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. On the floor of the convention center at the 1980 Democratic National Convention. Features footage of Rostenkowski on the speakers' podium and outside the convention hall. He comments on how well the convention has gone. He goes on to discuss making compromises between competing factions of the Democratic Party when setting the Party's platform. Later in the video, back inside the convention hall, President Jimmy Carter is giving a speech, presumably his nomination acceptance speech. After Carter's speech, the hall erupts into celebration (boisterous music, balloon drop, etc.).
00:00Copy video clip URL Tape begins with footage of Rostenkowski at the podium sitting next to Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill. The two are conversing with one another quite casually.
02:15Copy video clip URL O’Neill takes the podium and announces the next order of business in the nominating of Walter Mondale for Vice President.
03:07Copy video clip URL Cut to outside of Madison Square Garden, where the convention is being held. The camera operator gets a shot of a banner and the marquee at the Garden, which is displaying a welcome message for the DNC. The audio drops out for a little over ten seconds.
04:05Copy video clip URL Weinberg interviews Rostenkowski about his responsibilities as a coordinator at the convention. The two joke a little bit before beginning the interview. Weinberg also asks Rostenkowski about his thoughts on party unity after Ted Kennedy’s withdrawal from the race. “I’d say that there’s been an area of agreement that everybody is satisfied with, and I think the one thing that we tried to keep a balance on was unity when we leave New York City, and I think that we’ve accomplished that. I’m sure that Ted Kennedy will be an active supporter of President Carter. I hope that he will because I think that he’ll have the alternative just like I will, and I’m sure that there’ll be a team effort to try and re-elect the President.” When asked how he likes being in New York City, Rostenkowski states, “Well, it’s the Big Apple. I’m a Chicagoan and I certainly like Chicago a lot better.”
07:38Copy video clip URL One of the crew members asks Rostenkowski about the conflict that can come with the mechanics of the convention. Rostenkowski responds with a thoughtful answer and makes a point of emphasizing the themes of reason and compromise at democratic conventions.
09:15Copy video clip URL Weinberg and crew follow Rostenkowski back into Madison Square Garden and document his entrance until he enters the metal detectors, which the crew cannot pass through.
10:02Copy video clip URL Cut to footage of the NYPD mounted patrol outside of the convention. The crew picks up some more footage from around the convention as well. There is no audio on this part of the tape.
10:55Copy video clip URL Tape cuts to color bars for just a few seconds.
11:00Copy video clip URL Cut to Jimmy Carter’s nomination acceptance speech. The camera operator gets footage of Rostenkowski on the podium throughout the duration of the speech. This lasts for only a couple of minutes.
12:43Copy video clip URL Cut to Carter just as he finishes his speech. Shortly afterward, the crowd is bombarded by a slew of red, white, and blue balloons. The crew continues to grab footage of the crowd and Rostenkowski as he stands at the podium amidst the celebration.
19:55Copy video clip URL An unidentified speaker is in the process of thanking all of the Congressmen involved in the smooth operation of the convention. The crew captures Rostenkowski’s reaction when his name is announced.
21:04Copy video clip URL Cut to footage of Weinberg and crew. There is no audio at this point.
21:44Copy video clip URL Tape ends.
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