FIRING LINE: FERDINAND MARCOS (TV)
Summary
One in this talk/interview series hosted by William F. Buckley, Jr. In this special episode, Buckley visits the home of Filipino president Ferdinand Marcos on the outskirts of Manila. After an outdoor introduction and summary of the political situation in the Philippines, Buckley moves indoors and interviews Marcos at the large desk in the president's office. Buckley begins the interview by mentioning that Marcos lives with his wife Imelda; although the first lady's official title is governor of Manila, Buckley refers to her as the "de facto Vice President." He then asks Marcos whether his recent reevaluation of Filipino foreign policy came about because of the United States' failure in South Vietnam. Marcos replies that many factors contributed to his desire to change key elements of his foreign-policy plans; he talks at length about the need for the people of the Philippines to find their own culture and national identity. His ultimate goal, he declares, is to help the Filipino people rediscover their Asian roots. Buckley then asks Marcos whether his foreign-policy reasoning would be affected if the United States were to abrogate its defense treaty with Taiwan, and Marcos confesses that it probably would be. The remainder of the discussion between Buckley and Marcos concerns Marcos's outspoken admiration for Chairman Mao Tse-tung of China. Buckley asks Marcos to explain his declaration in Time magazine that Chairman Mao is the political figure whom he most admires in history. Marcos explains to Buckley that he does not agree with Mao's philosophies or methods of staying in power, but he respects Mao's ability to unite so many people with disparate ideas. Buckley then asks Marcos whether he believes that all means of bringing about unification are acceptable. Marcos says that he feels that authority "must be utilized by a government to attain certain noble objectives, but that authority must be circumscribed." Buckley steps in to debate Marcos on this point. "Mao's authority certainly wasn't circumscribed," he counters. Finally, Marcos addresses claims that he has tried to silence his detractors.
(This program contains minor technical problems. This represents the best copy of this program currently available to the Museum.)
(Network affiliation varies; this program was also syndicated from 1966 to 1971 and from 1975 to 1977.)
Cataloging of this program was made possible by Mr. and Mrs. Theodore R. Stanley.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: November 25, 1977
- RUNNING TIME: 0:55:40
- COLOR/B&W: B&W copy of a color telecast.
- CATALOG ID: T:61856
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Philippines - Officials - Talk/Interviews; Philippines - Politics and government; Asian American Pacific Islanders Collection
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-1999
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Warren Steibel … Producer, Director
- Paul Sweeney … Associate Producer
- Robin Wu … Researcher
- William F. Buckley, Jr. … Host
- Ferdinand Marcos … Guest
- Imelda Marcos
- Mao Tse-Tung (See also: Mao Zedong)