Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana, Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1980-04-04

Duration: 00:28:47

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Journalists | Politics | Elections, 1980 | United States presidential election, 1980 | Political campaigns | Democratic Party | Republican Party | Kennedy, Edward M. (Edward Moore), 1932-2009 | Reagan, Ronald | Edwards, Edwin W. | Carter, Jimmy, 1924- | Political endorsements | Treen, David C., 1928-2009 | BATON ROUGE PRESS CLUB | Freeman, Robert L., 1934- | Louisiana. Office of the Lieutenant Governor | Louisiana. Constitution (1974)

Contributors:

• George, Beth Host
• Irving, John Photographer
• Mundinger, Lewis Photographer
• Fourrier, Clay Photographer
• Blome, Ron Reporter
• Blome, Ron Editor
• Gates, Bob Producer
• George, Beth Producer
• Fuglaar, Bill Director
• Treen, Dave Speaker
• Freeman, Bobby Speaker
• Courtney, Bob Panelist
• Hill, John Panelist
• Buchanan, Don Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from April 4, 1980, features Beth George leading a panel discussion with three capitol reporters: Bob Courtney of WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge; Don Buchanan of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate and State Times; and John Hill of Gannett News Service. They discuss the April 5th Louisiana presidential primary, including: the Democratic presidential candidates not visiting the state; a phone interview with Senator Ted Kennedy conducted by the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate and State Times; Ronald Reagan’s campaign stops in Louisiana; Buchanan’s opportunity to travel the campaign trail with Reagan in Wisconsin; Reagan’s connection to the Louisiana Republican Party since the 1960s;  former Governor Edwin Edwards endorsing President Jimmy Carter; Governor Dave Treen’s carefully worded introduction at the Reagan campaign stop in Baton Rouge; the possibility that Treen could be a vice presidential candidate; and the public’s confusion over the new primary.  They also discussed Lieutenant Governor Bobby Freeman’s recent speech at the Baton Rouge Press Club, where he said that he would act as Governor when Treen is out of the state, as well as the problem with the lack of constitutional duties given to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in the 1974 Louisiana Constitution. This discussion was preceded by footage of Governor Treen’s speech introducing Ronald Reagan at his Baton Rouge campaign stop and Lieutenant Governor Freeman’s speech at the Baton Rouge Press Club.