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  [Rostenkowski raw #302]

  Chicago, Chicago Politics, Dan Rostenkowski, NHPRC, Politics, Video Makers Choice

  Raw footage from the 1981 documentary “Rostenkowski,” a portrait of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, a powerful figure in Chicago (and national) politics. This tape takes place on election day, 1980. Rostenkowski is interviewed in his office. Rostenkowski discusses his family’s history in politics. His grandfather and father were both politicians; his father was a Chicago alderman and served in the Illinois State legislature. He then discusses his own history in politics. He discusses how Mayor Richard J. Daley discouraged him from running for a U.S. House seat that was being vacated in his district. Rostenkowski tells how in order to win Daley’s blessing (and the nomination) he had to promise Daley that he would continue to service the Chicago Democratic Party even from Washington D.C. Rostenkowski touches briefly on the new roles that congress has taken on in his 22 years as a member, saying that congress now has revenue sharing deals in place with cities. In an especially progressive moment, Rostenkowski says that if the federal government really wants to conserve natural resources, they must invest in the cities in order to reduce suburban sprawl. He also says that this investment must bring young people who will make roots in the city’s old neighborhoods.

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  [Rostenkowski raw #303]

  Chicago, Chicago Politics, Dan Rostenkowski, NHPRC, Politics

  Raw footage from the 1981 documentary “Rostenkowski,” a portrait of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, a powerful figure in Chicago (and national) politics. The beginning of the tape seems to be a Channel 5 (Chicago’s NBC affiliate) news report about the coming of cable television. At about four and a half minutes, the screen goes to bars & tone. “Rostenkowski” starts at around six minutes. Election day, 1980. Rostenkowski is interviewed in his office. He discusses: public transportation; dealing with the late Mayor Richard J. Daley & President Lyndon B. Johnson, including a funny story of how Daley convinced Johnson to take federal money meant for an “L” line through Rostenkowski’s Northside neighborhood, and reallocate it to a project that put an “L” line through Daley’s Southside neighborhood; and the power that Illinois representatives hold in the U.S. House. Around twenty-one minutes, “Rostenkowski” ends, and is followed by what appears to be a made-for-TV movie starring Richard Chamberlain.

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  [Rostenkowski raw #304]

  Chicago, Chicago Politics, Dan Rostenkowski, NHPRC, Politics

  Raw footage from the 1981 documentary “Rostenkowski,” a portrait of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, a powerful figure in Chicago (and national) politics. Election day, 1980. Rostenkowski is interviewed in his office. He discusses: his role as Democratic Whip; how he gained power in the House; the similarities between inner city politics and politics in the U.S. South; the four most important committees in the House; his decision to come home every weekend; and his decision to raise his children in Chicago rather than Washington D.C.

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  [Rostenkowski raw #305]

  Chicago, Chicago Politics, Dan Rostenkowski, NHPRC, Politics

  Raw footage from the 1981 documentary “Rostenkowski,” a portrait of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, a powerful figure in Chicago (and national) politics. Election day, 1980. Rostenkowski is interviewed in his office. He shows us photographs of himself with Presidents Ford and Carter; he discusses his support for Richard M. Daley for State’s Attorney for Illinois; describes his friendship with Presidents Ford and Johnson (he says that history will conclude that President Johnson was one of the greatest presidents); he tells a funny anecdote about how excited he was to be seen on stage with Presidents Truman and Johnson; and discusses his billboard advertising campaign.

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  [Rostenkowski raw #306]

  Chicago, Chicago Politics, Dan Rostenkowski, NHPRC, Politics

  Raw footage from the 1981 documentary “Rostenkowski,” a portrait of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, a powerful figure in Chicago (and national) politics. Election day, 1980. Rostenkowski is interviewed in his office. Rostenkowski discusses how Congressmen are low-profile political figures in Chicago, and how Chicago’s increasing reliance on federal funds is changing and heightening the profile of Chicago Congressmen. He also discusses his political future, dodging the question of whether or not he’ll run for mayor of Chicago or attempt to become Speaker of the House of Representatives (saying everyone should want to become mayor or a congressman).

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  [Rostenkowski raw #307]

  Chicago, Chicago Politics, Dan Rostenkowski, NHPRC, Politics

  Raw footage from the 1981 documentary “Rostenkowski,” a portrait of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, a powerful figure in Chicago (and national) politics. Election day, 1980. B-roll footage. Includes interior and exterior shots of the field house in Chicago’s Pulaski Park; campaign signs around Rostenkowski’s district; exterior shots of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church; and exterior shots of the homes in Rostenkowski’s neighborhood.

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  [Election night 1980]

  Chicago, Chicago Politics, Dan Rostenkowski, NHPRC, Politics

  Election night 1980 news coverage taped off-air. Most of the coverage focuses on the Ronald Reagan’s apparent victory in the presidential election. Includes part of President Jimmy Carter’s concession speech. Part of the materials for the making of “Rostenkowski.”

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  [Rostenkowski raw #301]

  Chicago, Chicago Politics, Dan Rostenkowski, NHPRC, Politics

  Raw footage from the 1981 documentary “Rostenkowski,” a portrait of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, a powerful figure in Chicago (and national) politics. This tape takes place on election day, 1980. The tape opens with b-roll footage of billboards advertising that Rostenkowski is “Working for Chicago,” and that Rostenkowski means “Leadership for Chicago.” B-roll footage of the exterior of Rostenkowski’s Chicago office follows.