got here. Adoption can
help address some of our most pressing issues -- teenage pregnancy, foster care,
infertility and welfare dependency. Most importantly, adoption provides a home
and love to children who may have neither.
And then the President lists a number of facts about the issues that Mick raises
about the number of people and children that are available. About 60,000
children are adopted every year. Of these, some 10,000 come from foreign
countries. An estimated 15 percent of American couples of reproductive age are
infertile and would like to adopt children.
And he says he's instructed the Domestic Policy Council to develop a
presidential adoption initiative. And that process is well underway. He is
asking that methods for supporting the adoption plans and needs of employees and
for promoting adoption among our workforce be developed, and offers a few ideas.
So --
Q What does that first idea mean, Marlin?
MR. FITZWATER: So, the answer to your question, Helen, in terms of what he ---
that he's not proposing rules at this time, but he's saying that the Domestic
Policy Council will be looking into it, that we will be considering any numbers
of ideas. He says, for example: Use agency resources for employees who are
considering adopting, who have adopted children, who have a family member facing
a crisis pregnancy. Employee assistance programs may be the most appropriate
resource."
So, basically, he's asking the agencies to look into innovative ways to help
foster adoption through these methods - begin planning now for agency-wide
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celebration and observance of National Adoption Week. Ensure that all
employees' supervisors are as flexible as possible regarding adoption-related
leave needs of the employees. That's why I say I'm not familiar with the exact
leave rules, but what he's saying is that supervisors should be liberal in their
interpretation of leave policy as it relates to people who need time off to file
applications and to meet with social service workers and to go through the
interviewing process and all those kinds of questions.
Q Marlin, if White House staff members adopt people will they get to work
shorter hours?
MR. FITZWATER: Are you available? (Light laughter).
Q Marlin, what --
MR. FITZWATER: David?
Q On the President's - (word inaudible) - proposal on this subject, I mean,
what happened to it?
MR. FITZWATER: I don't know.
Q Tax breaks?
MR. FITZWATER: Presumably that'll be a part of the DPC consideration.
All right. Do you want to argue over anything else?
Steven?
Q (I'm not arguing. ?)
MR. FITZWATER: How about the flag?
Q There's just no - (inaudible) - (laughter, moans from the press).
Q Does the President have any reaction to the - this reported memo from Exxon
saying they're going to stop cleaning up Alaskan oil on a date certain, no
matter what anybody says?
MR. FITZWATER: No.
Q Has he asked anyone to determine whether or not the reports are accurate about
that and if so, to take action?
MR. FITZWATER: I assume that that's being followed by Richard Breeden and Sam
Skinner but I have not heard their reaction to it.
Bill?
Q Do you have anything on the reports out of Angola of UNITA rebels shooting
down a transport plane with a ground-to-air missile?
MR. FITZWATER: Yeah, I have State Department guidance on that.
Q Oooh.
Q Spare us.
(Off mike talking among press.)
Q Does the President support --
MR. FITZWATER: Support what?
(Mixed voices.)
MR. FITZWATER: At least I think I did. (To staff) Don't I have something here,
Roman?
Q That's okay.
(Mixed voices.)
MR. FITZWATER: Stipulated. (Laughter.) Maybe I'll - maybe I'll refer you to
Margaret Tutwiler on that.
Q Tell us what you were going to tell us on the flag.
Q Yeah, let's have the flag.
Q Yeah, what about the flag?
MR. FITZWATER: All right. I thought you'd never ask. Remember how Speakes used
to come out in the morning and run through all the issues of the day? Maybe
that's what I should do.
Q No.
MR. FITZWATER: Let me tell you what I'd like to talk about. What?
Q We're going to hate ourselves.
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MR. FITZWATER: You're going to love this.
Q Does the White House feel there is diminished interest in an amendment?
MR. FITZWATER: There! Now you're talking. There have been attempts in the last
few days to revive a statutory response to the Supreme Court's flag-burning
case. Last week, the Department of Justice presented testimony before a House
Judiciary subcommittee, setting forth the administration's position concerning
protection of the flag of the United States from desecration. The Department
demonstrated that any statute enacted to circumvent the Supreme Court's recent
decision would be found unconstitutional by the federal courts. That testimony
established that the only way to protect the flag is through a constitutional
amendment. If Congress is serious about protecting the flag, it will move
quickly to send to the states for ratification the bipartisan amendment proposed
by Senators Dole and Dixon and Congressmen Michel and Montgomery.
The President is adamant in his support of the public demand to protect the
flag. Flag burning is an affront to America's ----------
Q Excuse me. The President is adamant -
Q Adamant.
MR. FITZWATER: Adamant in his support of the public demand to protect the flag.
Flag burning is an affront to America's patriotic values. It should be
constitutionally protected.
Q Marlin, if the President is convinced that any statute would be
unconstitutional, would he therefore pledge to veto any flag protection statute
on the grounds that it'd be unconstitutional?
MR. FITZWATER: Well, we'll have to wait and see what it says.
Bob?
Q Marlin, the point has been made that crosses have been burned longer in this
country than flags, and despite those burnings, the Christian faith and church
have survived without any constitutional amendment to protect it. What do you
say to that?
MR. FITZWATER: I say that regardless of that, we still believe flag burning
should not be legal and should be constitutionally protected. David?
Q You mentioned in the statement that the President (was in support?) of the
public demand --
MR. FITZWATER: Pardon?
Q The Gallup poll shows that there's a majority now that thinks that the
Constitution should not be amended. So isn't the President adamant in support
of a minority's demand? Isn't it true the majority does not want to amend the
Constitution?
MR. FITZWATER: Well, we have a far greater number of polls that show people
believe flag burning is wrong and should be not legal.
(Cross talk.)
Q That's not the same as a constitutional.
Q Could you produce said poll?
MR. FITZWATER: Sure. Saul?
Q Marlin, on this -- can I go back to my question before it? You said, "Wait
and see" about what the law says. But you just said that any law would be
unconstitutional according to the Justice Department's analysis. So what are we
waiting to see?
MR. FITZWATER: I just meant we don't ---------- that we don't normally do vetoes in
advance. We'll have to wait and see.
Q But would the President sign an unconstitutional law, a law that the Justice
Department told him was clearly unconstitutional?
MR. FITZWATER: We think a constitutional amendment is the right way to go for
the reasons I laid out here. Saul?
Q If the President is so adamant, could you tell me why he hasn't mentioned it
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in any of his congressional meetings - (inaudible)?
MR. FITZWATER: He has. He's mentioned it in several of them. He mentioned it
at great length this morning.
Q Today was a wide-ranging meeting on a whole lot of things, and he did not
mention it.
MR. FITZWATER: He did mention it, yes -- yes, he did. He did. He did, he did,
he did -- (scattered laughter).
Q Did he express how adamant he was?
MR. FITZWATER: He did. He went into it at great length. He and Governor
Sununu both.
Q When he speaks to the disabled American veterans on Monday, do you expect
he'll mention it in his speech at that point?
MR. FITZWATER: I would certainly expect that, yes.
Q Foley said yesterday --
Q Got to give him some softballs.
Q Foley said yesterday at the National Press Club that the President seems to be
very quick with constitutional amendments. He says he's put -- more
constitutional amendments than any other President. I wonder whether there -
what the reason for this is. Does he believe that the Constitution is so
imperfect that it has to be amended for all of these things?
MR. FITZWATER: The -- we take them on an issue-by-issue basis. He believes in
the flag amendment. He has long supported an amendment on the abortion issue.
[The] balanced budget, school prayer and line item veto, of course, are ones
that he has supported, but have been proposed 8 or 10 years ago, 50 ---
Q School prayer he --
MR. FITZWATER: -- school prayer is about 10 years old, I think.
Q As a conservative -- is this the conservative approach to the law, to amend
the Constitution that much?
MR. FITZWATER: I don't think you can necessarily make a position statement on
amending the Constitution from support for specific amendments.
Q I asked last week or earlier this week whether he had any qualms about the
possibility that all these amendments, especially an amendment to the Bill of
Rights, has weakened the Bill of Rights?
MR. FITZWATER: Maybe we should put it another way. The President doesn't
believe the Constitution should be amended except in those rare cases where
it's crucial and extremely important.
Q Right, but we're talking about his - the President has now proposed about six
amendments and there have been only 25 in all of these years. Isn't that a lot?
MR. FITZWATER: The President has proposed one, and supports four, and regardless
of whether it's a lot or not is irrelevant. They're all cases he believes in
individually.
Q Marlin?
MR. FITZWATER: Tim.
Q Has the White House asked the FBI to keep track of flag burnings, and have
there been any recently?
MR. FITZWATER: I don't think we've made any such requests.
Q Marlin?
MR. FITZWATER: Bill.
Q Does the President support a tax increase to protect the flag? (Laughter.)
Q What was that?
MR. FITZWATER: (Laughing) Gene?
Q Marlin, if the President believes the flag is sacred and needs to be
protected, why did a senior staff member recently drop trow in a staff meeting
and reveal himself to be wearing undershorts resembling the American flag?
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MR. FITZWATER: No -
Q That smacks of a certain hypocrisy ---
Q Yeah!
THE PRESS: Yeah!
Q Yeah, exactly, Marlin.
MR. FITZWATER: (Chuckles.) I am shocked by that question. The staff -- the
staff has always acted appropriately and in good taste at all times.
Chris?
Q Marlin, did we warn the Soviets not to spirit Bloch out of the country?
MR. FITZWATER: I don't know. I've seen those reports, but I don't know. As
near as I can tell, the entire FBI and the Soviet Embassy are living with the
guy. I don't think he's going anywhere unnoticed.
Craig?
Q Having based the support for an amendment, at least in part on public opinion,
if polls shift and as the Gallop Poll indicates, public opinion shifts away from
support for a constitutional amendment, would that weaken the President's
support for one?
MR. FITZWATER: No. The President believes strongly in this issue. His lawyers
tell him the constitutional amendment is the only way to do it and it doesn't
matter where the polls are, that's what he believes in and that's what we're
going to pursue.
Q So it doesn't matter what those people think on it - (laughter and cross
talk).
MR. FITZWATER: We know what the people think. We know what the people think.
Q (Inaudible).
MR. FITZWATER: We know what the people think, and so does the Congress and so do
you.
Karen?
Q One question on adoption. Is the President promoting this as an employer with
trying to encourage his employees to follow what he considers good social
policy? Or is he doing it as the President of the United States, using one of
the few tools at the federal level to promote adoption?
MR. FITZWATER: All of the above.
David.
Q Marlin, if I could just try Gene's question a different way --
MR. FITZWATER: Don't.
Q Is there any other use or display of the flag besides burning that the
President thinks is offensive or inappropriate?
MR. FITZWATER: That's a matter for the courts to decide. The constitutional
amendment --
Q No, tell us what the President thinks.
MR. FITZWATER: The President thinks there ought to be a --
Q I mean, you know, whether it's used in advertising, you know, underpants or
running shorts or cufflinks.
MR. FITZWATER: The President thinks there ought to --
Q (Off-mike.)
MR. FITZWATER: The President thinks there ought to be a constitutional
amendment that provides the legal framework for the courts to decide those kinds
of questions. Nick?
Q Well, was it -- didn't he put it on the boots that he gave to Deng Xiaoping?
MR. FITZWATER: Those are all matters for the courts to decide. Nick?
Q Do you think that it's unfortunate or has it hindered the investigation at
all, the fact that the Bloch investigation has become public?
MR. FITZWATER: I don't have any comment at it. Nick?
Q Is the White House concerned at all about the leaks concerning this Bloch
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(c) 1989 Federal Information Systems Corporation, July 25, 1989
case?
MR. FITZWATER: I don't have any comment. Peter?
Q A few minutes before the briefing, there was a story on the wire that the
fellow that represents the PLO in talks with the US says that the administration
has effectively recognized the PLO as a provisional government. Is that true?
MR. FITZWATER: No. We have a dialogue with the PLO, and that's it.
Q So the dialogue is the same, that there's been no change in the status of
recognition there or something.
MR. FITZWATER: No change. No.
Q Okay!
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8TH STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
Copyright (c) 1988 The Christian Science Publishing Society;
The Christian Science Monitor
August 19, 1988, Friday
SECTION: National; Pg. 3
LENGTH: 931 words
HEADLINE: Believers outnumber church belongers
BYLINE: Curtis J. Sitomer, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
DATELINE: Boston
KEYWORD: Stats; Polls ----- Gallup
HIGHLIGHT:
Out-of-pocket religiosity on rise: per capita giving up. THE FAITH GAP
BODY:
The gap between Americans who are church members and nonmembers who hold
spiritual values appears to be widening.
This trend runs through several new surveys on religion and its place in
public and private life.
For example, the National Council of Churches' (NCC) ''Yearbook of American
and Canadian Churches, 1988,' which is being released today, reports that the
number of church members in the US remained virtually unchanged from 1985 to
1986, while the general population grew at a slower rate during the same period.
The NCC says that new data from 220 church bodies show that 142.9 million
Americans belonged to a church, synagogue, or other religious congregation in
1986 - a loss of 127,000 members from 1985.
'The statistics do not show any significant growth in the religious
sector, says Yearbook editor Constant Jacquet.
Mainline losses continue, but are moderating,' he explains. ''At the same
time, the trend toward gains in some conservative churches is also moderating.
Mr. Jacquet stresses, however, that ''many denominations show an increase of
per capita giving well above the rate of inflation. This is also a measure of
religiosity.'
The NCC study shows that US religious bodies showing modest membership
increases include the Assemblies of God, the Christian and Missionary Alliance,
Jehovah's Witnesses, the Presbyterian Church in America, and Seventh-day
Adventists.
A Gallup poll reported in July stressed a continuing lag between
commitment to things of the spirit and church attendance.
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(c) 1988 The Christian Science Publishing Society, August 19, 1988
'The churches of America have made no headway in narrowing the gap between
religious belief and church involvement, between believers and belongers,' says
George Gallup Jr., who heads the Princeton Religious Research Center.
This nationwide survey is a follow-up to a similar Gallup poll in 1978.
It centers on the ' 'unchurched American, indicating that 44 percent of
respondents were classified ''unchurched'' because they have not attended
regular services in six months. Just 40 percent of those polled a decade ago
were in this category.
According to Gallup, 61 million US adults did not belong to any church in
1978. This number has increased to 78 million today. This analysis stresses,
however, that being ''unchurched''' does not necessarily indicate a lack of
faith.
The poll showed that 72 percent of those who do not attend church believe in
Christ, 77 percent believe in God, 63 percent believe the Bible is 'inspired,''
and 25 percent say they have had a 'religious experience.'
Dr. Gallup says that ''the churches have done well to keep slippage at a
minimum in view of the continued high mobility among Americans during the last
decade, the distractions of modern life, and the apparent growing appeal of
cults and nontraditional religious movements.
A rosier picture of religious commitment surfaced in a Better Homes and
Gardens survey of its readers conducted earlier this year.
The magazine interviewed Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Jews, as well as
those of other religions and no religion. It found that 96 percent believed in
God; 50 percent said that spirituality is gaining influence on family life in
the US, and 79 percent indicated that they attended a church, temple, or
synagogue regularly.
Some interpreters of religious life in the US say the media have placed the
wrong emphasis on church trends.
James Castelli, whose new book analyzes the clash between religion and
politics, has said: 'Twenty-five years ago, the media focused primarily on the
National Council of Churches, which did not represent the dominant religious
view of the country. That was poor coverage. They are doing the same thing
today, only they're focusing on a different group, the evangelicals, who are
obviously important as are the mainline churches. But they are not the dominant
religious force in the country either.
Meanwhile, church and state issues - including school prayer and
government aid to religious institutions - continue to surface in public debate.
But many say they are not as important issues to many Americans as they were
a decade ago, or even during the last presidential election.
Of late, a nationwide controversy has arisen over the motion picture, ''The
Last Temptation of Christ.'
Most religious groups have condemned the film for distorting the life of
Jesus. Some individuals and groups have demanded that it be banned, protesting
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(c) 1988 The Christian Science Publishing Society, August 19, 1988
in front of theaters where it is shown.
In response, A. James Rudin, director of interreligious affairs for the
American Jewish Committee, now calls for religious leaders and representatives
of the film industry to join in a conference aimed at defusing the tensions
aroused by this movie.
Rabbi Rudin says that such a meeting 'would not be intended to stifle
creative talents, nor to silence the valid concerns of the various religious
groups, but to break down the harmful stereotypes and caricatures that have
surfaced during this controversy.'
Believing and belonging
Percent of Americans not attending church on a regular basis who:
1978 1988
Believe Jesus Christ to be God or the Son of God 78% 84%
Ever pray to God 76% 77%
Have made a 'commitment to Jesus Christ'' 60% 66%
Believe the Bible is the inspired word of God * 78%
Have had a religious experience 24% 25%
Survey question was different in 1978
SOURCE: PRINCETON RELIGIOUS RESEARCH CENTER, GALLUP POLL
GRAPHIC: Picture, Episcopal Church service in Fairfax, Va.: membership remains
steady across the US, new surveys say, NEAL MENSCHEL - STAFF; CHILLUSTRATION, no
caption, (see below), LISA REMILLARD - STAFF
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12TH STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
The Associated Press
The materials in the AP file were compiled by The Associated Press. These
materials may not be republished without the express written consent of The
Associated Press.
June 24, 1988, Friday, PM cycle
SECTION: Domestic News
LENGTH: 624 words
HEADLINE: Public Approves ''Separation'' But Not Its Results
BYLINE: By GEORGE W. CORNELL, AP Religion Writer
DATELINE: NEW YORK
KEYWORD: Religion in the News
BODY:
In a curious inconsistency, most Americans approve the slogan "separation of
church and state," but not its results.
Most favor public prayers before high school sporting events, a moment of
silence in schools for voluntary prayer and inclusion of biblical
perspectives about creation in discussions of evolution.
Majorities also say public schools should allow student religious groups to
meet in classrooms in off hours and that it's OK to put Christian or Jewish
holiday symbols on government property.
These beliefs, along with approval of the "separation" phrase exercised in
prohibiting them, emerged from a nationwide survey of 3,017 Americans.
The telephone survey, taken Dec. 1-15, 1987, for the Williamsburg Charter
Foundation, a private, non-profit, non-sectarian project in Washington, D.C.,
gauged attitudes on religion within politics and public affairs. The
participants, chosen at random, were 18 and older, and the survey had an error
margin of 2.4 percentage points either way.
More than 100 prominent Americans were to join in a reaffirmation of the
Constitution's religious-freedom clauses at the "First Liberty Summit" at
Williamsburg, Va., on June 25.
The event marks the 200th anniversary of Virginia's call for the First
Amendment's Bill of Rights.
The survey findings indicated that in this presidential election year,
denominational bias about candidates has dwindled to a remnant, in contrast to
what it was 30 years ago.
Only 8 percent of Americans would refuse to vote for a Roman Catholic on the
basis of religion, compared to 25 percent in 1958, and only 10 percent would
refuse to vote for a Jew, compared to a previous 28 percent.
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The Associated Press, June 24, 1988
However, 70 percent say it is important that the president have strong
religious beliefs, and more than 60 percent say they wouldn't vote for an
atheist or a homosexual.
Only 43 percent, however, say they wouldn't vote for a candidate who "has
been having other love affairs."
Public unfamiliarity with the actual grounding of the volatile relationship
of religion and government was seen in the survey finding that only a third knew
freedom of religion was guaranteed by the Constitution's First Amendment.
The phrase "separation of church and state" appears nowhere in the
Constitution, but it is held to be reflected in the Amendment, which actually
says:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
In the survey, however, 54 percent favor "laws against the practice of Satan
worship."
A bigger majority, 67 percent of those familiar with the American Civil
Liberties Union, thinks it files "too many lawsuits regarding religion," which
often have figured in barring practices most respondents approve.
Sixty-eight percent think religous groups have a right to get involved in
politics, but 57 percent would prefer they didn't.
Recent Gallup polls, summarized by the Princeton Religious Research
Center, find that 68 percent of the public favor a constitutional amendment
allowing prayer in public schools.
Most think only a "small percentage" of people would be offended.
Sixty-two percent think it would be possible to develop school courses on
ethics and values that would be acceptable to most residents of their
communities.
As for the professions the public trusts, clergymen still top the list.
In descending order below, come these groups:
Druggists, doctors, dentists, college teachers, engineers, policemen,
bankers, TV reporters, funeral directors, newspaper reporters, lawyers,
stockbrokers, business executives, senators, building contractors, local
officeholders, Congress members, realtors, state officeholders, insurance
salesmen, labor union leaders and car salesmen.
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7TH STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
Copyright (c) 1990 The Washington Post
January 14, 1990, Sunday, Final Edition
SECTION: FIRST SECTION; PAGE A40
LENGTH: 1408 words
HEADLINE: Romania;
A Balkan Dictator Seals His Own Doom
SERIES: Occasional
BYLINE: Mary Battiata, Blaine Harden
DATELINE: BUCHAREST, December 1989, 1990
BODY:
The dictator stood on the balcony, shouting and sawing the air with his
hands. In the square below, a sullen crowd of workers, rounded up at the
dictator's command, emitted the customary lifeless hurrahs.
Everything was as usual in the realm of Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu.
But on that morning, Dec. 21, as Ceausescu raged against the uprising underway
in the western city of Timisoara, things were about to careen out of control.
And the "Conductor" himself would provide the opening.
In the back of what was to be Romania's last pro-Ceausescu rally, people
began shouting "Freedom!" and "Democracy!"
On the balcony above the gray Palace Square, Ceausescu first looked puzzled,
then annoyed. He closed his mouth. His hands slowed, and his eyes darted back
and forth, searching the crowd. He stepped back.
Live television coverage of the speech was interrupted before Ceausescu left
the balcony, but the damage had been done. That tiny retreat -- a public showing
that Ceausescu, for the first time in 24 years, seemed stunned, vulnerable and
did not have the situation in hand -- was a crucial turning point in the
Romanian uprising.
That afternoon, citizens flooded the streets, shouting "Down with Ceausescu"
and "Killers!" -- a reference to the reported massacre of thousands of civilians
in Timisoara the weekend before.
At 10:30 p.m., Bucharest's own massacre began. Ceausescu's secret police, the
Securitate, opened fire on the crowds, killing hundreds. That night, tanks
crushed people in the streets.
The next morning, Gen. Vasile Milea, the defense minister, was executed for
refusing Ceausescu's order to have the army open fire on civilian demonstrators
in Timisoara. The execution was another critical mistake by Ceausescu.
"Why didn't you give them ammunition?" an angry Ceausescu had demanded of the
general, according to a stenographer's transcript of their confrontation
published in January in the newspaper Romania Libera. "If you don't give them
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(c) 1990 The Washington Post, January 14, 1990
ammunition, you might as well keep them at home! What kind of defense minister
are you?
A few hooligans want to destroy socialism and you make it child's
play for them! ""The Army Is With Us!"
On the morning of Dec. 22, Bucharest radio, still under Ceausescu's control,
announced that Milea had committed suicide. Soon afterward, the army sided with
the people against the Romanian leader and his secret police.
In the streets, the sense of relief was almost overwhelming. Students pushed
Christmas trees into the barrels of tank cannons. Demonstrators and soldiers
embraced. After a night of gunfire, the Securitate scurried from the streets
like rats caught in sunlight.
At the Central Committee building, a small white helicopter lifted Nicolae
and Elena Ceausescu off the roof as angry crowds burst through the doors
downstairs.
Revenge would have to wait, but the city was finally free for celebration.
Even the weather was glorious, warmer than usual, with a blazing blue sky.
Throughout the afternoon and into the early evening that Friday, Romanians
mimicked behavior they had heard about in shortwave radio reports from
Czechoslovakia, East Germany and Bulgaria, where upheavals already had unseated
other longtime Communist bosses.
In Palace Square, in front of the Central Committee, people sang, waved flags
and chanted "The Army Is With Us!" But the celebrations were premature.
Ceausescu's Securitate - better trained, better equipped and more
fanatically loyal than any armed force proved to be in Eastern Europe in 1989 -
had not given up. They had simply regrouped.
At 7 p.m. Friday, the Securitate began sniping from windows around the Palace
Square. People in the streets refused to believe it was happening. As the Army
returned fire, first with rifles and then with tank cannon, thousands of people
remained on the square, chanting, "We Will Die, But We Won't Go Away."
They hoped to keep the army there, too. It was a pep rally in the middle of a
firefight.
In the course of that surreal evening, as celebrations gave way to sniper and
tank fire, Romanians were forced to acknowledge what they already knew from 24
years of life under the Ceausescus.
Their country was different. Its history was marked by cruelty, fascism and
violence. There was no tradition of democratic rule. The national history books
celebrated Vlad the Impaler, a 15th century nobleman who modern historians
believe killed more than 100,000 people by forcing them to sit on sharpened
stakes.
Vlad's descendants were the Securitate, Ceausescu's private army of 30,000,
who that night began a guerrilla war against the Romanian people. For the next
five days, the Securitate terrorized the country like a deranged dragon,
breathing fire in Bucharest and other cities, including Timisoara, where the
uprising had begun. A Window on the West
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(c) 1990 The Washington Post, January 14, 1990
In Timisoara, a city of 350,000 near the Yugoslav and Hungarian borders, a
small demonstration had started on Thursday, Dec. 14 in support of a Lutheran
minister, the Rev. Laszlo Tokes, who was to be deported for preaching
pro-democracy sermons. When the demonstrators formed a human cordon around
Tokes's house to protect him, the first reaction of the local authorities had
been not force but negotiation.
That uncharacteristic reasonableness from the government encouraged others to
join the protest. By Saturday night, tens of thousands of citizens were in the
streets, chanting anti-Ceausescu slogans.
On Dec. 17, as the crowds headed for city hall, Ceausescu miscalculated and
decided to treat the protesters as rabble, or "anti-socialist hooligans."
"Relay my order to all officers," he told party leaders by closed-circuit
television.
=
Anyone who tries to enter a state institution or party
headquarters, or who breaks a shop window, must immediately be shot. I want calm
restored in Timisoara in one hour. Call everybody. Give orders and execute
them."
The shooting started late that Sunday afternoon and continued through the
night. But instead of quelling the violence, it seemed to enrage the people.
All fall, the citizens of Timisoara had been watching Yugoslav and Hungarian
television coverage of the revolutions in East Germany and Czechoslovakia. They
were ready.
Little Timisoara was gripped by a kind of euphoria. "At last, we were doing
something," recalled Laszlo Szabo, a chemical engineer who joined the
demonstrations Sunday night.
The army did fire on civilians in Timisoara, but not willingly. At least 42
soldiers were executed on the spot during the operation for refusing to fire on
the crowd. "He Did This Thing to Himself"
By Wednesday, Dec. 20, the soldiers in Timisoara had had enough. When 50,000
workers marched through the streets, headed for the local Communist Party
headquarters, the soldiers joined them. That afternoon, the soldiers pulled
their tanks into defensive positions around civilian headquarters at the Opera
House.
Exactly how many died in the massacre at Timisoara is not yet known, but in
the first days the figures were wildly inflated. In a country where information
had been rigidly controlled for a quarter century, Romanians were ready to
believe anything.
As the revolution gained strength, the lack of real information and
exaggerated atrocity stories worked against the regime. "Timisoara" came to mean
the massacre of thousands upon thousands of unarmed people. It was the rallying
cry for the students who infiltrated Ceausescu's final rally.
Ceausescu's decision to call an official demonstration on Dec. 21 "was the
biggest mistake he ever made," said a Bucharest resident. "He was 50 arrogant he
believed he could win the crowd over by speaking to them. He did this thing to
himself."
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(c) 1990 The Washington Post, January 14, 1990
Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu were captured by the government the same day they
tried to get away. Their capture was announced the next day, along with a
promise that they would be given a fair trial.
But as hundreds of civilians were killed by Securitate bullets, and the army
post where the Ceausescus were being held came under attack, leaders of the new
government concluded they could not quash the Securitate unless they played by
the dictator's rules.
The only way to slay the dragon was to cut off its head. On Christmas Day,
after a two-hour "trial" that was little more than a shouting match, Nicolae and
Elena Ceausescu were executed by firing squad. Shortly after their bodies were
shown on television, the shooting stopped.
GRAPHIC: PHOTO, FIRST TO FALL: WOMEN PRAY OVER THE DEAD IN A CEMETERY IN
TIMISOARA, WHERE THE ROMANIAN UPRISING BEGAN. FRANK JOHNSTON
TYPE: FOREIGN NEWS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS; SPECIAL WARFARE (EG, GUERILLA WARFARE); ROMANIA;
DEMONSTRATIONS; ARMED FORCES
NAMED-PERSONS: NICOLAE CEAUSESCU
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DATE: JANUARY 25, 1990
CLIENT:
LIBRARY: NEXIS
FILE: NEWS
YOUR SEARCH REQUEST IS:
LASZLO W/3 TOKES
OR TOKES
NUMBER OF STORIES FOUND WITH YOUR REQUEST THROUGH:
LEVEL 1...
119 LEVEL 2...
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19TH STORY of Level 2 printed in FULL format.
Copyright (c) 1990 Maclean Hunter Limited;
Maclean's
January 1, 1990
SECTION: WORLD; Eastern Europe; Pg. 60
LENGTH: 1479 words
HEADLINE: A horrible crackdown
BYLINE: JOHN BIERMAN with PETER LEWIS in Brussels, SUE MASTERMAN in Vienna and
correspondents' reports
HIGHLIGHT:
The last hard-liner lashes out at a revolt
BODY:
Day by day last week, the ugly details seeped out of Romania from behind its
sealed-off borders. Faced with a spontaneous public outburst against his
ironfisted regime. Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu had unleashed the full
weight of his security forces on the western Transylvania city of Timisoara
(population 350,000). Witnesses said that hundreds - perhaps thousands --- of
unarmed civilians were shot, bayonetted or crushed to death by tanks. The
71-year-old Ceausescu then flew to Iran for a three-day state visit, leaving his
strong-willed wife, Elena, 70, to continue the crackdown. Hundreds more
Romanians were arrested and may have been summarily executed. As the bloodbath
continued, Romania's most famous expatriate, the playwright Eugene Ionesco,
delivered a pungent condemnation of Eastern Europe's last hard-line Communist
regime. From his home in Paris, Ionesco declared: "Ceausescu is a madman. His
wife, thirsty for power, is also mad. And it is these people who are being
allowed freely to torture 23 million people."
At midweek, the Ceausescu government declared a state of emergency in the
western district, but the protests spread. Chanting demonstrators disrupted a
pro-government rally in Bucharest, the Romanian capital. They even shouted down
Ceausescu, who was addressing the rally after returning from Iran. According to
the Soviet news agency TASS, police tried but failed to prevent more
demonstrators from joining the crowd. Finally, they used tear gas to try to
disperse the demonstrators. Then, TASS said, "automatic-rifle fire was heard.
People in panic were hiding in doorways and courtyards." Reported the official
Yugoslavian news agency, Tanjug: "Police began firing on the trapped mass of
people. Eyewitnesses said many were wounded and probably killed."
Ceausescu's decision to apply the so-called China Solution, a reference to
last June's massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing's Tiananmen
Square, contradicted the liberalizing current sweeping through the rest of what
used to be called the Soviet Bloc. In a five-hour speech to his Communist party
congress in November, Ceausescu had issued a warning that, unlike the leadership
in Hungary, Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria, he would not
yield to demands for reform. And after a relatively minor incident in which
police tried to evict a dissident Calvinist minister, Ceausescu acted in a
manner that has characterized his 24-year dictatorial rule.
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(c) 1990, Maclean Hunter Limited, Maclean's, January 1, 1990
The events that led to the Timisoara massacre began in part last March, when
two members of a freelance Canadian television team slipped into Romania as
tourists. Former Quebec cabinet minister Michel Clair and television journalist
Rejean Roy wanted to report on the problems of a 1.7-million-strong ethnic
Hungarian community, located mainly in the western region of Transylvania. They
taped a lengthy interview with one of the community's most outspoken leaders,
37-year-old minister Laszlo Tokes, at his church in Timisoara. And when
they failed to find an outlet for their report in Canada, Clair said, they
passed it on to Hungarian state television, which screened the documentary in
late July. It was seen across the border in Transylvania, where Hungarian TV
has a wide audience.
In the interview, Tokes criticized human rights abuses in general and
discrimination against the Hungarian minority in particular. That clearly
angered the leadership. The minister had already been blacklisted as a
dangerous dissident, and the secret police attempted to frighten him into
quitting the congregation. First, according to Tokes's brother Istvan, who
lives in Montreal, they sent masked men to attack him and his family in their
apartment last month. The minister and two friends fought the attackers off,
and Tokes, with his pregnant wife, Edit, and son Mate, remained inside his
barricaded home. Then, in mid-December, uniformed police arrived to evict the
Tokeses, but they found about 200 parishioners protecting the family. The
police sent for reinforcements - and, eventually, the incident escalated out of
control.
The confrontation turned into a mass anti-government demonstration by
thousands of people of all ethnic groups. They chanted "Freedom" and "Romanians
arise," and police responded by firing indiscriminately. A doctor who was
visiting the city later told the Austrian news agency APA: "The first three rows
of protesters collapsed dead or injured. Blood and torn clothing lay
everywhere." The next day, the government ordered in tanks and helicopters. "It
was horrible, horrible," said a Yugoslav medical student who witnessed the
scene.
Radislav Dencic, another Yugoslav, said that he saw people being
machine-gunned from the air. "Hundreds of people were falling on the pavement
before my eyes," said Dencic. After the initial massacre, security forces
fanned out to try to prevent additional uprisings. According to an Austrian
witness, Gerard Beckmann, downtown Timisoara was in ruins, and the city was
without water, electricity and food. He said that the security forces then
began rounding up ethnic Hungarians and others suspected of having taken part in
the demonstrations. "People are being dragged out of their houses," he said.
"Families are being separated. It has turned into a pogrom." Other observers
described the government actions as genocide. By midweek, the Yugoslav news
agency, Tanjug, estimated that up to 2,000 people had been killed and hundreds
more wounded, many of whom would likely die because of the lack of medical
supplies. Other estimates ranged as high as 4,000 dead.
Clair, a former transport minister in the Parti Quebecois government of
premier Rene Levesque, said that Tokes was eager to see the interview aired. He
added: "Of course, I never imagined it would result in this. But Tokes insisted
that the interview should be broadcast. He knew it would be dangerous, but he
said, "Somebody must do it.' He is one of the most impressive men I have ever
met." Tokes's brother Istvan, known as Steve, an engineer who emigrated from
Romania to Canada 20 years ago, said he had learned that his brother and his
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(c) 1990, Maclean Hunter Limited, Maclean's, January 1, 1990
sister-in-law were taken away by police during the crushing of the
demonstration. "I am very much alarmed," he said, "not only for Laszlo, but for
my other brothers and sisters - seven in all --- who are also in Transylvania."
Later, Istvan received word from his parents in Romania that his brother was
alive and being held in a small village.
Meanwhile, John Macpherson, manager of communications for CANDU reactor
operations of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., said that a team of 22 Canadians are
overseeing work in Romania on a pair of AECL-designed nuclear power plants. The
Canadians are split between Bucharest and Cernavoda, about 150 km to the west.
Macpherson said that many of them had already left the country for the holiday
when the trouble started. As for the others, he said, "we have a contingency
plan to evacuate them, if necessary. But our people there did not feel that it
was necessary, so they are continuing to work."
In the rest of Eastern Europe last week, the momentous wave of change
continued relatively peacefully. West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl visited
Dresden, where he and reformist East German Prime Minister Hans Modrow discussed
wide-ranging financial aid for the failing East German economy. Modrow says
that he opposes reunification with the West, but thousands of the Dresden
citizens who greeted Kohl chanted "Germany, a single fatherland." After Kohl
left, Modrow announced that he will open Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate to
east-west pedestrian traffic by Christmas, an action that symbolizes the
strengthening ties between the two Germansy.
Meanwhile, in Brussels, Soviet Foreign Minister Eduward Shevardnadze made an
unprecedented visit to NATO headquarters. There, he had what he called "a very
necessary, very good and very useful" discussion with NATO Secretary General
Manfred Worner of West Germany. But Worner apparently turned down a
recommendation by Shevardnadze that the two alliances establish formal
relations. Still, both men said that they expected 1990 to bring East-West
agreement on conventional-force reductions and a treaty cutting long-range
strategic weapons by 50 per cent.
Before he left NATO headquarters, reporters asked Shevardnadze about the
crackdown in Romania. Only sketchy reports were then available, but
Shevardnadze said that if they were true, he could only express his "very
profound regrets." The language was diplomatic, but the message was
unmistakable. A senior Soviet minister criticizing a Warsaw Pact ally while on
premises that, until recently, had been vilified as a hotbed of anti-Communist
aggression was another remarkable moment in a year of astonishing change.
GRAPHIC: Picture 1, Bucharest peasant and Tokes: civilians were crushed to death
by tanks, SCHROEDER-SENNEPORT/SIPA; Picture 2, Bucharest peasant and Tokes:
civilians were crushed to death by tanks, MICHEL CLAIR; Picture 3, Typical
working-class home in Bucharest: using the so-called China Solution,
SCHROEDER-SENNEPORT/SIPA; Picture 4, Ceausescu: the full weight of his forces,
DELAHAYE/SIPA
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DATE: JANUARY 25, 1990
CLIENT:
LIBRARY: NEXIS
FILE: NEWS
YOUR SEARCH REQUEST IS:
BILLY W/3 GRAHAM AND EUROPE AND SOVIET W/2 UNION
NUMBER OF STORIES FOUND WITH YOUR REQUEST THROUGH:
LEVEL 1...
110
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61ST STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
Proprietary to the United Press International 1982
October 25, 1982, Monday, PM cycle
SECTION: International
LENGTH: 461 words
BYLINE: By SANDRA HILL
DATELINE: BERLIN
KEYWORD: Graham
BODY:
Evangelist Billy Graham said today his trip to Eastern Europe doesn't
mean he supports the Communist government there any more than a visit to the
White House means he's a Republican.
Graham said at an East Berlin news conference at the end of an 11-day tour of
East Germany his meetings with government officials were not intended as a
political statement.
'No one has asked me to be converted to Marxism, but I listened to them,'
he said.
''I once spent a whole evening with President Reagan. That doesn't mean I
support his policies. I'm a Democrat.'
Graham, who preached to about 25,000 people in seven churches in six East
German cities, was scheduled to travel to Prague Friday for a 6-day visit to
Czechoslovakia.
Graham described his trip to East Germany as ''one of the most memorable
experiences of my life.'
Over the weekend, Graham told church and government officials, that 'people
here have more opportunity to practice religion than in some other socialist and
non-socialist states.''
The U.S. evangelist did not specify which countries he was referring to.
Graham, 63, stirred up a storm of controversy during a May 7-13 visit to the
Soviet Union when he said that he found freedom of religion there.
In Moscow, Graham visited a Russian Orthodox church and commented that the
service had been ' ' jammed to capacity. You'd never get that in Charlotte, North
Carolina (his hometown).
He said the church in East Germany put much thought into its survival in an
officially atheist country. The Church doesn't want to be ideologically a
socialist Church, but it does want to live in a socialist society, he said.
A spokesman for Graham said some 25,000 people, mostly young, had thronged to
see the preacher on the tour that took him to Wittenberg, Rostock and Dresden as
well as East Berlin.
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25
Proprietary to the United Press International, October 25, 1982
'One of the things that has greatly impressed me is the number of young
people who've come to listen to me here, Graham said Sunday.
The preacher, who was invited to East Germany by a coalition of evangelical
and baptist churches, made the need for peace the main theme of his sermons and
talks with government official.
' ' The majority of Americans want peace,' he said. ''But our government
changes every four years and by the time it sorts out its foreign policy it's
time for another election.
'Humans need to be changed before we can really see peace,' he said. 'Wars
are started in the human heart.
Graham said he did not call for unilateral disarmament but said East and West
should start negotiations for what he called ''SALT 10'' - the destruction of
all nuclear weapons.
'I hoped my visit would make a contribution to understanding and peace,' he
said. Only time will tell if this will become a reality.
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1ST STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
Copyright (c) 1989 Facts on File, Inc.;
Facts on File World News Digest
December 31, 1989
SECTION: INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
PAGE: Pg. 957 A1
LENGTH: 3368 words
HEADLINE: Romania's Ceausescu Toppled, Executed in Uprising; Interim Government
Takes Power, Vows Democracy;
Army Subdues Security Forces
BODY:
Romania's president and Communist Party leader, Nicolae Ceausescu, was
executed by a military firing squad December 25 following a secret trial. His
wife and second in command, Elena, died along with him. They were the most
prominent of thousands of casualties in a popular uprising that had overthrown
the Ceausescu regime December 22.
President Ceausescu, 71, had been the longest-serving leader in Eastern
Europe and the last to exercise absolute power. His wife had wielded more power
than any woman in the Soviet bloc. [See PP. 958A1, 89562, 243F21
Unlike the rest of the Soviet bloc, where Communist rulers in 1989 had
relinquished power under relatively peaceful circumstances, the Romanians fought
a virtual civil war December 15-31. The conflict featured the fiercest street
fighting in Europe since World War II.
By December 26, a provisional government, calling itself the National
Salvation Front, had assumed control in Romania with the aid of the army and was
promising broad democratic reforms.
Massacre in Timisoara - The revolt against the Ceausescu regime began
December 15 in Timisoara, a city of 350,000 located in the Transylvania region
about 300 miles (500 km) northwest of Bucharest.
According to sketchy initial accounts, a crowd of demonstrators prevented the
arrest and deportation to Hungary of Reverend Laszlo Tokes, a popular
Protestant minister who had been active in promoting the rights of ethnic
Hungarians. Tokes, himself an ethnic Hungarian, had been stabbed by masked
assailants --- suspected of being members of the secret police - November 2 and
had taken refuge in his church, where the local populace had protected him.
The Tokes protest was reported to have blossomed into full-scale
pro-democracy rallies in Timisoara December 16, the largest show of
anti-Ceausescu sentiment since the 1987 riots in the city of Brasov. [See 1987,
P. 88362]
Army and Securitate (internal-security) troops, employing tanks and
helicopters, moved into the city in force the same day and began clashing with
the demonstrators.
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(c) 1989 Facts on File, December 31, 1989
Witnesses said that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of unarmed men, women and
children were slain December 17, when the troops fired on a mass demonstration
in central Timisoara. At least 500 others were arrested, and there were
accounts of widespread looting in the city. Most of the bodies of those slain
were taken away by the authorities.
The killings were believed to have been carried out mainly by the Securitate
-- the heavily armed paramilitary troops and secret police fiercely loyal to
Ceausescu. One Western estimate placed the number of Securitate personnel at
30,000.
Romania's state-controlled media were silent about the Timisoara incident,
but reports of the massacre reached the outside world, mainly through Romanians
who had fled into Hungary and Yugoslavia. (The city was near the border of the
three countries.)
The U.S. December 18 protested the violent crackdown. Great Britain and
Poland followed suit December 19. Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze
December 19 expressed "very, very profound regret" over the development. [See P.
958C2J
Antigovernment protests spread to Cluj and Oradea, two other Transylvania
cities, December 19.
President Ceausescu returned to Romania December 20 after a two-day official
visit to Iran. He blamed "fascists" and "terrorists" for stirring up unrest in
the country and declared a state of emergency in Transylvania.
Meanwhile, up to 50,000 people had staged a march in Timisoara December 20
demanding the return of the bodies of their slain loved ones and an accounting
of hundreds of others who were missing. Foreign news services, citing
eyewitnesses, December 20 estimated that as many as 4,000 people had been killed
in city. [See below]
Rebellion in Capital -- Anti-Ceausescu feelings erupted in Bucharest December
21, when the president gave what was to be his last speech.
Ceausescu was addressing a pro-government noontime rally from a balcony of
the Royal Palace when thousands of people, many of them students, began to chant
pro-democracy slogans. Romanian television coverage captured a stunned look on
Ceausescu's face as his speech - promising more food and fuel for the populace
-- was drowned out by jeers. (It was apparently the first time a Ceausescu
address had been interrupted other than by orchestrated adulation.)
A Securitate armored car crushed two youths when the security forces
attempted to break up the crowd. Securitate troops opened fire on the
protesters, driving them from Palace Square (where the CP and government
buildings were located) to nearby University Square, where up to 30,000 people
skirmished with the security forces into the night. As many as 40 people were
killed.
In Cluj December 21, Securitate forces killed more than 30 protesters. There
were more reports of continued unrest in Timisoara and reports of protests in
at least five other Romanian cities the same day.
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(c) 1989 Facts on File, December 31, 1989
Also, there were reports that army units around the country had refused to
join the Securitate forces in attacks on demonstrators.
Army Revolts, New Regime Set -- Early December 22, as many as 150,000
protesters massed in University Square and began battling the Securitate troops,
who retreated into Palace Square.
The army, which had many thousands of soldiers in the capital, did not aid
the Securitate troops and a short while later actively helped the insurgents
drive the security forces out of Palace Square.
On the morning of December 22, Radio Bucharest announced the suicide of
Romania's defense minister, Colonel General Vasile Milea. Diplomatic sources
later contended that Milea had been executed by the Securitate for refusing to
order the army to fire on demonstrators.
Leading senior military officers, including the chief of the general staff,
General Stefan Gusa, lined up against Ceausescu upon Milea's death.
(The military - poorly trained, poorly equipped and poorly paid --- had
apparently harbored a deep resentment of the Securitate, which had enjoyed a
favored status under Ceausescu.)
Military units parceled out automatic weapons to civilians and joined the
rebels in heavy fighting in and around Palace Square. Several hundred people
were killed, according to witnesses, but the Securitate forces were eventually
dispersed. The Royal Palace (presidential headquarters), the CP Central
Committee building, Radio Bucharest and the state television station were all in
the hands of the insurgents by nightfall. Jayous insurgents ransacked and burned
the Royal Palace.
In the early evening, Radio Bucharest announced that a coalition of Communist
former officials, intellectuals, students, dissidents and senior military
officers had formed an interim ruling committee, the National Salvation Front.
The provisional government made its headquarters at the state TV station.
The front's announced members included General Gusa; Timisoara's Reverend
Tokes; Doina Cornea, a leading dissident; Ion Iliescu, a former Central
Committee member; Corneliu Manescu, a former foreign minister, and Silviu
Brucan, a former ambassador to the U.S. [See p. 243A3, E3; 1971, P. 684C1]
(Romania's exiled King Michael, in Geneva, December 22 indicated that he was
ready to head a constitutional monarchy in Romania "if the people want me to
come back." He had left the country in 1948. [See 1948, P. 3H])
Fighting continued near Palace Square as Securitate members, singly and in
groups, fired at army units. In turn, the army blasted buildings harboring the
snipers with cannon fire from tanks and with heavy machine guns.
Meanwhile, a "People's Militia" of ill-armed rebels took control of central
Timisoara December 22. The insurgents found the naked corpses of hundreds of
people, including children, who had been murdered by the Securitate and dumped
into shallow mass graves. Many of the victims were bound by barbed wire and bore
the marks of torture.
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(c) 1989 Facts on File, December 31, 1989
Foreign Reaction -- The reaction of foreign leaders to President Ceausescu's
overthrow was swift and virtually uniform.
U.S. President Bush's press secretary, Marlin Fitzwater, December 22 said "a
terrible burden" had been lifted from the Romanian people and pledged U.S.
assistance if Romania moved "along the path of democratic reform."
In Moscow, members of the Soviet parliament applauded December 22 when Soviet
President Mikhail S. Gorbachev announced the fall of the Romanian leader and
welcomed the provisional government.
Senior officials in both Eastern and Western Europe expressed strong support
for the new government, although many regretted the loss of life that had
attended its creation.
French and Dutch officials December 23 conveyed to Soviet counterparts their
governments' tacit approval should the Soviet Union decide to intervene
militarily on the side of the anti-Ceausescu forces in Romania. But Soviet
authorities that day made clear they had no intention of imposing a military
solution.
However, U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker 3rd December 24 said the U.S.
would support Soviet military action. Observers believed it was the first time
since World War II that U.S. officials had even accepted the possibility of
military involvement by the Soviet Union outside its own borders.
The U.S. December 25 established diplomatic relations with the National
Salvation Front government. The same day, the Soviet Union formally recognized
the provisional government.
Several other countries December 26 recognized the new Romanian government,
including two of the Ceausescu regime's closest international supporters, China
and Iran. Iran also announced the dismissal of its ambassador to Romania for his
failure to inform the Iranian government of the domestic opposition to Ceausescu
prior to the Romanian leader's visit to Teheran at the start of the uprising.
[See pp. 957B2, 895E3]
Hungarian Foreign Minister Gyula Horn December 26 pledged his government's
support for the new authorities in Romania. Horn also announced that hostilities
between the two countries, which had concerned ethnic rights and political
change, had ended. [See P. 520F2]
The Washington Post reported December 31 that Horn had visited Bucharest to
underscore his earlier pronouncement. He was said to have assured Romania that
Hungary would not press for a return of Romania's Transylvania region, where the
majority of inhabitants were ethnic Hungarians.
Ceausescus Captured, Slain -- President Ceausescu, his wife, two senior CP
officials (Emil Bobu and Manea Manescu) and a contingent of Securitate
bodyguards fled by helicopter from the roof of the Central Committee building at
around mid-morning December 22.
Their intended destination was a special military airfield near the city of
Tirgoviste, about 45 miles (70 km) northwest of Bucharest. But the president was
reported to have become fearful that the helicopter had been spotted on radar
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(c) 1989 Facts on File, December 31, 1989
and would be shot down by the rebellious military, and he apparently ordered it
to land on a road near the town of Boteni. There, they commandeered a passing
car at gunpoint.
The group was captured that evening by armed insurgents at an impromptu
checkpoint outside of Tirgoviste. The rebels handed them over to the military.
The Ceausescus were driven around in a military armored car for three days in
order to prevent Securitate loyalists from locating them.
The couple was tried and convicted by an "extraordinary military tribunal" at
an unidentified site December 25. They were charged with genocide, abuse of
power, undermining the economy and theft of government funds. (The prosecution
claimed that 60,000 people had died in the uprising, and that the Ceausescu
family had $1 billion hidden in Swiss bank accounts.)
A videotape of the trial was broadcast on Romanian television December 26, a
day after the executions were announced. The couple, shown seated at a table and
wearing their overcoats, repeatedly insisted the trial was illegal. They
defiantly responded to questions from an off-camera prosecutor.
At one point, Ceausescu spat out, "I am the president of Romania and the
commander in chief of the Romanian army. I am the president of the people. I
will not speak with you provocateurs anymore, and I will not speak with the
organizers of the putsch."
The prosecutor said at the close of the proceeding, "On the basis of the
actions of the members of the Ceausescu family, we condemn the two of you to
death. We confiscate all your property."
The dual execution December 25 was also videotaped, but that part was not
aired. However, the broadcast December 26 did show the president's body lying in
a courtyard in a pool of blood. (A similar scene of Elena Ceausescu's corpse was
broadcast December 28. Just before she was shot, she was reported to have said
to the firing squad, "I was like a mother to you.")
The executions elated Ceausescu's enemies. The world community - while not
condemning the executions -- expressed regret that the trial had not been
public.
The military did not reveal what was done with the corpses of the Ceausescus.
Ruling Front Names Leaders - The National Salvation Front December 26 named
Romania's interim leaders and vowed to hold free elections in April 1990.
Ion Iliescu, 59, was named interim president. Iliescu, a former party
official, had been expelled from the Central Committee in the early 1980s.
Dumitru Mazilu, a 60-year-old career diplomat, was named interim vice president.
Petre Roman, 43, was chosen interim premier. He was a hydroelectrical
engineer and had never before held a government post.
General Nicolae Militaru, 65, was named interim defense minister. Militaru
had been dismissed from the military by Ceausescu in 1986. He had assumed
operational command of the military forces fighting the Securitate.
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(c) 1989 Facts on File, December 31, 1989
A 27-member interim cabinet was unveiled December 30. About half of the
ministers had been members of the Communist Party when the uprising erupted. But
Corneliu Bogdan, a deputy foreign minister in the cabinet, December 30 assured
reporters: "The Communist Party is dead."
Among some of its first actions, the ruling front December 27 abolished
limits on the amount of food Romanians could buy and announced the legalization
of birth control and abortion, both of which had been banned under Ceausescu.
On December 31, the new government abolished the death penalty and a host of
public-order laws. The front also said new political parties would have five
days to register to run candidates in the 1990 elections.
Securitate Defeated - Securitate die-hards battled the military and civilian
rebels in Bucharest, Timisoara and other cities through December 28, a date
set by the provisional government for Ceausescu loyalists to surrender or face
summary execution.
By December 30, rebel forces were in control nationwide. Several thousand
members of the security forces had been rounded up or had gone into hiding, and
the fighting was limited to isolated skirmishes.
The fighting had peaked around the Christmas holiday, which Romanians
celebrated openly for the first time since Ceausescu came to power. Securitate
forces in Bucharest staged attacks on the main railroad station and three hotels
December 25.
During the turmoil, the rebels discovered a huge complex of tunnels and
residences under Palace Square linking key government and CP buildings. The
complex had apparently been constructed for the specific use of the Securitate's
Fifth Directorate, an elite unit that had been the president's personal
bodyguard.
In a related development, rumors sprang up during the conflict that
foreigners (labeled "mercenaries" by the rebels) were fighting alongside the
Securitate troops. Unconfirmed reports variously identified them as
Palestinians, Iranians, Libyans, Syrians and North Koreans. [See below]
Arabs, North Koreans Deny Role -- Libya's official news agency December 23
denied that some of its country's agents were participating in the fighting in
Romania on the side of the Securitate forces. Syrian and Palestine Liberation
Organization officials December 24 issued similar denials.
Rumors of the involvement of some Arabs were given currency December 26 by
Czechoslovak consular officials, who reported the presence of Libyans, Syrians
and Palestinians among 2,000 foreigners purportedly fighting at the side of the
Ceausescu loyalists.
Officials of the Arab League December 26 urged the new Romanian authorities
to protect Arab residents from potential attacks provoked by the rumors.
North Korea December 27 recognized the National Salvation Front government
and denied that any North Koreans had been among the pro-Ceausescu forces.
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(c) 1989 Facts on File, December 31, 1989
Son Snared, Brother Ends Life - Nicu Ceausescu, a 39-year-old son of the
president, was captured by insurgents December 22 outside Bucharest. He was
reported to have been hiding in the rear seat of a car driven by an unidentified
woman. [See 1987, p. 849E3]
Nicu, a much-despised figure in Romania, had the reputation of a playboy and
wastrel. He was the CP boss of the city of Sibu.
One of President Ceausescu's four brothers, Marin, 73, was found hanged in
the basement of the Romanian trade mission in Vienna December 28. He had headed
the mission for 16 years. Austrian police considered his death a suicide.
The Romanian provisional government December 31 contended that Marin
Ceausescu had been an intelligence operative.
Riches Discovered - A tour of the abandoned Ceausescu family villa in
Bucharest revealed that the president's lifestyle had been far above that of
ordinary Romanians, it was reported December 28.
The residence was decorated with expensive works of art, silk tapestries and
porcelain sculptures. One set of dinnerware was pure gold, and one bathtub had
solid gold faucets. There were tennis courts and an indoor swimming pool. The
basement contained a sophisticated medical facility and a lead-lined bomb
shelter.
In another development reported December 28, the insurgents began opening
vast warehouses of foods that had either been reserved for the CP and government
elite or had been scheduled for export. Such goods as beef, coffee, chocolate
and oranges had been regarded as luxuries by the general populace.
Facts on Ceausescu Nicolae Ceausescu was born into a large peasant family
on January 26, 1918 in the town of Oltenia. He joined the Communist Party youth
arm in 1933 and was jailed for his political "agitation" prior to World War II.
After the war, Ceausescu rose rapidly in the ruling Communist power structure.
He became a full member of the Central Committee in 1952. By 1957, he was second
only to party leader Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej.
Upon the death of Gheorghiu-Dej in 1965, Ceausescu became the party's first
secretary. He took over as Romania's head of state (president) in 1968. He moved
his relatives into important government and party positions, and made himself
the center of a cult of personality perhaps rivaled in Eastern Europe only by
that of the late Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. [See 1965, P. 112E3]
Ceausescu declined to follow the Soviet Union's lead on foreign policy. Among
other things, Romania did not break relations with Israel in 1967, did not
participate in the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia and did not join the
East-bloc boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics. Ceausescu's maverick stance
irritated the Kremlin, but gained him favor among both Western and developing
nations. [See 1988, P. 937C3; 1984, P. 437E3; 1975, P. 583D2; 1968, P. 353F2;
1967, P. 207C3]
While the president was feted abroad, many Romanians regarded him as a
ruthless tyrant. As the country's economy faltered in the 1980s, Ceausescu
pressed ahead with grandiose, disastrous schemes. He created severe shortages at
home with the wholesale export of food and fuel to pay off Romania's foreign
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(c) 1989 Facts on File, December 31, 1989
debt. And he destroyed many rural villages, and forcibly displaced their
populations, to make way for agri-industrial complexes that were never built.
[See p. 291E3; 1988, P. 937A31
To the end, Ceausescu opposed any form of political or economic
liberalization. He was the last Soviet-bloc leader to do SO.
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2ND DOCUMENT of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
Public Papers of the Presidents
Remarks at a Meeting With Amish and Mennonite Leaders in
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
25 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 398
March 22, 1989
LENGTH: 4451 words
The President. Le me say in the beginning I appreciate you all taking time from
your busy day. And one of the reasons I want to come here, accompanied by our
Attorney General and former Secretary of Education, who has been charged with
the whole program on fighting drugs, Bill Bennett, is to salute you, because as
we look at a national drug problem, we find that in communities such as yours,
because of your adherence to family values and faith, the problem appears to be
close to nonexistent, hopefully nonexistent. And I have been over at the school
talking there, and met with some kids where regrettably it isn't nonexistent.
And I said in my comments there that these values of neighborhood and family and
faith - somehow they come back to me, anyway, if we engage in this national
crusade, to be fundamentally important. So, I wanted to start by saying that,
though this is an antinarcotics swing, this stop is to maybe hear from you all
as to how your community managers to stave off the scourge of drugs. And
anyway, that was one of the things. I don't know who wants to take the lead
here, but we're very pleased to be with you.
Mennonite leader. We thank you for coming here. First of all, we wish the
Lord to bless our meeting here. And we are happy to have you here, but we are
also somewhat saddened that it takes the drug issue and alcohol to bring you
here.
My wife and I have eight children, two of which are married. And two are
with a youth group. Three are going to school here. Our 18-year-old son was
driving with a man one time, and he said, "Do you mind if I smoke pot?"
The President. Your kid was driving with -- yes.
Mennonite leader. In a pickup, he was driving along with the pickup -- and
"Do you mind if I smoke pot? Will you tell the boss?" He said, "I sure will."
So, it makes me almost quiver in my boots when I think that that youth could
have been tempted to do that because he was exposed to it. And it's by the
grace of God that we have what we have what we have as values, that you were
just talking about, handed down to us from our fathers. When they came to this
country, it was the Indians and the bears that they feared for life. Now it's
the highway with alcohol and the drug influence. When we drive down the road,
we don't know what shape that man is that's coming towards us.
And we are concerned. What could we do as Christians to maintain that value?
We do not want to uphold ourselves that we have something that we worked for and
that we deserve, but it is by the grace of God that we have been giving it
through our parents and have withstood -- took their stand to this day. And we
would like to ask you what we could do as Christians to help to stop that flow
from Lancaster County.
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25 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 398
The President. Well, in terms of the interdiction of the flow, I would think
that that would largely be the responsibility, to some degree, of local law
enforcement, because I'm told that even in a marvelous rural community, some of
the fields are used for illicit drops. And you know, they signal the plane, and
the plane goes on. So, in that area, encouraging your local law enforcement
people would be very important.
We realize that we have -- the three of us and Senator Specter here and our
Chief of Staff, John Sununu - a disproportianate responsibility in the
interdiction. I say "we," the Federal Government, because we're talking about
at the borders. And Dick Thornburgh is just back from meeting with various
heads of government in Central America, where a lot of the crops, as you know,
are grown.
But I guess what I'd say - and then I'd like to ask Bill Bennett, who, as
you know, was formerly our Secretary of Education, to say a word -- but I guess
what I'd say is: keeping moral underpinnings with your community and then,
hopefully, having others see that as an example. I don't want to argue with you
because you're too good a host, but I think it is important I'm here because it
gives us a chance to have a conversation like this and to understand a little
better why it is -- and you've already touched on it - faith - why it is that
you all have been able to withstand the pressure when others have not.
Mennonite leader. My concern is how can we maintain that? We have a
preschool son, four-year-old. When he is 18 and the problem is exploding, 50 to
speak -
The President. Exactly. Well, that's what our whole new - I don't want to
say the word "crusade," that's a little like a cliche -- but I view it as that
in terms of both the demand and the supply side. You mentioned interdiction,
and that's the supply. But the whole demand side - I have gotten to use the
White House as a bully pulpit to argue and to encourage people all across the
country on the demand side.
Mennonite leader. We appreciate your concern.
The President. We met with some kids -- we've got to do it.
But, Bill, now, you've fought this in the education role and now as our drug
czar. Why don't you add some to that?
Secretary Bennett. Well, I just --
The President. That was a very good question you raised.
Secretary Bennett. -- wonder what your children say or your grandchildren
say about this. Is it their sense that -- as they report to you -- that things
are better, worse, or more temptation to do this out there, or less? What are
the kinds of things that they report on this? As you see this threat --- I think
we all take it very seriously -- but for me, a lot of the way I see the threat
is through the eyes of young people. They are really there on the line.
Mennonite leader. They're concerned.
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25 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 398
Secretary Bennett. And I wonder what they are telling you in terms of
things. Are things better than they were 5 years ago? Are they worse than they
are?
Mennonite leader. In my opinion, it would be worse, because our two oldest
sons work at public places and they both were exposed to drugs and had
opportunity to buy. Now, what I'm concerned about is, like I said, the
four-year-old. By the time he comes of age, wil he be able to say no?
Secretary Bennett. Yes.
Mennonite leader. Will he continue to maintain that value that we are trying
to plant into our children that was implanted into us, as President Bush just
said about values. This is what we uphold more than money. I don't want to
take much of your time, but we want to teach our children there's more of a
greater value to go to bed with a clear conscience than to make money on drugs
or to get high on it.
Secretary Bennett. Well, we have found in all the drug studies that the best
community, the best protection for a young person, is what one of the people
writing has called the internal compass in the sense of high aspiration: deeply
rooted values, faith, and a closeness to family. These are the things, if you
wanted to design a system which would protect the children.
And I don't know, whatever kind of drug we see, whatever kind of onslaught
you see, that those rules will change. It seems to me that has been the case
throughout history in terms of the best things we can do for our young people.
One of the things that we see is a very strong affirmation on the part of young
people who have experimented with drugs, in many cases, have almost been
destroyed -- they come back and reaffirm what we've seen. They tell us, having
gone through the trial, having gone through the fire, that what was missing in
their lives was this.
The President. May I tell you one other additional - this gets a little bit
off, but it gives you an idea of how we're looking at this. I don't want to see
Federal legislation that diminishes the family. We've got a big, new thing on
child care now. And I think the Federal Government does have some responsible
role in child care. But our approach is to give the families the choice, to
give the families - well, put it this way, some religious institutions are new
day-care services, I don't want to see the Federal law defined so narrowly by
the bureaucracy in Washington that it erodes out the community, religious
institutions, or family from child care. And yet I do think the Federal
Government has a role in helping the private sector, helping the States in the
question of child care.
So, philosophically, you say, What does this have to do with drugs? Because
I think you are a shining example of what family and faith can do. Where we
have responsibilities at the Federal level, we must see that inadvertently we
don't weaken the role of family or weaken the role of, I'd say, faith in our
country. I believe in separation of church and state; but I don't want to see
the church people get together in a church community and take care of the other
guy's kids -- work from whatever it is, and then have them denied that because
of Federal money serving as a magnet that has to go into some federally
certified, rubber-stamped institution down the street. So, we will be working
at the Federal level to see that we don't impose on communities legislation
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25 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 398
that, even though it isn't intended that way, would diminish and weaken the
family. And it isn't easy, but there are other areas, I think, where we're
going to be able to -- Dick, you want to say something?
The Attorney General. Well, I, as you know, am in the law enforcement side
of the effort to deal with drugs. President Bush -- I'm sure you've heard it
said --- has established a goal of providing a kinder and gentler America. And I
think that's one that we support to a man or woman throughout this country. But
a kinder, gentler America is not one where drugs are abused and where drug
traffickers rule the streets of some of our communities. I've told the
President that if we're going to have a kinder, gentler America, we're going to
have to be rougher and tougher with some Americans: those who are drug
traffickers, those who are the urban terrorists that have captured so many of
our communities. And that's a job for law enforcement. The President's
supporting tougher laws. He's supporting more resources for our police and
prosecutors, and supporting a tougher attitude toward those countries in the
international community where these substances are grown and produced. And
we'll do our share in helping to interrupt the flow of drugs into your
community.
But for my two cents' worth, I just want to underscore what the President has
said: even from a law enforcement view, how important it is for the types of
values that you've enunciated and practiced in your communities to gain currency
in every community across the United States so that the appetite for drugs and
the consumption of drugs, the demand for drugs, is diminished to a point where
we don't have this problem.
But we're very grateful for the opportunity to visit with you, learn from
you, and carry the message that's exemplified by your communities elsewhere.
Thank you.
Mennonite leader. We're very happy for your concern and what you're doing
for the sake of the young people of the U.S. And I think the fact that we have
no trouble with drug addiction is because of the close family ties; and the
children are taught obedience at a very young age and self-denial, that they
don't have everything they wish as they're growing up; and because they are
taught of God, and urged to pray, and in school have prayer and Bible reading.
And as they grow up, they have a sense of value that they're not just out
seeking thrills and drugs or any other. We appreciate it much for the warnings
on the tobacco ads: harmful to the body - wish it were on the alcoholic drinks.
And we surely appreciate your efforts.
Another thing that I think why we have no drug problem is for things we do
not do. We do not have television, radio; and as I understand, almost --- coming
into the homes of sexual things and robbers, and children growing up in that
atmosphere. It's just that they're at a disadvantage, I think.
You read in the Bible of the people who do not seek after God, and that God
is not in all their thoughts. I think that is why the young people of America
are going astray with drugs. We wish God would be more in their thoughts, and
you respond to a higher power.
Mennonite leader. I also welcome President Bush. We feel kind of honored to
be here. And as for us, as a people, as we are -- it's one advantage that we
have strived for, and that is like Aaron there said, that we don't have
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25 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 398
television and recorded music. We feel sorry that our Constitution or our
courts have taken the prayer and Bible reading out of schools. Then, after that
has left, we also have this rock music. And those things just enter into the
mind, that the child will do things that they had not intended to do, and then
they are turned to drugs. It leads to that.
Now, if our moral fiber - not ruin it through removing the prayer and Bible,
we'd have a stronger America today. But that is the thing. This is why we feel
what we have is because we try to avoid this recorded music, rock music, and
those things that the child has control -- the spirit can be -- rather than it
being entertained by the music of the world and some of the - as you all know,
that hard music is -- well, you know all about it. And that's where we shy away
strongly, because it just does something to a person. And that's from our stand
of viewpoint. That's where we feel we have some advantage with our children,
because they are not exposed to that point, that they have more self-control.
The President. You know, it's interesting on the music. I think of the
action that Susan Baker, who is the wife of our Secretary of State, and Tipper
Gore, who is the wife of a man who ran for President last year, and a United
States Senator - they got outraged by just some of the really bad lyrics in
this music. And they took their fight - aware of the right of people to speak
out and the freedom of speech amendment --- but they took this fight to the
public, and indeed they were ridiculed for this is a lot of high, sophisticated
quarters, even though the lyrics were so bad and SO awful that they would
challenge any family. And they went through a real tough time, but they have
not let up on it. And they've got the most sophisticated, liberal communities
-- get all over them, thinking that they're violating somebody's right to speak.
And I was quite supportive in talking to them and know what they're doing.
I think we have an obligation as President - you do have to be careful of
violating somebody's freedom of speech. But I think there are some certain
excesses that have cropped in now that we've come to condone, that under the
same Constitution would have been condemned years ago.
So, I think these are interesting warnings you're putting out here. I want
to preserve freedom of speech and freedom of expression. But I think it's fine
when citizens are up in arms about it and try to express their viewpoint. Maybe
we've gone too far in some things. I mean, I don't like seeing the American
flag down on the floor, either. I know how this President looks at it. But
maybe that's a little reactionary, but that's exactly the way I feel about it.
And so, we'll see.
Mennonite leader. President Bush, of course, we don't want you to leave here
feeling we are making demands or telling the bad side. We also wanted to
express appreciation for what you and former Presidents have done for us in the
past. We want you to realize that we do feel grateful for what has been done
for us. I thought maybe we could just relate a thought that seemed to be some
of our teaching, that the hand that rocks the cradle, it rules the Nation. Not
only speaking to the young people, maybe the parents, if they could someway --
that parents could plant this in their children at a younger age -- would often
go a far way.
Mennonite leader. We are not so politically involved as some groups are, but
we spiritually support our country, and we pray for them at every church
service. We pray for our government and thank God for the freedom we have in
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25 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 398
religion and 50 forth. And I'm afraid we do not appreciate this as much in our
thoughts or in our actions as far as confessing to be Christians in our way of
looking at things.
Secretary Bennett. If I may, I know you wouldn't say it -- I think that we
could all take pride - I'm not sure there's ever been a President or a First
Lady who were better parents to teach by their example what it means to be
parents and grandparents. And I think this is a lesson in all these areas,
whether you're talking about drugs or alcohol or anything else. I know I
learned at the Department of Education ---- not every teacher is a parent, but
every parent is a teacher, a child's first teacher. So I think we have a
special blessing that this President and this First Lady are as splendid
parents, very splendid teachers, as well - if you'll allow me, Mr. President.
The President. These things are important, and you have to find the balance,
I mean, in the Presidency or in the responsibility as an Attorney General. And
now we don't want to be disrespectful of people's right to differ and people's
right, as I say - a freedom of expression. But I know, I am absolutely
certain, that family values and community faith -- where those abound, the
problems that we're talking about over in that school, or fighting narcotics,
the fight is easier and the problem less big.
No one's immune. You mentioned the kid of yours, driving along with the
pressure. Who know's who's going to succumb, no matter how strong their faith.
And this is what -- I mean, everybody's waxing philosophical here, but when you
see kids born into this world with really one-part family with very little love
and very little hope --- I mean, it's tough for a child. Then off in the school
system, and it's very, very tough. I'm not suggesting that it's easy and that
everybody that is not blessed with the faith of your community should
automatically be perfect. But somehow, we have got to find ways to strengthen
the American concept of family and faith. And it can't be legislated. Once we
start legislating, there's a threat to you in that kind of thing, threat to your
kind of community. But somehow we've got to find ways to point out our nation's
historic reliance on these things.
Did I interrupt? You were going to say something.
Amish leader. No.
The President. No? Anybody else?
Amish leader. I think perhaps the public should be urged, as well as
ourselves, to probably get back to the Bible.
Amish leader. I'm about worn out. I'm 90 years old. But I thank you for
coming to Pennsylvania, Lancaster County. The President visits Lancaster County
-- I thank you.
The President. Don't sound worn out at all.
Mennonite leader. He can't understand much.
The President. Really? That's loud and clear. There's something about the
Presidency -- leave out the fact that George Bush is President -- that when you
go around in that big automobile and you see people who may vote for you or
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may have not voted for you turning out to salute the Presidency, it is a very
emotional experience, and it's a wonderful thing. I remember as a young guy,
rushing out to see Presidents of another party. It has nothing to do with
party. It has to do with the respect for the institution or an emotional
commitment to the insitution of the Presidency.
So, when we see those kids and those signs --- we were talking about that
coming over with the Senator and the Governor and the Secretary and John Sununu
-- it's very emotional. You almost get tears in your eyes. But it always has
to be that. It always has to be --- we fight in these elections and when we come
together as a country. And as you mentioned coming here, sir - but it's a
great pleasure for us to be here.
Amish leader. That's my father.
The President. Is that your dad? Ninety years old. Well, my mother is 87.
She's going pretty strong, not quite as strong, as you are, though.
Mennonite leader. I think the fact --- going across the U.S. - that you're
against drugs will help a lot. Just that fact. We just hope the people will
stand to you. Years ago, Israel had a good King Solomon - the Lord spoke to
the people: "My people that are called by my name, humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and confess - and turn away from their sins, them I will hear
from in Heaven and heal their name." I think a great responsibility is in the
families to help you along in your wonderful work.
The President. You know, I'll share with you something. We're getting
philosophical near the end of our visit here. But Barbara and I went to China
as your emissary ----- not ambassador then, because we didn't have, as you
remember, full relations with China. And we went there in 1974, and then I was
there in '75. And we had wondered about the family in China -- Communist
country, totalitarian --- and the common perception was that there had been an
erosion of the strength of family. We knew that there had been a banning --
almost entire banning on practicing and teaching Christianity. That was a
given. But I wondered more fundamentally about family.
Then we got there. And then you'd see on their festival days -- you'd see
the granddad and the grandson and the sons and daughters all together ---------- strong.
And finally, when they dared talk to you --- and they didn't do much then because
this was right after the Cultural Revolution -- they kept separating out from
Westerners but when you did, when you'd get a little glimpse of it through
sports or through somebody -- my language teacher -- it was family. My son is
sick; we care about that. My husband is in the hospital. I mean, it was a
family thing.
And we'd go to a little church service there. Indeed, our daughter was
christened in a church service where there was maybe 10 or 12 Westerners and 5
or 6 faithful Chinese who were permitted in what used to be the YMCA to have
this Sunday service, mainly for diplomats, you see. Now, that was in 1975 that
she was christened there. In 1989 I went back there as President of the United
States. The church had moved even. Now it was in what they call ahutongs, an
alley. But it moved into an even bigger building. There was close to 1,000
people in it. The choir had vestments. They were able to have hymn books. And
the Bible was read from. And the message that I got from all of this is not
that there's freedom of worship in China yet -- there's not - but that it is
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moving. The family has never been weakened in China; it's always been strong.
A totalitarian state can't stamp that out, and that faith can't be crushed by a
state doctrine. It can't be crushed by it.
And you're beginning to see more expressions of worship there. And I am
absolutely convinced it's going to continue. And you see it in the Soviet
Union.
So, what molds you together in the community, your family and your faith, is
something that transcends -- my point is: It transcends liberal-conservative,
Republican-Democrat, American-Soviet. I mean, it is there, and it is strong.
And maybe it's what you said, sir: We've got to keep talking about values, and
hopefully, that will help the enforcement end and the education end and the
interdiction and all these kinds of things that we have to continue to do on the
drug fight.
But that China thing - every family has experienced something that sticks in
their hearts. And this one is something that -- I tell you, when I got up to
speak there, I was all choked up. They welcomed me back, and they said, How is
our sister, Dorothy, who had been -- that's our daughter who was baptized in
that faith. And it was a great lesson for me: the strength of faith. Somehow
it just keeps coming up.
Amish leader. We appreciate that feeling for our leader of the country.
The President. Well, thank you all.
The Attorney General. Mr. President, my fellow Pennsylvanians and I have a
sentiment that I think they would permit me to share with you during your visit.
Astan un freund in Pennsylvania.
The President. I understand that. I studied German I, II in school. But
"You have a friend in Pennsylvania." [Laughter]
Amish leader. A lot of friends in Pennsylvania.
The President. Thank you all for taking the time.
Mennonite leader. Say "hello" to the Fletcher family. They came -- my
parents -- one that's the head of the shuttle.
The President. Oh, Jim Fletcher.
Amish leader. Make a greeting to Mrs. Bush.
The President. Well, she is working hard, and she's into - works a lot with
Secretary on literacy. Learned a lot from him, and now she is continuing her
interest in literacy because, again, it gets down to how you appreciate these
things. When you can't read, it's pretty hard to --
Mennonite leader. We want to appreciate our government more than we ever did
because of your interest.
The President. Well, we want to give you something to be proud of. We want
to set examples where we can. We've talked about some of the problem areas,
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25 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 398
but we're living in tough fiscal times and all of that. I think we're in
optimistic times in terms of peace. If we can keep ourselves vigilant, I think
we have a good chance now, with the changes in the Pacific, but in the Soviet
Union - that if we find a way to move properly, I think we could ensure the kid
you were talking about and the other seven a more peaceful future. And that, of
course, a President has to be thinking about.
Mennonite leader. God bless you, those in the family. The family that prays
together stays together.
The President. That's right.
Mennonite leader. We want to keep that theme, "In God We Trust," which is
stamped on our money.
The President. It's staying there. Nobody can knock that off. And I very
openly advocated the fact of prayer in the schools. And it's got to be
voluntary 50 some minority kid doesn't feel discriminated against. It's got
to be obviously nondictated by the state. But I am not going to change my mind
about it. I'm absolutely convinced that it is right. It drives political
opponents right up the wall. They just don't understand it. But I feel
strongly about it. Each of speech. Thank you all.
Note: The President spoke at 10 a.m. in the meeting room at Penn Johns
Elementary School. In his opening remarks, he referred to Attorney General
Richard L. Thornburgh.
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3RD STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
Copyright (c) 1990 The British Broadcasting Corporation;
Summary of World Broadcasts
January 19, 1990, Friday
SECTION: Part 2 Eastern Europe; B. INTERNAL AFFAIRS; ROMANIA
PAGE: EE/0666/B/ 1
LENGTH: 247 words
HEADLINE: REPORTS ON ETHNIC MINORITIES;
Pastor Laszlo Tokes on future of minorities
SOURCE: Excerpt from Vienna report on ''exclusive'' interview
Austrian TV 2100 gmt 16 Jan 90
BODY:
[55]
Concerning his own future, Laszlo Toekes states
[Toekes recording] I have told the new government in Bucharest that I do not
want to become a professional politician. First of all, I am a minister of God.
However, if a situation should arise in which I am really needed in politics, I
will do what I can. There is no contradiction between our belief and politics.
A5 a matter of fact, politics is everywhere in life. In any case, there is
enough work. Thus, I could stand as a candidate for parliament which has to be
newly elected, or I could participate in drafting the new minority laws. It
would be possible for me to help develop the minorities at the local level. Many
former members of the old apparatus are still in office at the local level and
are against the reconciliation between the Romanians and the minorities.
As far as the future of the minorities is concerned, I think that they should
stay in the country. A joint future of Romanians and Hungarians has become
possible now. We must jointly build the new society of our country. There were
hostilities and animosities between Romanians and Hungarians, which can be
traced back to the past. The Ceausescu regime fanned distrust according to the
principle Divide and rule. Thus, a solution to the minority problem has become
so difficult. However, this problem must be solved first and as soon as
possible. This can be the key of the Romanian democracy and of its development
in the future.
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