December 9, 1997

December 2, 1997 -- Attorney General Reno Weighs In
After weeks of speculation and heated debate, the Attorney General announced that she was taking the advice of her staff, not FBI Director Louis Freeh, and not appointing an Independent Counsel to investigate fund-raising calls made by President Clinton and Vice President Gore.

December 2, 1997 -- The Senate Reacts
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) discuss the Attorney General's decision and its fallout on their investigation.

October 30, 1997 -- Secretary Babbitt in the Hot Seat
Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt defended his department's decision to turn down a proposed Indian casino. Republicans allege that the administration's choice was shaped more by political donations from competing tribes than by policy.

October 29, 1997 -- The White House Response.
The White House's lawyers answered questions on the sudden appearance of the videotapes of President Clinton's fund-raisers and coffees.

October 23, 1997 -- A question of ignorance?
The White House Communications Agency testified today that they had not realized that recordings of coffees hosted at the White House should be turned over to investigators.

October 22, 1997 -- Caught on tape?
The Senate opened this week's hearings into Democratic campaign abuses by airing a series of taped fund-raisers released by the White House. Republicans say the tapes illustrate how closely President Clinton coordinated DNC and Clinton/Gore advertising campaigns. Democrats countered with tapes of events from the Reagan administration that they said illustrated similar practices by the GOP.

October 15, 1997 -- Extending the Investigation
Attorney General Janet Reno appeared before the House Judiciary Committee to answer questions concerning the Justice Department's investigation into possible illegal fund-raising by the Clinton administration. After a background report by Kwame Holman, Jim Lehrer discusses the independent counsel law with Stuart Taylor of The American Lawyer. Then the NewsHour's regular panel of regional commentators give their take.

October 14, 1997 -- Extending the Investigation
The Attorney General Janet Reno announced today that she was extending the investigation into fund-raising calls made by President Clinton during the 1994 and 1996 elections. Ms. Reno said she needed more time to explore whether the calls violated election law. Jim Lehrer discusses the developments with Washington Post reporter Roberto Suro.

October 9, 1997 -- Angry Exchanges
The House finally began hearing testimony from witnesses looking into the work of DNC donor "Charlie" Yah Lin Trie. In the Senate, the committee began exploring the connection between the DNC and Ron Carey's run for the president of the Teamsters Union.

October 8, 1997 -- "No Regrets"
Former White House Chief of Staff Harold Ickes spent a stormy day before the committee saying that he was not sorry for the fund-raising done by the DNC and that nothing was done that was known to be illegal.

October 7, 1997 -- The Debate Continues...
Today, the Senate was unable to end debate on the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill. Jim Lehrer discusses the future of the proposal with the bill's sponsors, Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI); and opponents Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Don Nickles (R-OK).

October 7, 1997 -- Ickes Begins His Testimony
In a hearing marked by angry Republican charges of obstruction of justice by the White House, the former Chief of Staff to President Clinton, Harold Ickes, began his appearance before the committee.

October 6, 1997 -- Outside the Beltway
Following a background report on the latest from the Money Trail, the NewsHour gathers together a group of ordinary Americans from Denver to discuss the campaign finance scandal and the chances for reform.

October 2, 1997 -- The Lott Amendment
The NewsHour explores the possible policy and political ramifications of an amendment proposed by the Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) to ensure that all contributions are voluntary.

October 1, 1997 -- The Regional Take
The NewsHour's regular panel of regional commentators discuss what the best way to reform the campaign finance system.

September 30, 1997 -- Opposing Reform
Many groups have come out opposed to the campaign finance reform legislation known as McCain-Feingold. The NewsHour gets the opposition view from Laura Murphy, legislative director at the American Civil Liberties Union, and Randy Tate, executive director of the Christian Coalition.

September 29, 1997 -- Former Members Chime In...
The Senate continued its debate of the McCain-Feingold reform bill. Meanwhile, former Vice President Walter Mondale and former Senator Nany Kassebaum-Baker came down in favor of reform. Kwame Holman reports on t he day's debate and then Mr. Mondale and Ms. Kassebaum-Baker discuss reform efforts.

September 26, 1997 -- The Debate Begins
In a surprise move, Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) announced Thursday that the Senate would debate the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform proposal. The Senate began debate Friday and votes are expected to begin early next week. Kwame Holman reports and Sens. Durbin and Bennett debate.

September 25, 1997 -- The FEC Testifies
The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee heard today of the problems the FEC has enforcing the current campaign finance law. Kwame Holman reports.

September 24, 1997 -- The House Opens Its Hearings
The House today opened its long-awaited hearings into the campaign finance debacle by granting immunity for three witnesses. Meanwhile in the Senate, Fred Thompson (R-TN) continued to examine possible reforms. Kwame Holman reports on the day's events.

September 23, 1997 -- Senate Standstill
Because of an objection from Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), all the committees meeting in the Senate wee forced to cease their work. Sen. Daschle's maneuver was meant to force the Republican leadership to ensure that the Senate would debate the controversial McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform. Following a report by Kwame Holman, Senators Daschle and Nickles react.

September 22, 1997 -- Fundraising Questions
Attorney General Janet Reno's Justice Department is examining fund-raising calls made by President Clinton to see if a independent counsel needs to be appointed to investigate further. After a background report, Lloyd Cutler, former White House counsel in the Clinton and Carter administrations and Joseph DiGenova, former U.S. Attorney and independent counsel in the Clinton passport file investigation, provide their perspective to the recent events.

September 19, 1997 -- A Change in Focus
Florida businessman R. Warren Meddoff testified today about fund-raising done at a $1500-a-plate dinner in Miami while the Senate announced it would shift its focus to reform next week.

September 19, 1997 -- Political Wrap
The NewsHour's political pundits handicap the chances for campaign reform legislation to pass this fall.

September 18, 1997 -- Tamraz Testifies
Roger Tamraz, a Lebanese-American businessman, testified before the Senate's Governmental Affairs Committee today that he attempted to influence U.S. policy towards a Central Asian pipeline by donating $300,000 to the Democratic National Committee. He later spoke to President Clinton about the project, even though security officials wanted to deny him access to the White House. Kwame Holman recaps today's testimony.

September 18, 1997 -- Political Pipeline
Richard Tamraz, a Lebanese-American businessman, testified before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee that he donated $300,000 dollars to the Democratic National Committee to change U.S. policy towards plans to build a pipeline in Central Asia, but he is not the only one interested in bringing the oil out of the Caspian Sea region. Margaret Warner discusses the how geopolitics and oil money intersect with two experts.

September 17, 1997 -- Under the Influence?
The Senate finance hearings are focusing on major Democratic donor, Roger Tamraz. He met with President Clinton four times, despite the fact that members of the National Security Council refused to clear him due to past ethical violations. Kwame Holman reports.

September 16, 1997 -- White House Coffees
The senate again turned its attention to the work done by DNC fund-raiser John Huang as the committee opened this week of hearings. Kwame Holman reports.

September 11, 1997 -- Sandy Berger testifies
Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Advisor, testified before the committee today. He said that during the 1996 campaign there was no adequate screening of White House visitors done.

September 10, 1997 -- The DNC's legal chief
The Democratic National Committee's head legal counsel testified he believed the Vice President did nothing wrong when he made 85 fund-raising phone calls from his White House office. Kwame Holman reports.

September 9, 1997 -- Fowler in the Spotlight
Former Democratic National Committee co-chair spent the day before the committee answering questions about his work to get businessman Roger Tamraz into White House functions. Tamraz had been blacklisted by National Security Council staffers.

September 5, 1997 -- Gore's Deputy in the Hot Seat
The Vice President's Deputy Chief of Staff today testified that the event Gore attended at the Buddhist temple was not a fund-raiser, but instead served as a community event. Tom Bearden reports on David Strauss' day before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. Then Shields and Gigot discuss the Vice President's troubles.

September 4, 1997 -- The Hearings Return
Tom Bearden reports on the first day of hearings since the August break. Three immunized nuns from the Buddhist temple Al Gore visited in 1996 testified to laundering money from the temple to the campaign. Following Bearden's report, Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Robert Torricelli (D-NJ) debate the Vice President's role.

September 4, 1997 -- The Gore Investigation
Margaret Warner discusses the Justice Department's preliminary investigation into Vice President Gore with Ron Ostrow of the Los Angeles Times and then Senators Specter and Torricelli react.

August 1, 1997 -- Week in Review
Kwame Holman reviews the Senate's investigation into the actions of Democratic fund-raiser Charlie Yah Lin Trie.

August 1, 1997 -- Shields & Gigot
In addition to discussing the budget deal and the Weld nomination, the NewsHour's regular political commentators discuss the first month of Senator Thompson's hearings.

July 31, 1997 -- The Investigators
Two invesitgators, hired by the President's legal trust fund, told the committee they were instructed to examine the contributions delivered by Charlie Trie, but to leave Mr. Trie alone. Kwame Holman reports on the last hearing prior to the August break.

July 30, 1997 -- Trust Fund Questions
The Senate today examined the relationship between controversial Democratic fund-raiser Charlie Yah Lin Trie and the President's and First Lady's legal defense fund. Kwame Holman reports on the hearing.

July 29, 1997 -- The Charlie Trie Problem
The Senate opens its fourth week of hearings into campaign finance irregularities by focusing on the fund-raising done by Yah Lin "Charlie" Trie. Kwame Holman reports.

July 25, 1997 -- Week Three Comes to a Contentious Close
During a sometimes stormy session, the committee heard testimony from a lawyer for the Hong Kong businessman that contradicted statements made Thursday by former RNC chief Haley Barbour.

July 25, 1997 -- Shields & Gigot
The NewsHour's regular political commentators assess the week's hearings.

July 24, 1997 -- Haley's Comments
Did the Republican party violate campaign financing laws during recent elections? Former chairman of the GOP, Haley Barbour, defended his actions at Senate hearings Thursday.

July 24, 1997 -- Two Senators React
Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) debate today's testimony by former RNC head Haley Barbour and report on the state of the hearings.

July 23, 1997 -- Questioning the Republicans
The Senate investigation today examined the fund-raising done by the Republican National Committee. They examined the questionable practices surrounding the National Policy Forum and set the stage for Thursday's star witness, former RNC head Haley Barbour. The Committee also voted to grant immunity to five witnesses, over the objections of the Department of Justices.

July 21, 1997 -- Congressional Investigations, The Long View
The NewsHour's regular panel of historians, joined by former Senator Warren Rudman (R-NH), look at the nature of congressional investigations.

July 18, 1997 -- Hearings Wrap - Week Two
The NewsHour looks back at the past week of hearings. After Kwame Holman reports on the revelations from the past week, Margaret Warner discusses the state of the investigation with Marc Lacey of the Los Angeles Times and James Barnes of the National Journal.

July 18, 1997 -- Shields & Gigot
Mark Shields and Paul Gigot discuss the past week of hearings and their potential impact. They also examine the foiled coup to oust Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA).

July 17, 1997 -- The Wanderings of Huang
The Senate today examined the "suspicious" work of John Huang. They interviewed a secretary from an Arkansas- based accounting firm that served as a second office for the then-Commerce Department official.

July 16, 1997 -- The CIA Testifies
The Senate heard testimony from the CIA agent assigned to the Commerce Department today. The agent, John Dickerson, testifying behind a screen to protect his identity, told the committee that he had briefed John Huang on classified information regarding China.

July 15, 1997 -- Week Two Begins
Senator Fred Thompson kicked off the second week of testimony with former employees of the Indonesia-based Lippo Group. Kwame Holman reports.

July 11, 1997 -- Shields & Gigot
Our pundits spar over the campaign finance investigations that began this week in the Senate. Is the committee really addressing the issues or simply playing party politics?

July 10, 1997 -- Day Three
Former Democratic National Committee finance chief Richard Sullivan spent a second day before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee answering questions on possible money laundering and foreign fund-raising practices.

July 10, 1997 -- A Question of Immunity
Behind the scenes, the first week of the Senate's campaign finance investigation has been focused on a possible immunity deal for Democratic fund-raiser John Huang. Two former special prosecutors examine the wisdom of congressional immunity with Jim Lehrer.

July 9, 1997 -- The First Witness
The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee called its first witness in its investigation today. Richard Sullivan, former DNC finance official, said that John Huang had been hired after two calls from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Harold Ickes. Kwame Holman reports on Day Two.

July 8, 1997 -- Opening Statements
Senator Fred Thompson opened his committee's hearings into campaign finance irregularities saying he believed that the Chinese government had made a concerted effort to infiltrate the U.S. government. Listen to excerpts from today's opening statements.

July 8, 1997 -- Initial Maneuvers
On the first day of the Senate's investigation into campaign fund-raising practices, both parties made startling revelations. Chairman Fred Thompson (R-TN) said the committee had proof of an organized effort by the Chinese government to influence U.S. government. The ranking Democrat to John Glenn (D-OH) also stated that a possible immunity agreement had been reached with Democratic fund-raiser John Huang. Senators Glenn and Arlen Specter (R-PA) discuss the first day's events with Jim Lehrer.