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How do you do? Ladies and gentlemen, I'm highly honored to have is my guest at this time the distinguished majority leader of the United States Senate. But beloved Mike Mansfield, no finer or a black man ever walked this Earth. And this gentleman who sits on my right.

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So, Senator Mansfield, I want to use it on a hot spot these days. I think the hottest question I can ask you as a starter is whether or not there's a great deal more arm twisting or less arm twisting or between the Kennedy administration and the Johnson administration.

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Well, George, as a matter of fact, there has been no arm twisting at all on the part of President Johnson. As you know, we both served with him in the Senate. You were the secretary of the majority, as you still are. I was his assistant and we both came to know him quite well.

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He does not exert the pressure, which the press has indicated he does so far. Both my arms are in very good shape, and I expect them to stay that way. He recognizes there is a line of demarcation between the Legislature and the executive branch of the government.

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He observes that line scrupulously, and we get along very well. All right, now, Senator, would you tell me how productive you think this session of the Congress is? I think that it has been extraordinarily productive. We've had a lot of cooperation among the Democrats. The chairmen of the committees have worked assiduously in bringing forth legislation.

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The Republicans have been most cooperative, and I think we've had the best 100 days in a good many years, if not decades. What do you consider this significant piece of legislation and thus far past? Well, there's the Aid Appalachia bill, which will take care of an 11 state region where help really is needed to, uh, give assistance to some of the people who live in portions of those states.

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The Gold Cover Act, the coffee implementation in the Senate, the Education Act applying to secondary and elementary schools. Those I think are the most important there are others are almost equal significance. But there's just too many to mention at this time. Mike, how do you feel about this Voting rights bill?

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Do you think that first we should pass one, and secondly, if you think we should? How long do you think it'll take? Yes, I think we should pass a voting rights bill based on the 15th Amendment of the Constitution. I think we will pass a voting rights bill.

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I hope it's a good, good bill which will put the 15th Amendment into operation as it should be. I think that will take. And I'm guessing this early in the game anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks. I'll know more about that after I have a chance to speak with the distinguished minority leader, Senator Dirksen, after we've carried on debate on debate for a few days, do you believe that there's any chance, as some people have speculated, that this Congress might be able to end its labors by the first of August or the middle of July?

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Let's say mid summer, I think there's an excellent chance. Uh, Senator, you're also a member of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate. Would you tell us briefly, What are your views with respect to how we're handling the problem of Vietnam? I think that President Johnson is handling it in the very best possible manner.

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You shouldn't ask me that question George, because you've been down at all the meetings which Johnson has called with the leadership. You are aware of his views and his desires. He would like to bring about a settlement which would ensure the integrity, the independence of South Vietnam.

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He has gone a long way in trying to bring about some degree of security to all of Southeast Asia in offering to help with other nations, not alone in the economic development of that part of the world. And I think that he is intensely interested in what happens out there and certainly on the basis of the number of conferences he's called us to attend.

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He has kept us abreast of events and has sought our advice and counsel and has tried to do the best he could, Thank you very much. Senator Mike Mansfield, Majority leader, The United States Senate. Well, Senator Mansfield, with respect to this voting rights bill, do you think that it's constitutional for us here in the Congress to try to eliminate, for example, poll taxes that may be existing and have been adopted by state legislatures?

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That matter has been discussed with the attorney general. He has some grave doubts whether or not he's correct. I do not know because I do not happen to be a lawyer. But I would take his word in preference to mine on a question affecting the constitutionality of a given factor in that same connection with respect to constitutionality.

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How do you feel about this so called reapportionment bill that Senator Dirksen has introduced, which would, in effect, notify the decision of the Supreme Court and give to the states an opportunity to have a referendum whereby this think that people could or could not vote to have at least one branch of their legislature based on something other than numbers of voters?

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Well, I think that there's a great deal of merit in the amendment proposed by Senator Dirksen. I have an idea that if it's brought to a vote in the A Senate, that very likely the required two thirds will be forthcoming. Whether that would be the case in the House is another matter, and even if it was the question then would be, would you be able to get three quarters of the states to agree?

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So I would say that while there's much of merit in what he proposes. That the road ahead is long and rocky. In the light of these are very difficult problems that we have ahead of us. How do you think that Medicare stacks up, and where would it be in terms of being considered in relation to these other bills?

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I would say that the prospects for passing the Medicare bill in the Senate this year are good. Last year, you will recall the Senate that did pass a health care bill. It is my understanding and that Chairman Byrd of Virginia, who is always most cooperative in holding hearings, intends to start briefing sessions with his committee on April the 26th.

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They will go on for two or three days, and then if the voting rights bill permits, they will. He will continue the hearings. If, of course, we come in early because of events which might develop, it may mean that the hearings on the Medicare bill will be postponed somewhat and thereby reached the Senate at a later date.

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I would, however, hope that sometime in June it would be possible to take up the Medicare bill in the Senate, and you have no doubt of its ultimate passage, do you? Based on previous records made in the Senate, I think that it's passages reasonably well assured Senator.

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There have been a number of columnists who have written and in their writings, indicated that the Congress is becoming subservient to the executive branch of the government that we just lay down and roll over every time Mr Johnson barks. Would you care to comment on that?

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And I certainly would. I would disagree 100% with those columnists because the members of the senator back here to represent their states. I know of no rubber stamps in the Senate. I know that there are differences on a number of occasions, but these differences are fought out, worked out and talked out.

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I would say that the senators, by and large, comprise a very independent thinking body of men and women and that the charge, the allegation that this is a rubber stamp Congress just has no substance. Whatever. Now, Senators, majority Leader, and you've held this position now for what, six years or five years?

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Uhh. Would you tell us a. Just the Bennett that we have remaining? What are some of the problems that the majority leader has. I happen to know him, but I'd like to hear having worked closely with you. But I'd like to hear you tell something about those problems.

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Well, the bigger the majority, the more difficult the job is because individuals or groups think they can go off and do something else than that. There always will be enough members on hand to take care of things. It doesn't work out that way. I'm delighted that we have so many Democrats in the Senate.

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But I think I must say on the basis of experience that when you have a 12 or three majority, you are in far better shape, organizationally speaking, and have a greater degree of cohesion. Then you do when you get the majority, which is a little bit too large.

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How do you manage to keep your patient, senator, When so many senators come to you and say Now, don't vote tomorrow because I've got to be gone and to make a speech. And every day some senator has to go. How do you How do you keep your patients?

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I only keep it on the outside, not on the inside. Thank you. very much. Senator Mike Mansfield, majority leader from Montana for these expressions. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for listening. And I hope you're listening again at the same time next week.