Collection:LPB

Genre: Interview

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1996

Duration: 00:24:52

Subjects: Johnston, J. Bennett (John Bennett), 1932- | SENATORS | Politics | Government | United States. Congress. Senate | Term limits (Public office) | Space Shuttle Program (U.S.) | Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994 | Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006 | Carter, Jimmy, 1924- | Reagan, Ronald | Bush, George, 1924- | Clinton, Bill, 1946-

Contributors:

• Weill, Gus Host
• Fowler, Ken Producer
• Johnston, J. Bennett Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana Legends” from 1996 features the second part of an interview with Senator J. Bennett Johnston conducted by Gus Weill. Johnston, a native of Shreveport, served as a United States Senator from 1972-1997. He discusses: his first impressions of Washington when he arrived in 1972; how long it takes a Senator to become comfortable in making policy; his opinion on term limits; his role as the Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee; the space program’s impact on Louisiana; his impressions of Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton; the public’s perception of waste in government; and the positive attributes of Louisiana.