SEASON OF THE FIELD TRIP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000100260014-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 21, 2010
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: May 14, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

V
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/21: CIA-RDP90-00552 R000100260014-9
k ? , - ii NEW YORK TIMES
loP Wit 14 May, 1985
Season
Of the
Field Trip
By MARTIN TOLCHIN
Spe+v to The New York Times
WASHINGTON, May 13 - They de-
,scend upon the capital each spring,
hundreds of thousands of high school
students, emerging from late-night
plane rides and two- and three-day
bus rides to view the nation's monu-
ments and the workings of govern-
ment.
The United States Capitol Guide
Service estimates that 500,000 stu-
i. dents, including a smattering from'
junior high and elementary schools:,
tour that building between -mid-
March and early June. Many are
members of high school bands, who
peform in their satin finery on the
1 Capitol steps, behind high-stepping
baton-twirlers who appear oblivious
to soaring temperatures, sudden rain-
storms and audiences of passers-by.
For most of the students the trip is
a highlight of their senior year, fi-
nanced by money scraped together
from raffles and bake sales. The
ritual includes a meeting with a
member of the House or Senate for a
mini-civics lesson. _ I
Members of Congress seize the op-
portunity to establish personal con-
tact with the students, many of whom
will be of voting age by 1986. This
morning, separate clusters of stu-
dents were addressed by Representa-
tives Jim Bates, a California Demo- ,
crat in his third year in Congress, and
William S. Broomfield, a Michigan
R Republican serving his 29th Year on
Capitol Hill.
There was a similarity in the ques-
tions raised by both groups and in the
responses'by the Congressmen. The
students asked about the nuts and
bolts of how Congress worked and
about such issues as the budget defi-
cit, the nuclear freeze and Nicaragua.
Both Congressmen stressed the need
for compromise.'
Mr. Bates met with 35 students
who had raised $18,000 for a four-day
trip to Washington. The students,
members of the school choir, wore.
tuxedos and formal gowns when they
performed on the Capitol steps Satur-
day and won second prize in an inter-
national competition. ,
This morning, in blue jeans and
souvenir polo shirts and caps, they
met their Congressman under a huge
maple tree on the Capitol lawn. They
had arrived in town after Congress
had adjourned and' were leaving
shortly after both Houses convened.
"It's too bad we couldn't see our
Government in action," said Eileen
Moss, the choir. director. '
"That may be a blessing in dis-
guise," Mr. Bates said in jest.
Mr. Bates says he meets with 50
such groups each spring. He began
with a basic civics lesson concerning
the two houses of Congress, compar-
ing the 47-member California delega-
tion to the three members from Dela-
ware.
How had he trained for Congress?
He went to night school for eight
years to earn his undergraduate de-
gree, he said. Did he still enjoy"his
work? "I'm enjoying it more now that
I've decided not to trim my sails to re-
spond to temporary popular opinion,"
he said.
Why was the balanced budget
enRepubli always
,The Rep r cans feel very bad about
? `
it, but the Democrats feel that with
the spending we have, it's very diffi-
cult to get a balanced budget," Mr.
Broomfield said.
Were the Japanese "really going.to
do something about this imbalance in
trade"?
They better get the message,"
Mr. Broomfield said. "Unless there's
a change in attitude, restrictive lan-
guage will be put in."
What will happen to Social Security
benefits? "While the Senate put a
freeze on Social Security benefits,
I'm not sure the House is going to go,
that route," Mr. Broomfield replied.
"I'm sure there'll be some what adjust-
ments, ments, some changes in
President recommended."
?'That's the art of compromise," he
added.
What were the major issues he
faced? asked a young man wearing a
white "Wash, D.C." cap. > .
"The big issues of our times are'
,how to fairly tax people and the kind
of national defense we should have,"
.
Mr. Bates said..
dark skirt And
blouse asked about covert aid to the
"I'm sed to covert aid " Mr.
Rates replied. ' it is wron
moral] ethically and militarily.
1
th1 the C.I.A. is out of control. cn,
country in the work has a goverp -
ment If we--wars to go against a gov
ernment. we should declare war.
A Plea for Involvement
The Congressman ended with a
plea for involvement in government.
"It's not as good as you want it to be,
but it's not as bad as it might be, ei-
ther," Mr. Bates said.
"It's all compromise," he added.
A few moments later, Mr. Broom-
field met with a group of honor stu-
dents on the Capitol steps. It was his
second student group-of the day..
How did a Congressman get on-a
committee? "It's just like conducting
a campaign," said Mr. Broomfield,
the ranking Republican on the For-
eign Affairs committee...
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