"Richard Clarke and Jack Valenti"

As a young, junior executive at CBS in the late sixties, the FCC promulgated the Prime Time Access, Financial Interest, and Syndication Rulings. I was assigned by my boss, (Ralph Baruch) to be our representative to the corporate legal department to assist them in fighting the Fin/Syn aspects of the rules.

I was employed by CBS, and believed that there were reasons to truthfully attack the rules, which I did. I never lied about anything, and had I been under "oath" I would have said the same thing.

I had the pleasure of working with Jack Valenti when I returned to Columbia Pictures in 1970, until my departure in 1980. I resumed the association when I joined MGM/UA in 1986 until the early 90's. I loved Jack, and his ability to do his job effectively, while dealing with the Tigers of our industry...The Studio Chiefs.

There are a plethora of reasons for this, but following my departure from CBS, I was very outspoken in my desire to have the Fin/Syn rules retained. I spent many hours discussing these issues with Jack, and he was a terrific spokesperson for the Industry.

This is what Valenti said almost 14 years ago regarding the issue while he worked for the Studios, and not the Networks.

"Unless there are some safeguards installed which prevent an abuse of network power," Mr. Valenti told the Federal Communications Commission on Dec. 14, 1990, "they will do anything and everything permissible to intimidate producers and force them to the networks' will. They did it before. They will do it again."

He turned out to be correct, and that the vast majority of the programs that air on the Networks are owned by the networks, Did Jack resign from his position at the MPEAA in outrage out of what had happened? No he didn't Should he have resigned out of moral outrage about how things turned out? No he shouldn't have.

Jack had been serving the Studios to the best of his abilities, and in my view he is a moral and ethical person. Richard Clark appears to be a moral and ethical person as well. All of the administrations attempts to vilify him are very sad indeed.

When Clarke was serving the administration he was obligated to support their position as best he could, as it was my obligation to serve CBS, and Jacks obligation to serve the MPAA as well. Not to lie about it, but rather to do the best you can, but WITHOUT LYING.

It is sad that a public servant, Richard Clarke is not able to have his say, right of wrong without incurring the fury of the White House, The Senate Majority Leader and so many others. Whatever became of free speech? If Clarke is wrong, the public will decide on the issues. Clarke is "a little guy" and should not be subjected to the angry responses of the administration. I would think that the President is big enough to take care of himself.

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