PRIMETIME LIVE {WHITEWATER SCANDAL; ROBERT URICH} (TV)

Summary

One in this news magazine series co-anchored by Sam Donaldson and Diane Sawyer. This program covers the Whitewater scandal, the dangers of forgeries, teaching toddlers to swim, and Robert Urich's battle with cancer. In the first segment, Sawyer talks with recently convicted Susan McDougal, who faces two years in jail unless she answers questions about President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton's involvement in the Whitewater development project. McDougal comments on several topics, while her attorney advises her not to answer certain questions: the temptation to sacrifice her morals to avoid jail; the prosecutor's method of twisting her words; her relationship to her former husband and to the Clintons; the original concept of the Whitewater project and the collapse of the Savings and Loan; the destruction of her marriage; the $300,000 loan in her name for Whitewater development; her confusion about why the Clintons do not just tell the whole story; and how Hillary Clinton came to represent the bank that the McDougals owned. Included are photos and clips of the Clintons and McDougals before the Clinton presidency. In the second segment, Donaldson investigates the common forgery of false documents, and the criminals who created fake identities to gain job opportunities. One man earned a living by posing as a flight pilot, lawyer, FBI agent, and doctor; he now works for law enforcement agencies to combat fraud, and explains how easily one can alter one's identity and records. Two producers try to bluff their way into Georgetown and American University to test the theory that computers make such forgeries easy; they receive three acceptances, but the Georgetown admissions office discovers that one applicant is a fraud. Donaldson speaks with the schools' admissions officers about ways they try to catch fraudulent applications. In the third segment, correspondent Sylvia Chase talks with a swim instructor who reduces the risk of accidental drowning by teaching toddlers to float on their backs. Parents of these children explain how this skill saved their kids' lives. In the fourth segment, Sawyer talks with actor Robert Urich about his battle against cancer. Urich sometimes holds back tears while discussing the following topics, among others: his discovery of the lump in his groin; his reaction to the bad news; his hope to exhibit in real life the courage he has displayed on-screen; cancer treatment and its impact on his career and lifestyle; and encouraging cards from long-time fans. This segment includes clips of Urich in various television shows. As the program concludes, Sawyer promotes an hour-long "PrimeTime Live" special about Sam Donaldson's and Judd Rose's battles with cancer. Includes commercials, promos, and public service announcements. This program is closed-captioned.

Cataloging of this program was made possible by The Marc Haas and Helen Holtze Haas Foundation, 1997.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: September 4, 1996 10:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:59:57
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:45824
• GENRE: Education/Information
• SUBJECT HEADING: Education/Information; News; Whitewater affair; Actors
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1989-2012
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - "Bogus" (feature film)
  • TV - Commercials - "Fly Away Home" (feature film)
  • TV - Commercials - "The Spitfire Grill" (feature film)
  • TV - Commercials - Burlington Coat Factory clothing stores
  • TV - Commercials - Clorox bleach
  • TV - Commercials - Discover credit cards
  • TV - Commercials - Duracell batteries
  • TV - Commercials - I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spread
  • TV - Commercials - Jeep Cherokee vehicles
  • TV - Commercials - K-Mart department store
  • TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Raisin Bran cereal/Baskin Robins ice cream
  • TV - Commercials - L'Oreal Plenitude Revitalift anti-wrinkle cream
  • TV - Commercials - Mastercard credit cards
  • TV - Commercials - Maxwell House instant cappuccino
  • TV - Commercials - Pizza Hut food delivery
  • TV - Commercials - Radio Shack electronic stores/satellite dishes
  • TV - Commercials - Serta mattresses
  • TV - Commercials - United States Postal Service Priority Mail service
  • TV - Commercials - Visa Gold credit cards
  • TV - PSA - Canine Companions for Independence
  • TV - PSA - Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children
  • TV - Promos - "20/20"
  • TV - Promos - "High Incident"
  • TV - Promos - "Relativity"
  • TV - Promos - "Spin City"
  • TV - Promos - "The 1996 Emmy Awards"
  • TV - Promos - "Townies"

CREDITS

• Sheila Hershow … Producer, "Identity Crisis"
• David Shapinsky … Producer, "Identity Crisis"
• Shelley Ross … Producer, "The Toughest Test"
• Severn Sandt … Producer, "The Toughest Test"
• Diane Saywer … Anchor, Reporter
• Sam Donaldson … Anchor, Reporter
• Sylvia Chase … Reporter
• Susan McDougal … Guest
• Robert Urich … Guest
• Bill Clinton
• Hillary Rodham Clinton