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Insurance Insolvencies
Sen. Metzenbaum, known for his contentiousness on the floor of the Senate, addressed a luncheon audience at the National Press Club. He discussed the recent spate of financial crises in the insurance industry, such as the financial collapse of Executive Life Insurance company, which has left hundreds of thousands of policy holders in California and New York unsure of the state of their insurance coverage. In addition, the state of Alaska continued to invest in Executive Life during the final year before the insurance company's collapse, which has left thousands of state workers in Alaska…
Type: Media
Political Situation in Iran
Alireza Jafarzadeh spoke to the National Press Club on political issues in Iran and the Middle East. He is a spokesman for the People's Mojahedin of Iran, also known as the National Liberation Army, an opposition group to the current Iranian administration. The People's Mojahedin are dedicated to "democratic Islam," and train with tanks and equipment supplied by Iraq. Mr. Jafarzadeh criticized the "moderate" reforms by the administration in Iran, saying internal oppression and international terrorism continue to be practiced by the Iranian government. He said the Iran had announced in…
Type: Media
AIDS Research in 1991
Dr. Gottlieb, the supervising physician of the first five patients diagnosed with acquired immune deficiency syndrome in the early 1980's, discussed the status of AIDS research in 1991. To date, over 150,000 have died from infections associated with the virus, while over one million Americans have tested positive for the HIV virus and 40,000 to 50,000 Americans become newly infected each year. The U.S. government spent over three billion dollars on AIDS in 1991, and the figure is expected to grow. Dr. Gottlieb discussed the first cases of AIDS in 1981, the spread of the epidemic, and stated a…
Type: Media
Free Speech on Campus
Mr. Schmidt, president of Yale University, spoke on issues of concern on college campuses at the National Press Club. A former clerk to Chief Justice Warren, Mr. Schmidt briefly mentioned the current debate over the use of government research funds by universities and colleges, and went on to discuss free speech and "political correctness" on campuses. He said schools of higher education in America are in disarray, due to a loss of confidence in what a university is. He said the clear values a university ought to stand for are becoming clouded by issues of freedom and conformity. Given the…
Type: Media
Gerald R. Ford Journalism Awards
Former President Gerald Ford spoke before the National Press Club as a representative of the Ford Foundation to award two members of the Washington news media for excellence in reporting. After the awards ceremony, during which the two winners gave brief acceptance statements, President Ford spoke on the activities of Congress in 1991. President Ford characterized the House of Representatives as being an "incumbent's House" rather than the "people's House," due to gerrymandering, PACs and congressional perks. However, he said Congress was improving since 1989 in concentrating on its own…
Type: Media
A Publisher's Perspective
Mr. Maxwell, British publishing magnate and owner of the New York Daily News, spoke on his perspective of the newspaper magazine publishing industry. He has long been an opponent of trade unions, and successfully defeated the New York newspaper trade unions to save the Daily News. In his remarks, Mr. Maxwell discussed current affairs, including events in the Soviet Union. He predicted Soviet President Gorbachev would offer the United States a promise to prevent armaments sales to Middle Eastern countries in return for aid and favorable consideration in the "group of seven" economic talks in…
Type: Media
Peace Negotiations in Cyprus
President Vassilou, president of Cyprus, spoke on the reunification of Cyprus at a luncheon of the National Press Club. Cyprus, separated into Greek and Turkish sectors since a Turkish invasion was launched in 1974 to protect Turks on Cyprus from the Greek government, has been seeking diplomatic means to end the division. President Vassilou expressed optimism that a peaceful solution to the hostilities between Greeks and Turks on Cyprus could be found, and stressed the social and economic benefits of a quick solution to the crisis. He blamed the breakdown of negotiations for peace on the…
Type: Media
Author's Rap Session
Ms. Kelley was the guest at the National Press Club's Authors' Rap Session, one of the final stops on her publicity tour for her book, Nancy Reagan: The Unauthorized Biography. The scathing account of Nancy Reagan's life, which mentions drug use by the Reagans in California and a long-standing affair between Frank Sinatra and Nancy Reagan among other scandals, was a best-seller during the spring of 1991, and was featured in a front page article in the New York Times upon its release. Ms. Kelley described the book as being the story of how Nancy Reagan manipulated her husband and ran the White…
Type: Media
Human Rights in India
Dr. Aulakh, a research scientist in the field of DNA, spoke at the National Press Club on the discrimination against Sikhs in India. Dr. Aulakh is president of the Council of Khalistan, a part of India formerly known as Punjab whose population is made up mainly of Sikhs. Khalistan seeks independence from India and the Indian government policies that affect its population. Dr. Aulakh described the history of the Sikhs, who had been recognized as a sovereign nation before the British conquest in the 19th century. He said the Sikhs joined the Hindus upon Indian independence in 1947 with the…
Type: Media
George McGovern's Views
George McGovern talked about the current state of American politics and the Democratic Party. In doing so, he announced he would not seek the 1992 Democratic presidential nomination, due to personal and political reasons. He stated he could best advance his political agenda without the distraction of personal ambition. Mr. McGovern called for a new agenda of issues to be addressed during the 1992 presidential elections besides the ACLU, Willie Horton, and the pledge of allegiance. He said U.S. economic policies should be reexamined in the face of reduced defense spending and the gaping…
Type: Media