1 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:04,166 >> Andrew Gobeil: Today 2 00:00:04,166 --> 00:00:05,166 on "The Big Picture," 3 00:00:05,166 --> 00:00:06,166 from the Catawba Reservation 4 00:00:06,166 --> 00:00:07,300 to Shaw Air Force Base to the 5 00:00:07,300 --> 00:00:09,400 U.S. House of Representatives, 6 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:11,233 John Spratt has played a role 7 00:00:11,233 --> 00:00:12,366 in many of the events 8 00:00:12,366 --> 00:00:13,800 that have shaped South Carolina 9 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:15,866 over the past few years. 10 00:00:15,866 --> 00:00:16,866 We take a look 11 00:00:16,866 --> 00:00:19,800 at the congressman today. 12 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:21,166 Welcome to "The Big Picture." 13 00:00:21,166 --> 00:00:22,666 I'm Andrew Gobeil. 14 00:00:22,666 --> 00:00:23,900 One of the most powerful 15 00:00:23,900 --> 00:00:25,266 members of Congress controls 16 00:00:25,266 --> 00:00:26,600 billions of dollars 17 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:27,800 from his seat as chair 18 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:29,533 of the House Budget Committee. 19 00:00:29,533 --> 00:00:30,700 But when he returns home 20 00:00:30,700 --> 00:00:32,100 to South Carolina, 21 00:00:32,100 --> 00:00:33,666 this powerful politician, 22 00:00:33,666 --> 00:00:34,866 who follows in the footsteps 23 00:00:34,866 --> 00:00:36,300 of other powerful 24 00:00:36,300 --> 00:00:38,266 Palmetto State politicians, 25 00:00:38,266 --> 00:00:40,100 jumps in his old domestic sedan 26 00:00:40,100 --> 00:00:41,366 and sleeps in the same home 27 00:00:41,366 --> 00:00:42,833 in which he grew up. 28 00:00:42,833 --> 00:00:44,066 In this special edition 29 00:00:44,066 --> 00:00:45,066 of "The Big Picture," 30 00:00:45,066 --> 00:00:46,100 producer John Bullington 31 00:00:46,100 --> 00:00:47,100 takes a close look 32 00:00:47,100 --> 00:00:49,066 at United States Representative 33 00:00:49,066 --> 00:00:53,600 John Spratt. 34 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:54,466 >> Interestingly enough, 35 00:00:54,466 --> 00:00:55,800 our youngest child, 36 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:57,333 Catherine, is probably 37 00:00:57,333 --> 00:00:59,066 the most interested of all 38 00:00:59,066 --> 00:01:01,000 in politics. 39 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,733 When I first ran, she was 40 00:01:03,733 --> 00:01:05,600 just before entering 41 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:06,366 first grade. 42 00:01:06,366 --> 00:01:08,400 >> Jane Spratt: Mm-hmm. 43 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:10,000 were out back 44 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:11,166 in the magnolia tree, 45 00:01:11,166 --> 00:01:12,400 which was a favorite place 46 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:13,800 to sort of perch and talk. 47 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:18,466 And I ran out the back door, 48 00:01:18,466 --> 00:01:20,000 hopped in the car, 49 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,133 and sped out of the yard. 50 00:01:22,133 --> 00:01:24,166 And Catherine said, 51 00:01:24,166 --> 00:01:26,400 "What's Daddy doing?" 52 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,200 And Susan said, "Catherine, 53 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,166 Daddy is running for Congress." 54 00:01:31,166 --> 00:01:32,533 Well, that didn't mean anything 55 00:01:32,533 --> 00:01:33,533 to somebody who'd not been 56 00:01:33,533 --> 00:01:34,500 in first grade. 57 00:01:34,500 --> 00:01:35,466 She couldn't imagine her daddy 58 00:01:35,466 --> 00:01:36,733 "running" for anything. 59 00:01:36,733 --> 00:01:38,066 >> Jane Spratt: [laughs] 60 00:01:38,066 --> 00:01:39,033 >> John Spratt: So Susan 61 00:01:39,033 --> 00:01:39,966 explained it to her. 62 00:01:39,966 --> 00:01:41,633 She said, "Look, we're going 63 00:01:41,633 --> 00:01:43,066 to meet a lot of people, 64 00:01:43,066 --> 00:01:44,633 and then, one day, 65 00:01:44,633 --> 00:01:45,700 people will be asked to put 66 00:01:45,700 --> 00:01:47,966 a ballot, a piece of paper, 67 00:01:47,966 --> 00:01:50,666 with their choice in a box. 68 00:01:50,666 --> 00:01:51,700 And then they'll count them all 69 00:01:51,700 --> 00:01:53,333 and see who wins." 70 00:01:53,333 --> 00:01:54,066 And Catherine said, 71 00:01:54,066 --> 00:01:55,066 "If Daddy doesn't win, 72 00:01:55,066 --> 00:01:56,666 don't tell me." 73 00:01:56,666 --> 00:01:57,400 >> Alex Sanders: John Spratt 74 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:58,633 did win that election 75 00:01:58,633 --> 00:01:59,666 and an unbroken string 76 00:01:59,666 --> 00:02:01,800 of reelections since then. 77 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:02,600 Today, he stands 78 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:03,733 at the height of his career 79 00:02:03,733 --> 00:02:05,466 on the national scene. 80 00:02:05,466 --> 00:02:06,300 As chair 81 00:02:06,300 --> 00:02:07,300 of the House Budget Committee, 82 00:02:07,300 --> 00:02:08,300 he'll determine policy 83 00:02:08,300 --> 00:02:10,300 and direction for the nation. 84 00:02:10,300 --> 00:02:11,666 This ascent to power began 85 00:02:11,666 --> 00:02:13,566 when he was a political unknown 86 00:02:13,566 --> 00:02:14,733 and a lawyer from the small 87 00:02:14,733 --> 00:02:17,033 South Carolina town of York. 88 00:02:17,233 --> 00:02:23,166 ♪ 89 00:02:23,166 --> 00:02:28,766 ♪ 90 00:02:28,766 --> 00:02:30,733 >> Hello, I'm Alex Sanders. 91 00:02:30,733 --> 00:02:31,733 John Spratt 92 00:02:31,733 --> 00:02:32,733 has served in Congress 93 00:02:32,733 --> 00:02:34,166 for more than two decades. 94 00:02:34,166 --> 00:02:35,533 All during that time, 95 00:02:35,533 --> 00:02:37,166 he looked after the sprawling 96 00:02:37,166 --> 00:02:39,100 Fifth Congressional District. 97 00:02:39,100 --> 00:02:40,100 Now, he overseas 98 00:02:40,100 --> 00:02:41,566 much bigger territory, 99 00:02:41,566 --> 00:02:43,100 the federal budget. 100 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:44,100 John Spratt's 101 00:02:44,100 --> 00:02:45,100 never been a flashy, 102 00:02:45,100 --> 00:02:46,966 made-for-media congressman. 103 00:02:46,966 --> 00:02:48,833 He's a studious, serious man 104 00:02:48,833 --> 00:02:50,633 who researches the issues 105 00:02:50,633 --> 00:02:51,700 and is not quick to jump 106 00:02:51,700 --> 00:02:53,500 in front of the camera. 107 00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:54,500 John Spratt serves 108 00:02:54,500 --> 00:02:55,566 in one of the most important 109 00:02:55,566 --> 00:02:57,566 positions in Washington. 110 00:02:57,566 --> 00:02:59,066 Back home in South Carolina, 111 00:02:59,066 --> 00:03:00,133 his friends and colleagues 112 00:03:00,133 --> 00:03:02,600 are not surprised. 113 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,400 >> I grew up in politics. 114 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:05,400 My father never ran 115 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:06,700 for anything. 116 00:03:06,700 --> 00:03:09,233 He always originally wanted to. 117 00:03:09,233 --> 00:03:10,600 He went to see his father 118 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,266 over in Fort Mill. 119 00:03:12,266 --> 00:03:13,300 He'd been practicing law 120 00:03:13,300 --> 00:03:14,900 for a year or two. 121 00:03:14,900 --> 00:03:16,166 And he sat down with his father 122 00:03:16,166 --> 00:03:17,166 in a rocking chair 123 00:03:17,166 --> 00:03:18,333 on the front porch, and he said, 124 00:03:18,333 --> 00:03:19,966 "Papa, you know, I went 125 00:03:19,966 --> 00:03:22,700 to law school out of state, 126 00:03:22,700 --> 00:03:24,000 and it would help me, I think, 127 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:25,500 to get to know people. 128 00:03:25,500 --> 00:03:26,500 I'll tell you what 129 00:03:26,500 --> 00:03:27,500 I've been thinking about. 130 00:03:27,500 --> 00:03:28,500 I've been thinking 131 00:03:28,500 --> 00:03:29,500 about running for the state 132 00:03:29,500 --> 00:03:30,500 house of representatives." 133 00:03:30,500 --> 00:03:31,800 His father turned to him 134 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:32,800 and he said, "Do you mean 135 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:34,766 to tell me we mortgaged 136 00:03:34,766 --> 00:03:35,933 Grandma's house to send you 137 00:03:35,933 --> 00:03:36,933 to law school and you're going 138 00:03:36,933 --> 00:03:38,933 to become a damn politician?" 139 00:03:38,933 --> 00:03:39,933 And that was the end 140 00:03:39,933 --> 00:03:40,933 of my father's 141 00:03:40,933 --> 00:03:42,866 elective politics. 142 00:03:42,866 --> 00:03:44,166 >> His dad was head 143 00:03:44,166 --> 00:03:45,166 of the Democratic party 144 00:03:45,166 --> 00:03:46,833 in York County for years, 145 00:03:46,833 --> 00:03:48,533 an executive committeeman. 146 00:03:48,533 --> 00:03:49,700 And he had a lot of clout 147 00:03:49,700 --> 00:03:51,700 in the Democratic party 148 00:03:51,700 --> 00:03:53,133 in the state. 149 00:03:53,133 --> 00:03:55,000 But he never sought 150 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:56,433 public office, 151 00:03:56,433 --> 00:03:57,933 and he discouraged Johnny 152 00:03:57,933 --> 00:04:00,566 from running for public office. 153 00:04:00,566 --> 00:04:02,166 He wanted him to be active 154 00:04:02,166 --> 00:04:06,400 in it, in politics, 155 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:07,400 as far as the process 156 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:09,400 was concerned, 157 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:10,400 but he didn't want him 158 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,333 to actively get into politics. 159 00:04:12,333 --> 00:04:13,333 >> Spratt: My father was 160 00:04:13,333 --> 00:04:14,466 presiding over a stump meeting 161 00:04:14,466 --> 00:04:16,333 here in York. 162 00:04:16,333 --> 00:04:17,533 Senator Wallace was not 163 00:04:17,533 --> 00:04:18,600 on the ticket, but he was 164 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,733 on the dais with others. 165 00:04:21,733 --> 00:04:23,900 And he got up and was able, 166 00:04:23,900 --> 00:04:25,933 between two speakers, to speak. 167 00:04:25,933 --> 00:04:27,833 And another man 168 00:04:27,833 --> 00:04:29,166 who was running for office 169 00:04:29,166 --> 00:04:32,133 and who was not at all allied 170 00:04:32,133 --> 00:04:33,800 with Senator Wallace 171 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:34,800 accused my father 172 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:35,966 of engineering it so that 173 00:04:35,966 --> 00:04:37,133 Senator Wallace could speak, 174 00:04:37,133 --> 00:04:39,166 which was not true at all. 175 00:04:39,166 --> 00:04:41,733 When my father told me--told him 176 00:04:41,733 --> 00:04:43,500 that he had not set that up, 177 00:04:43,500 --> 00:04:45,133 the man called him a liar, 178 00:04:45,133 --> 00:04:47,200 whereupon my father slugged him. 179 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:48,600 And the sheriff caught 180 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,566 one of the...one of them, 181 00:04:50,566 --> 00:04:51,700 and the deputy sheriff 182 00:04:51,700 --> 00:04:52,700 caught the other, 183 00:04:52,700 --> 00:04:53,700 and kept them from really 184 00:04:53,700 --> 00:04:54,833 going after each other. 185 00:04:54,833 --> 00:04:55,833 But it was, 186 00:04:55,833 --> 00:04:56,833 it was literally a fistfight 187 00:04:56,833 --> 00:04:58,600 for a few seconds there. 188 00:04:58,600 --> 00:04:59,600 And that was the kind 189 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:01,133 of atmosphere I grew up in. 190 00:05:01,133 --> 00:05:02,133 >> Sanders: With politics 191 00:05:02,133 --> 00:05:03,166 in his blood, Spratt was 192 00:05:03,166 --> 00:05:04,600 student body president 193 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:05,766 at both York High School 194 00:05:05,766 --> 00:05:07,666 and Davidson College. 195 00:05:07,666 --> 00:05:08,666 He went off to Oxford 196 00:05:08,666 --> 00:05:10,133 on a Marshall Scholarship 197 00:05:10,133 --> 00:05:11,466 and later earned his law degree 198 00:05:11,466 --> 00:05:12,866 at Yale. 199 00:05:12,866 --> 00:05:14,866 In his mid-20s, he married 200 00:05:14,866 --> 00:05:17,600 Jane Stacy from nearby Filbert. 201 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:18,600 They'd known each other 202 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,366 since grade school. 203 00:05:20,366 --> 00:05:21,366 After serving in the Army 204 00:05:21,366 --> 00:05:22,733 as a captain, he came back 205 00:05:22,733 --> 00:05:24,266 to his hometown of York to work 206 00:05:24,266 --> 00:05:25,433 in his father's law firm 207 00:05:25,433 --> 00:05:27,233 and raise a family. 208 00:05:27,233 --> 00:05:28,633 Eleven years later, he would go 209 00:05:28,633 --> 00:05:30,866 against his father's advice 210 00:05:30,866 --> 00:05:32,000 and enter the arena 211 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:33,833 of elective politics. 212 00:05:33,833 --> 00:05:35,133 >> Tom planned to retire 213 00:05:35,133 --> 00:05:37,133 in 1974. 214 00:05:37,133 --> 00:05:38,133 He had lunch 215 00:05:38,133 --> 00:05:39,533 with John's parents, 216 00:05:39,533 --> 00:05:42,633 John Sr. and Jan. 217 00:05:42,633 --> 00:05:43,666 Tom said, 218 00:05:43,666 --> 00:05:45,466 "Now, I plan to retire, 219 00:05:45,466 --> 00:05:48,233 and I want John to replace me." 220 00:05:48,233 --> 00:05:50,166 One of them said, 221 00:05:50,166 --> 00:05:51,933 "If you talk to John, 222 00:05:51,933 --> 00:05:53,366 we'll roll you in cement 223 00:05:53,366 --> 00:05:54,366 and throw you 224 00:05:54,366 --> 00:05:56,133 in the Catawba River." 225 00:05:56,133 --> 00:05:57,700 And John did not, then, 226 00:05:57,700 --> 00:05:59,000 run for office 227 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:00,733 till they had both died. 228 00:06:00,733 --> 00:06:01,733 >> My hope in coming back 229 00:06:01,733 --> 00:06:03,566 to York was, ultimately, 230 00:06:03,566 --> 00:06:05,600 to get into elective politics. 231 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:06,933 My father died 232 00:06:06,933 --> 00:06:08,233 shortly after I came back. 233 00:06:08,233 --> 00:06:10,133 I took over his law practice. 234 00:06:10,133 --> 00:06:12,833 I was 39 years old 235 00:06:12,833 --> 00:06:15,500 and thought I'd missed my ship. 236 00:06:15,500 --> 00:06:16,500 >> Jane Spratt: Sounds young 237 00:06:16,500 --> 00:06:17,500 now, though, doesn't it? 238 00:06:17,500 --> 00:06:19,866 >> John Spratt: Sure does. 239 00:06:19,866 --> 00:06:21,633 Ken Holland, less than a week 240 00:06:21,633 --> 00:06:23,500 before the filing deadline, 241 00:06:23,500 --> 00:06:25,433 decided that he would not run 242 00:06:25,433 --> 00:06:29,133 again, a shock to everyone. 243 00:06:29,133 --> 00:06:31,566 And there was the opportunity 244 00:06:31,566 --> 00:06:33,000 for me to seize. 245 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:34,866 I had a busy law practice. 246 00:06:34,866 --> 00:06:36,166 Walking away from it was not 247 00:06:36,166 --> 00:06:38,600 going to be easy at all. 248 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:42,200 I struggled with the idea 249 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,233 for a day and decided, by golly, 250 00:06:44,233 --> 00:06:45,766 I'll have to just deal 251 00:06:45,766 --> 00:06:47,500 with those other problems 252 00:06:47,500 --> 00:06:49,233 when that time comes. 253 00:06:49,233 --> 00:06:50,233 If I don't take 254 00:06:50,233 --> 00:06:51,233 this opportunity, 255 00:06:51,233 --> 00:06:52,233 I'll reproach myself 256 00:06:52,233 --> 00:06:53,233 for the rest of my life 257 00:06:53,233 --> 00:06:54,233 for not having taken 258 00:06:54,233 --> 00:06:55,333 the opportunity. 259 00:06:55,333 --> 00:06:57,666 >> In that first race, 260 00:06:57,666 --> 00:06:59,633 he had quite a contest for the, 261 00:06:59,633 --> 00:07:03,166 for the Democrat nomination. 262 00:07:03,166 --> 00:07:06,100 And I would say 263 00:07:06,100 --> 00:07:09,000 that the press, for example, 264 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:10,433 and many other observers 265 00:07:10,433 --> 00:07:11,433 didn't give him 266 00:07:11,433 --> 00:07:14,066 much of a chance originally. 267 00:07:14,066 --> 00:07:15,066 One of the things 268 00:07:15,066 --> 00:07:16,066 they said about him, 269 00:07:16,066 --> 00:07:17,066 "He's really not a politician, 270 00:07:17,066 --> 00:07:18,300 you know. 271 00:07:18,300 --> 00:07:19,866 He can't get out there 272 00:07:19,866 --> 00:07:21,366 and glad-hand 273 00:07:21,366 --> 00:07:23,766 and do the political things." 274 00:07:23,766 --> 00:07:24,766 And he was not 275 00:07:24,766 --> 00:07:27,333 a natural at that. 276 00:07:27,333 --> 00:07:30,666 But he was a very organized, 277 00:07:30,666 --> 00:07:36,433 serious, determined fellow 278 00:07:36,433 --> 00:07:39,333 and became, in my opinion, 279 00:07:39,333 --> 00:07:40,700 one of the better politicians 280 00:07:40,700 --> 00:07:42,400 because of that 281 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,166 very characteristic. 282 00:07:44,166 --> 00:07:45,800 >> Down in Winnsboro one night, 283 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:47,833 when statewide candidates 284 00:07:47,833 --> 00:07:49,933 were running, 285 00:07:49,933 --> 00:07:52,433 John was there. 286 00:07:52,433 --> 00:07:54,600 It was a largely black audience, 287 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:56,133 and one gentleman got up 288 00:07:56,133 --> 00:07:58,433 in the back after they had made 289 00:07:58,433 --> 00:08:00,500 their formal presentations. 290 00:08:00,500 --> 00:08:03,700 And if I recall, Governor Riley 291 00:08:03,700 --> 00:08:07,000 was there at that time as well. 292 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:08,533 But a gentleman got up 293 00:08:08,533 --> 00:08:11,100 in the back and had a question 294 00:08:11,100 --> 00:08:14,266 for Mr. Spratt. 295 00:08:14,266 --> 00:08:19,000 He says, ah, "Mr. Spratt, 296 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:20,166 I understand that you're 297 00:08:20,166 --> 00:08:21,166 a millionaire 298 00:08:21,166 --> 00:08:23,866 several times over. 299 00:08:23,866 --> 00:08:24,866 What do you know 300 00:08:24,866 --> 00:08:26,633 about black people's problems 301 00:08:26,633 --> 00:08:29,166 or poor people's problems? 302 00:08:29,166 --> 00:08:32,733 How can you identify with that?" 303 00:08:32,733 --> 00:08:34,966 And John stood there and said, 304 00:08:34,966 --> 00:08:38,733 "Yes, I am wealthy. 305 00:08:38,733 --> 00:08:40,133 And most of my wealth 306 00:08:40,133 --> 00:08:41,866 came from my parents, 307 00:08:41,866 --> 00:08:44,233 which I'm grateful for. 308 00:08:44,233 --> 00:08:45,600 But I have to also tell you 309 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:46,800 that I've added some 310 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,166 to what they left me." 311 00:08:49,166 --> 00:08:50,266 He says, "But let me ask you 312 00:08:50,266 --> 00:08:52,166 a question. 313 00:08:52,166 --> 00:08:53,366 On John F. Kennedy, 314 00:08:53,366 --> 00:08:54,766 did you say the same thing? 315 00:08:54,766 --> 00:08:56,300 Did you feel the same way?" 316 00:08:56,300 --> 00:08:58,700 When John finished, this fellow 317 00:08:58,700 --> 00:09:01,233 slid down in his seat 318 00:09:01,233 --> 00:09:03,100 never to be heard from again. 319 00:09:03,100 --> 00:09:04,100 >> Ferguson: A lot of people, 320 00:09:04,100 --> 00:09:05,233 politicians you'll see will go 321 00:09:05,233 --> 00:09:06,600 through a big crowd somewhere 322 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:08,566 and slap everybody on the back 323 00:09:08,566 --> 00:09:09,566 and grab their hand 324 00:09:09,566 --> 00:09:11,133 and just move and, as they say, 325 00:09:11,133 --> 00:09:12,900 "work the crowd." 326 00:09:12,900 --> 00:09:14,200 Well, Johnny is 327 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:15,266 someone who'll stop him 328 00:09:15,266 --> 00:09:16,266 and want to talk to him 329 00:09:16,266 --> 00:09:17,266 about a problem 330 00:09:17,266 --> 00:09:18,266 or an issue or something, 331 00:09:18,266 --> 00:09:19,266 and he'll stand there 332 00:09:19,266 --> 00:09:20,200 and listen to 'em. 333 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:21,200 He might not be able 334 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:22,200 to work the whole crowd, 335 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:23,200 but he's interested 336 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:24,200 in the people 337 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:25,200 that have something to say 338 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:26,200 and have problems that maybe 339 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:27,333 he can do something about. 340 00:09:27,333 --> 00:09:28,333 >> When you're talking 341 00:09:28,333 --> 00:09:29,333 with John-- 342 00:09:29,333 --> 00:09:30,600 and I stress "with" because 343 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:32,466 it's very much back and forth-- 344 00:09:32,466 --> 00:09:36,100 you have his total attention. 345 00:09:36,100 --> 00:09:37,933 You get those big eyes 346 00:09:37,933 --> 00:09:39,200 right at you, 347 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:40,666 and they don't, 348 00:09:40,666 --> 00:09:42,200 they don't leave you. 349 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,133 And I think you hear about that 350 00:09:44,133 --> 00:09:45,933 from people all over the, 351 00:09:45,933 --> 00:09:47,366 all over the Fifth District, 352 00:09:47,366 --> 00:09:50,833 that when they've met John, 353 00:09:50,833 --> 00:09:52,333 they know he's met them. 354 00:09:52,333 --> 00:09:53,333 >> Sanders: In that first 355 00:09:53,333 --> 00:09:54,333 political campaign, 356 00:09:54,333 --> 00:09:55,500 Spratt's style worked 357 00:09:55,500 --> 00:09:57,133 and voters remembered him. 358 00:09:57,133 --> 00:09:58,366 He was in a four-way contest 359 00:09:58,366 --> 00:09:59,766 for the Democratic nomination 360 00:09:59,766 --> 00:10:01,033 at a time when Democrats 361 00:10:01,033 --> 00:10:02,200 dominated politics 362 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:03,733 in South Carolina. 363 00:10:03,733 --> 00:10:04,733 The race was 364 00:10:04,733 --> 00:10:06,000 about name recognition, 365 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:07,466 not about experience, 366 00:10:07,466 --> 00:10:08,666 as none of the candidates 367 00:10:08,666 --> 00:10:10,233 had spent any significant time 368 00:10:10,233 --> 00:10:12,400 in public office. 369 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:13,733 Spratt won the nomination 370 00:10:13,733 --> 00:10:14,733 and went on to defeat 371 00:10:14,733 --> 00:10:16,466 his Republican opponent. 372 00:10:16,466 --> 00:10:17,466 The Spratts were 373 00:10:17,466 --> 00:10:18,966 no strangers to Washington. 374 00:10:18,966 --> 00:10:20,433 They'd lived there during part 375 00:10:20,433 --> 00:10:21,533 of his military service 376 00:10:21,533 --> 00:10:22,966 at the Pentagon. 377 00:10:22,966 --> 00:10:23,800 But there were 378 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:25,200 some surprises and adventures 379 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,066 for him and his family. 380 00:10:27,066 --> 00:10:27,733 >> I'll tell you, 381 00:10:27,733 --> 00:10:28,766 I could write a book 382 00:10:28,766 --> 00:10:31,000 about just going back and forth, 383 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:31,800 even in the car, 384 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:33,633 with three children, 385 00:10:33,633 --> 00:10:35,000 three cats and a dog, 386 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:36,066 [laughing] 387 00:10:36,066 --> 00:10:37,100 going from South-- 388 00:10:37,100 --> 00:10:39,733 going from York, South Carolina 389 00:10:39,733 --> 00:10:40,833 to Washington D.C., 390 00:10:40,833 --> 00:10:41,666 because they pay-- 391 00:10:41,666 --> 00:10:42,966 You know, Johnny gets, actually, 392 00:10:42,966 --> 00:10:45,566 an allowance to fly home. 393 00:10:45,566 --> 00:10:46,833 And his time is at a premium. 394 00:10:46,833 --> 00:10:47,833 I know that. 395 00:10:47,833 --> 00:10:49,700 But we weren't going to-- 396 00:10:49,700 --> 00:10:50,700 there's no way we were going 397 00:10:50,700 --> 00:10:52,466 to fly with that many people. 398 00:10:52,466 --> 00:10:53,600 So we would get in the car, 399 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:55,200 and it was like an adventure. 400 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:55,900 >> John Spratt: There was 401 00:10:55,900 --> 00:10:56,666 a soap opera. 402 00:10:56,666 --> 00:10:57,566 I never saw it, 403 00:10:57,566 --> 00:10:59,900 but it was set on Capitol Hill. 404 00:10:59,900 --> 00:11:00,866 The members of Congress 405 00:11:00,866 --> 00:11:02,833 had offices with chandeliers. 406 00:11:02,833 --> 00:11:04,133 They had limo service. 407 00:11:04,133 --> 00:11:06,233 They had all of the perks 408 00:11:06,233 --> 00:11:08,600 that you could possibly imagine. 409 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:09,766 And our girls thought 410 00:11:09,766 --> 00:11:12,166 that this was really humorous 411 00:11:12,166 --> 00:11:14,733 because I had a small office, 412 00:11:14,733 --> 00:11:16,266 certainly no chandelier, 413 00:11:16,266 --> 00:11:18,666 absolutely no limousine, 414 00:11:18,666 --> 00:11:19,800 none of the perks 415 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:20,900 that were associated 416 00:11:20,900 --> 00:11:21,933 with being in Congress 417 00:11:21,933 --> 00:11:24,100 on the soap opera. 418 00:11:24,100 --> 00:11:24,900 >> Sanders: Over the years, 419 00:11:24,900 --> 00:11:26,333 the hallmark of Spratt's service 420 00:11:26,333 --> 00:11:27,366 in Congress has been 421 00:11:27,366 --> 00:11:28,300 his hard work, 422 00:11:28,300 --> 00:11:29,300 both in Washington 423 00:11:29,300 --> 00:11:31,233 and back home in his district. 424 00:11:31,233 --> 00:11:32,133 The district stretches 425 00:11:32,133 --> 00:11:34,633 across 14 counties 426 00:11:34,633 --> 00:11:35,733 and from the Upstate 427 00:11:35,733 --> 00:11:36,966 to the Pee Dee. 428 00:11:36,966 --> 00:11:38,133 >> How he's able to do it, 429 00:11:38,133 --> 00:11:39,000 I don't know. 430 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:39,800 He comes back here 431 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:40,933 on a regular basis 432 00:11:40,933 --> 00:11:41,966 and spends a lot of time. 433 00:11:41,966 --> 00:11:42,900 With the pressures 434 00:11:42,900 --> 00:11:44,000 he's got in Washington 435 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:45,300 being the budget writer, 436 00:11:45,300 --> 00:11:46,333 if you will, 437 00:11:46,333 --> 00:11:47,633 [chuckles] 438 00:11:47,633 --> 00:11:48,666 he, I don't see 439 00:11:48,666 --> 00:11:49,733 how he does that. 440 00:11:49,733 --> 00:11:52,366 But he spends all of his time, 441 00:11:52,366 --> 00:11:53,166 and I'm sure his wife 442 00:11:53,166 --> 00:11:54,666 will tell you that 443 00:11:54,666 --> 00:11:57,466 he spends all of his time, 444 00:11:57,466 --> 00:11:58,700 as a congressman. 445 00:11:58,700 --> 00:11:59,400 >> Spratt: I don't think 446 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:00,266 anybody realizes 447 00:12:00,266 --> 00:12:03,133 how consuming this work can be. 448 00:12:03,133 --> 00:12:04,300 I represent all or part 449 00:12:04,300 --> 00:12:06,500 of 14 different counties. 450 00:12:06,500 --> 00:12:08,766 Now, that's just, say, 451 00:12:08,766 --> 00:12:10,000 a fourth of the state. 452 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:11,000 But geographically, 453 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:12,566 it's a big territory. 454 00:12:12,566 --> 00:12:14,466 I got a piece of the Pee Dee, 455 00:12:14,466 --> 00:12:16,400 a piece of the Piedmont, 456 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:18,766 and part of the Midlands. 457 00:12:18,766 --> 00:12:20,233 So it's really three different 458 00:12:20,233 --> 00:12:22,333 areas of the state, kind of 459 00:12:22,333 --> 00:12:23,733 like a three-ring circus. 460 00:12:23,733 --> 00:12:24,666 You have to keep something 461 00:12:24,666 --> 00:12:27,700 going in each, each ring, 462 00:12:27,700 --> 00:12:29,266 each area so that people 463 00:12:29,266 --> 00:12:30,500 will understand you're out there 464 00:12:30,500 --> 00:12:33,033 working on their behalf. 465 00:12:33,033 --> 00:12:35,666 And that's not easy. 466 00:12:35,666 --> 00:12:39,100 There's no central media. 467 00:12:39,100 --> 00:12:40,566 There's no central television 468 00:12:40,566 --> 00:12:41,966 or anything of that nature. 469 00:12:41,966 --> 00:12:43,000 So you got to be 470 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,266 at all of these different places 471 00:12:45,266 --> 00:12:47,166 at various times in the year 472 00:12:47,166 --> 00:12:48,166 to let people know 473 00:12:48,166 --> 00:12:48,933 you're out there working 474 00:12:48,933 --> 00:12:50,133 in their behalf. 475 00:12:50,133 --> 00:12:51,266 Now, that's a pretty demanding 476 00:12:51,266 --> 00:12:52,600 requirement in a district 477 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,033 like this, given the level 478 00:12:54,033 --> 00:12:56,133 of expectation people have. 479 00:12:56,133 --> 00:12:56,866 >> Huitt: I never 480 00:12:56,866 --> 00:12:58,066 heard anybody say, 481 00:12:58,066 --> 00:12:59,266 when they sit down with him, 482 00:12:59,266 --> 00:12:59,966 have the opportunity 483 00:12:59,966 --> 00:13:02,366 to sit down on a one-on-one 484 00:13:02,366 --> 00:13:04,366 and he's out in the district-- 485 00:13:04,366 --> 00:13:05,233 he's out in the district 486 00:13:05,233 --> 00:13:07,133 an awful lot-- 487 00:13:07,133 --> 00:13:12,233 and if they've spent time 488 00:13:12,233 --> 00:13:13,533 one-on-one with him 489 00:13:13,533 --> 00:13:14,633 and if they've been served 490 00:13:14,633 --> 00:13:17,900 the way his offices 491 00:13:17,900 --> 00:13:20,400 across the district serve you, 492 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:22,666 that answers the, 493 00:13:22,666 --> 00:13:23,633 that answers the question 494 00:13:23,633 --> 00:13:25,700 of why Republicans, obviously, 495 00:13:25,700 --> 00:13:27,600 vote for John Sprat. 496 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:28,333 >> When he comes 497 00:13:28,333 --> 00:13:29,300 to our Thanksgiving things, 498 00:13:29,300 --> 00:13:30,800 he very quietly 499 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:31,866 slips in and sits down 500 00:13:31,866 --> 00:13:33,400 at one of the tables. 501 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:34,666 He doesn't come up to speak 502 00:13:34,666 --> 00:13:38,166 to whoever else may be there. 503 00:13:38,166 --> 00:13:39,133 He comes over and talks 504 00:13:39,133 --> 00:13:40,666 to the children. 505 00:13:40,666 --> 00:13:42,933 They climb all over him. 506 00:13:42,933 --> 00:13:43,866 He wants to read 507 00:13:43,866 --> 00:13:45,633 the things they've written, 508 00:13:45,633 --> 00:13:47,500 the stories they've written. 509 00:13:47,500 --> 00:13:48,833 >> Congressman Spratt 510 00:13:48,833 --> 00:13:52,366 has been probably the single 511 00:13:52,366 --> 00:13:53,966 most focused congressman 512 00:13:53,966 --> 00:13:55,866 in this area 513 00:13:55,866 --> 00:13:57,533 working to support education, 514 00:13:57,533 --> 00:13:58,166 and particularly 515 00:13:58,166 --> 00:13:59,200 higher education, 516 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:00,533 and working to find 517 00:14:00,533 --> 00:14:02,633 the resources that help us 518 00:14:02,633 --> 00:14:03,933 to accomplish our mission. 519 00:14:03,933 --> 00:14:04,833 And of course, here 520 00:14:04,833 --> 00:14:05,800 in the technical college system, 521 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,333 it's about economic development. 522 00:14:08,333 --> 00:14:09,200 Most recently, 523 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:11,800 in 2004 I believe it was, 524 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:13,800 the Congressman was successful 525 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:15,233 in identifying funding 526 00:14:15,233 --> 00:14:17,500 that would allow us to expand 527 00:14:17,500 --> 00:14:18,433 this Institute 528 00:14:18,433 --> 00:14:19,833 for Manufacturing Technology 529 00:14:19,833 --> 00:14:21,666 focused on metalworking, 530 00:14:21,666 --> 00:14:22,766 machining, 531 00:14:22,766 --> 00:14:24,700 and automated manufacturing. 532 00:14:24,700 --> 00:14:27,033 >> We went to Congressman Spratt 533 00:14:27,033 --> 00:14:29,033 probably four years ago 534 00:14:29,033 --> 00:14:30,533 with an idea for Ridgeway 535 00:14:30,533 --> 00:14:32,266 in Fairfield County. 536 00:14:32,266 --> 00:14:34,766 It's a town of about 4,000 537 00:14:34,766 --> 00:14:36,100 that had no physician, 538 00:14:36,100 --> 00:14:37,500 no dentist 539 00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:39,433 and not even a pharmacy. 540 00:14:39,433 --> 00:14:40,933 And we put together 541 00:14:40,933 --> 00:14:44,900 a plan at his behest to bring 542 00:14:44,900 --> 00:14:46,000 all three of those services 543 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:47,466 to Ridgeway. 544 00:14:47,466 --> 00:14:49,766 And he did give us 545 00:14:49,766 --> 00:14:51,866 a federal line item 546 00:14:51,866 --> 00:14:54,700 to help to defray the cost. 547 00:14:54,700 --> 00:14:55,600 Ridgeway does not have a very 548 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,966 large political footprint, 549 00:14:57,966 --> 00:14:59,033 but it does have 550 00:14:59,033 --> 00:15:00,600 very large needs. 551 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:01,633 And the Congressman 552 00:15:01,633 --> 00:15:04,200 was quick to recognize that 553 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:06,133 and to step in 554 00:15:06,133 --> 00:15:08,366 to really address it. 555 00:15:08,366 --> 00:15:09,666 >> Sanders: In the 1990s, 556 00:15:09,666 --> 00:15:10,433 Spratt faced 557 00:15:10,433 --> 00:15:11,300 the biggest challenge 558 00:15:11,300 --> 00:15:13,100 in constituent service, issues 559 00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:14,733 that could affect the lives 560 00:15:14,733 --> 00:15:16,433 of just about every citizen 561 00:15:16,433 --> 00:15:18,366 in two areas of his district. 562 00:15:18,366 --> 00:15:19,400 In the Upstate, 563 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:21,166 a long-simmering land claim 564 00:15:21,166 --> 00:15:23,166 by the Catawba Indian Nation 565 00:15:23,166 --> 00:15:24,166 could have brought the region 566 00:15:24,166 --> 00:15:26,166 to an economic standstill. 567 00:15:26,166 --> 00:15:28,566 In Sumter, cutbacks in funding 568 00:15:28,566 --> 00:15:29,500 threatened the future 569 00:15:29,500 --> 00:15:31,233 of Shaw Air Force Base and the 570 00:15:31,233 --> 00:15:32,633 hundreds of millions of dollars 571 00:15:32,633 --> 00:15:34,333 it brings to the state. 572 00:15:34,333 --> 00:15:35,900 >> The Catawba Indian settlement 573 00:15:35,900 --> 00:15:36,900 has to go down 574 00:15:36,900 --> 00:15:37,966 as one of the monumental 575 00:15:37,966 --> 00:15:39,266 accomplishments. 576 00:15:39,266 --> 00:15:40,566 There was a good chance 577 00:15:40,566 --> 00:15:42,866 that all of eastern York County, 578 00:15:42,866 --> 00:15:43,633 Chester County 579 00:15:43,633 --> 00:15:44,400 and Lancaster County 580 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:45,266 would have been tied up 581 00:15:45,266 --> 00:15:47,900 for years in a litigation which, 582 00:15:47,900 --> 00:15:49,533 no matter how it came out, 583 00:15:49,533 --> 00:15:50,366 would have resulted 584 00:15:50,366 --> 00:15:51,900 in economic catastrophe 585 00:15:51,900 --> 00:15:53,466 for this area. 586 00:15:53,466 --> 00:15:56,800 And John got through Congress 587 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:58,000 a bill to extend 588 00:15:58,000 --> 00:15:59,100 the statute of limitations 589 00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:01,100 for the settlement by a year. 590 00:16:01,100 --> 00:16:02,833 It had never been done before. 591 00:16:02,833 --> 00:16:03,633 No one was even sure it was 592 00:16:03,633 --> 00:16:05,066 totally constitutional. 593 00:16:05,066 --> 00:16:06,233 >> Sanders: Spratt's connection 594 00:16:06,233 --> 00:16:07,566 to the Catawbas may run 595 00:16:07,566 --> 00:16:08,600 deeper than just being 596 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:09,900 their congressman. 597 00:16:09,900 --> 00:16:11,100 His ancestor, 598 00:16:11,100 --> 00:16:13,600 Thomas "Kanawha" Spratt, came 599 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:14,866 to this part of South Carolina 600 00:16:14,866 --> 00:16:16,466 in the 1700s. 601 00:16:16,466 --> 00:16:17,300 He was befriended 602 00:16:17,300 --> 00:16:18,233 by the Catawbas, 603 00:16:18,233 --> 00:16:20,500 who gave him the name Kanawha. 604 00:16:20,500 --> 00:16:21,500 The Indians gave him 605 00:16:21,500 --> 00:16:23,233 something more than a name. 606 00:16:23,233 --> 00:16:24,033 They leased him 607 00:16:24,033 --> 00:16:26,700 4,700 acres of land. 608 00:16:26,700 --> 00:16:28,566 More than two centuries later, 609 00:16:28,566 --> 00:16:31,366 Kanawha Spratt's descendent John 610 00:16:31,366 --> 00:16:33,433 would return part of that favor 611 00:16:33,433 --> 00:16:35,133 and work with the Catawba Nation 612 00:16:35,133 --> 00:16:36,466 for a land claim settlement 613 00:16:36,466 --> 00:16:37,433 and restoration 614 00:16:37,433 --> 00:16:40,866 of federal recognition in 1993. 615 00:16:40,866 --> 00:16:41,933 >> Everybody was taking 616 00:16:41,933 --> 00:16:43,400 this thing as kind of a joke. 617 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:44,266 They thought, you know, 618 00:16:44,266 --> 00:16:45,066 Well, heck, we don't have 619 00:16:45,066 --> 00:16:46,266 to worry about these Catawbas. 620 00:16:46,266 --> 00:16:48,000 They have no political clout, 621 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,300 so it'll go away. 622 00:16:50,300 --> 00:16:51,533 Well, it didn't go away. 623 00:16:51,533 --> 00:16:52,533 We were at the point to where 624 00:16:52,533 --> 00:16:53,500 we were going to have to file 625 00:16:53,500 --> 00:16:55,300 a claim against every individual 626 00:16:55,300 --> 00:16:57,000 landowner in the claim area, 627 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:58,033 which would have been thousands 628 00:16:58,033 --> 00:16:59,633 and thousands of people. 629 00:16:59,633 --> 00:17:00,400 Even if you owned 630 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:03,533 a half-acre of land, you were 631 00:17:03,533 --> 00:17:04,733 going to have to go to court 632 00:17:04,733 --> 00:17:05,833 and defend that half-acre. 633 00:17:05,833 --> 00:17:07,433 There was just no way out of it. 634 00:17:07,433 --> 00:17:09,166 >> I was in the kind of business 635 00:17:09,166 --> 00:17:11,400 where you couldn't make a loan 636 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:12,700 unless the property 637 00:17:12,700 --> 00:17:15,066 was free entirely. 638 00:17:15,066 --> 00:17:17,600 And we had that Indian situation 639 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:19,266 hanging over every piece 640 00:17:19,266 --> 00:17:20,700 of real estate. 641 00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:23,600 And John saved the day on that 642 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:25,833 whole, whole proposition. 643 00:17:25,833 --> 00:17:26,633 >> Blue: I remember 644 00:17:26,633 --> 00:17:27,533 that John made a statement 645 00:17:27,533 --> 00:17:28,566 to me one time, 646 00:17:28,566 --> 00:17:29,900 and I really appreciate that. 647 00:17:29,900 --> 00:17:30,933 We were down on the river 648 00:17:30,933 --> 00:17:31,966 on the reservation, 649 00:17:31,966 --> 00:17:34,100 and we had been speaking 650 00:17:34,100 --> 00:17:35,766 and talking about the issues 651 00:17:35,766 --> 00:17:36,566 in the nation. 652 00:17:36,566 --> 00:17:37,500 And John said, "Chief, 653 00:17:37,500 --> 00:17:38,566 I want to tell you something." 654 00:17:38,566 --> 00:17:39,700 He said, "Everything that 655 00:17:39,700 --> 00:17:41,433 you're asking or you want to get 656 00:17:41,433 --> 00:17:43,133 in this settlement package, 657 00:17:43,133 --> 00:17:44,900 I wish you could get it. 658 00:17:44,900 --> 00:17:45,866 You deserve it," he said, 659 00:17:45,866 --> 00:17:46,833 "but I'm going to tell you, 660 00:17:46,833 --> 00:17:47,766 I can't sign off 661 00:17:47,766 --> 00:17:49,166 on everything that you want, 662 00:17:49,166 --> 00:17:50,400 simply because 663 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,466 it won't fly in D.C. 664 00:17:52,466 --> 00:17:53,533 And I don't want to sign off 665 00:17:53,533 --> 00:17:54,833 on some kind of settlement 666 00:17:54,833 --> 00:17:56,033 package that will get 667 00:17:56,033 --> 00:17:58,000 bogged down in Washington. 668 00:17:58,000 --> 00:17:59,533 I want to sign something, 669 00:17:59,533 --> 00:18:00,533 even though it may not be 670 00:18:00,533 --> 00:18:01,533 all you would like to have, 671 00:18:01,533 --> 00:18:02,366 at least it's something 672 00:18:02,366 --> 00:18:03,766 that we have a good chance 673 00:18:03,766 --> 00:18:05,900 of getting through legislation." 674 00:18:05,900 --> 00:18:07,033 >> Spratt: But pulling it 675 00:18:07,033 --> 00:18:08,600 all together and finally 676 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,200 pushing it to settlement 677 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:11,000 and then implementing 678 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:12,166 the settlement agreement 679 00:18:12,166 --> 00:18:15,200 took a full five years. 680 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,866 And...it was the single biggest 681 00:18:17,866 --> 00:18:19,333 constituent accomplishment. 682 00:18:19,333 --> 00:18:20,133 Shaw Air Force Base 683 00:18:20,133 --> 00:18:21,866 was important. 684 00:18:21,866 --> 00:18:22,866 I have to say, 685 00:18:22,866 --> 00:18:24,966 Shaw probably would be there 686 00:18:24,966 --> 00:18:26,200 without the help I gave it, 687 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:27,566 but what I did with Shaw 688 00:18:27,566 --> 00:18:29,266 was recognize that 689 00:18:29,266 --> 00:18:32,666 we don't want to wait until 690 00:18:32,666 --> 00:18:34,633 the next base closing comes. 691 00:18:34,633 --> 00:18:36,066 We want to act right now 692 00:18:36,066 --> 00:18:38,033 to see to it that Shaw 693 00:18:38,033 --> 00:18:39,900 has better facilities, or 694 00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:42,133 at least competitive facilities, 695 00:18:42,133 --> 00:18:44,133 with other peer bases. 696 00:18:44,133 --> 00:18:45,866 And that worked 697 00:18:45,866 --> 00:18:47,300 year in and year out. 698 00:18:47,300 --> 00:18:48,200 We didn't have to do anything 699 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:50,366 spectacular, but it was steady, 700 00:18:50,366 --> 00:18:51,800 rebuilt Shaw Air Force Base 701 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:53,433 from stem to stern. 702 00:18:53,433 --> 00:18:55,900 >> John worked to-- 703 00:18:55,900 --> 00:18:57,300 along with the local folks 704 00:18:57,300 --> 00:18:58,433 in the community-- 705 00:18:58,433 --> 00:18:59,300 to try to strengthen 706 00:18:59,300 --> 00:19:02,233 that mission and make sure that 707 00:19:02,233 --> 00:19:04,266 our facilities were topnotch 708 00:19:04,266 --> 00:19:05,466 and that the mission 709 00:19:05,466 --> 00:19:06,600 was important. 710 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:07,633 And in the end, 711 00:19:07,633 --> 00:19:08,766 after going through Bracks 712 00:19:08,766 --> 00:19:10,566 in '91, '93, '95, 713 00:19:10,566 --> 00:19:12,633 and again in 2005, 714 00:19:12,633 --> 00:19:14,266 we have won out. 715 00:19:14,266 --> 00:19:16,466 We are the F-16 premier base 716 00:19:16,466 --> 00:19:17,900 on the East Coast. 717 00:19:17,900 --> 00:19:18,800 >> Sumter County is not 718 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:20,800 a large part of his district, 719 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:22,933 but he has been very attentive, 720 00:19:22,933 --> 00:19:23,933 particularly to the Shaw 721 00:19:23,933 --> 00:19:26,666 situation, Shaw Air Force Base. 722 00:19:26,666 --> 00:19:29,600 And he has worked 723 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:30,633 very diligently 724 00:19:30,633 --> 00:19:32,366 over the past 25 years 725 00:19:32,366 --> 00:19:33,233 to build up the mission 726 00:19:33,233 --> 00:19:37,633 out at Shaw and make it stronger 727 00:19:37,633 --> 00:19:40,700 so they would, would be able 728 00:19:40,700 --> 00:19:43,133 to weather any base closing 729 00:19:43,133 --> 00:19:44,700 procedures that went on 730 00:19:44,700 --> 00:19:46,233 over the years. 731 00:19:46,233 --> 00:19:47,066 >> Sanders: Since his election 732 00:19:47,066 --> 00:19:49,566 in 1982 in a largely Democratic 733 00:19:49,566 --> 00:19:52,066 district, Spratt's home turf 734 00:19:52,066 --> 00:19:53,033 has dramatically 735 00:19:53,033 --> 00:19:54,466 turned Republican. 736 00:19:54,466 --> 00:19:55,566 In the last ten years, 737 00:19:55,566 --> 00:19:57,333 he's faced serious challenges 738 00:19:57,333 --> 00:19:59,066 from Republican opponents, 739 00:19:59,066 --> 00:20:00,733 but he has successfully defeated 740 00:20:00,733 --> 00:20:02,066 every contender. 741 00:20:02,066 --> 00:20:02,800 >> The far right 742 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:03,933 of the Republican party 743 00:20:03,933 --> 00:20:05,633 does not like John Spratt, 744 00:20:05,633 --> 00:20:10,500 and they can cite certain votes. 745 00:20:10,500 --> 00:20:11,633 But beyond that, 746 00:20:11,633 --> 00:20:12,900 that's where John's strength is. 747 00:20:12,900 --> 00:20:13,666 First of all, he's got 748 00:20:13,666 --> 00:20:14,666 the Democrat support. 749 00:20:14,666 --> 00:20:17,033 He's got the vast majority 750 00:20:17,033 --> 00:20:18,600 of the independent support. 751 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:19,866 And he gets elected 752 00:20:19,866 --> 00:20:21,066 with a fair amount 753 00:20:21,066 --> 00:20:22,300 of help from Republicans, 754 00:20:22,300 --> 00:20:23,633 believe it or not. 755 00:20:23,633 --> 00:20:25,900 And it's very hard to say 756 00:20:25,900 --> 00:20:27,733 this is a horrible man 757 00:20:27,733 --> 00:20:28,366 because you can't-- 758 00:20:28,366 --> 00:20:29,766 it's not there. 759 00:20:29,766 --> 00:20:31,966 I mean, he's, John 760 00:20:31,966 --> 00:20:34,666 is a very solid, fiscally 761 00:20:34,666 --> 00:20:37,666 conservative congressman 762 00:20:37,666 --> 00:20:40,266 who takes care of his people, 763 00:20:40,266 --> 00:20:41,400 and they like him. 764 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:42,766 People like John Spratt. 765 00:20:42,766 --> 00:20:43,866 And he can't be beat. 766 00:20:43,866 --> 00:20:45,466 John's got that seat 767 00:20:45,466 --> 00:20:47,000 as long as he wants it. 768 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:47,733 >> Foster: With all 769 00:20:47,733 --> 00:20:50,033 of the opposition that he's had 770 00:20:50,033 --> 00:20:52,000 from time to time, 771 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:53,366 he's been able to remain there 772 00:20:53,366 --> 00:20:57,033 because it's really difficult, 773 00:20:57,033 --> 00:20:59,533 when you get right down to it, 774 00:20:59,533 --> 00:21:00,666 to find enough people 775 00:21:00,666 --> 00:21:03,633 who dislike him so much 776 00:21:03,633 --> 00:21:04,433 that they're willing 777 00:21:04,433 --> 00:21:06,000 to vote against him... 778 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:06,933 unless they're just pulling 779 00:21:06,933 --> 00:21:09,533 a straight lever, you know. 780 00:21:09,533 --> 00:21:10,266 >> Gullick: And I've had people 781 00:21:10,266 --> 00:21:11,300 come to me and say, 782 00:21:11,300 --> 00:21:12,100 "We're thinking about running 783 00:21:12,100 --> 00:21:12,833 against John." 784 00:21:12,833 --> 00:21:14,333 And I've said, 785 00:21:14,333 --> 00:21:15,400 "That's the end of your career. 786 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,400 You will not win that race. 787 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:18,800 It cannot be won. 788 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:19,600 Trust me. 789 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:20,400 I've been there. 790 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:21,366 I've seen it." 791 00:21:21,366 --> 00:21:22,133 >> Sanders: During his tenure 792 00:21:22,133 --> 00:21:23,166 in Washington, 793 00:21:23,166 --> 00:21:24,133 Spratt has become known 794 00:21:24,133 --> 00:21:25,566 as a bridge builder. 795 00:21:25,566 --> 00:21:27,500 He counts the Balanced Budget 796 00:21:27,500 --> 00:21:30,266 Act of 1997 as his crowning 797 00:21:30,266 --> 00:21:32,133 legislative achievement. 798 00:21:32,133 --> 00:21:33,633 Along with his rise to chair 799 00:21:33,633 --> 00:21:35,233 of the Budget Committee, 800 00:21:35,233 --> 00:21:36,766 he's the second ranking Democrat 801 00:21:36,766 --> 00:21:38,800 on the Armed Services Committee. 802 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:40,400 In both positions, he's known 803 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:43,033 for reaching across party lines. 804 00:21:43,033 --> 00:21:44,233 >> When I went to Washington, 805 00:21:44,233 --> 00:21:45,000 which I did a lot 806 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:46,866 at that particular time, 807 00:21:46,866 --> 00:21:48,200 people on both sides 808 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:49,233 of the aisle, 809 00:21:49,233 --> 00:21:50,200 as I would meet them-- 810 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:51,433 or knew them, 'cause a lot 811 00:21:51,433 --> 00:21:52,800 of them had been former mayors 812 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:54,466 that I had known a long time-- 813 00:21:54,466 --> 00:21:56,700 and they all had so much 814 00:21:56,700 --> 00:21:58,500 to say about John that was good, 815 00:21:58,500 --> 00:21:59,533 that he was a statesman, 816 00:21:59,533 --> 00:22:01,600 that he was a diplomat, 817 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:03,066 he was a hard worker. 818 00:22:03,066 --> 00:22:03,900 And I think they do 819 00:22:03,900 --> 00:22:05,266 call him a workhorse. 820 00:22:05,266 --> 00:22:07,100 He works all the time. 821 00:22:07,100 --> 00:22:09,066 And he doesn't play 822 00:22:09,066 --> 00:22:10,733 the partisanship game. 823 00:22:10,733 --> 00:22:12,100 He's never done that. 824 00:22:12,100 --> 00:22:12,900 >> Plumb: The irony is 825 00:22:12,900 --> 00:22:14,233 is that he's been lambasted 826 00:22:14,233 --> 00:22:15,633 by some of his opponents 827 00:22:15,633 --> 00:22:16,900 as being a liberal Democrat. 828 00:22:16,900 --> 00:22:17,966 Well, you can call him 829 00:22:17,966 --> 00:22:19,000 a Democrat, but I'm not sure 830 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:19,800 you can call him 831 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:20,666 a liberal Democrat. 832 00:22:20,666 --> 00:22:21,433 You talk to people 833 00:22:21,433 --> 00:22:22,266 in Washington, they'll tell you 834 00:22:22,266 --> 00:22:23,066 John is a member 835 00:22:23,066 --> 00:22:24,166 of the Blue Dog Democrats, 836 00:22:24,166 --> 00:22:25,533 conservative Democrats, 837 00:22:25,533 --> 00:22:27,933 and that he votes more in line 838 00:22:27,933 --> 00:22:29,600 with traditional Republican 839 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:30,800 positions on many issues 840 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:31,666 than he does 841 00:22:31,666 --> 00:22:32,900 what a lot of people think of 842 00:22:32,900 --> 00:22:34,100 as Democratic issues. 843 00:22:34,100 --> 00:22:38,133 >> We have in our caucus people 844 00:22:38,133 --> 00:22:39,500 we call Yellow Dog Democrats. 845 00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:40,500 That means 846 00:22:40,500 --> 00:22:42,033 this person's a Democrat 847 00:22:42,033 --> 00:22:43,800 come hell or high water, 848 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:44,666 would vote for a Democrat 849 00:22:44,666 --> 00:22:46,966 even if it was a yellow dog. 850 00:22:46,966 --> 00:22:48,733 We have--the Blue Dog Democrats 851 00:22:48,733 --> 00:22:51,000 are the more conservatives. 852 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:51,966 We have another group 853 00:22:51,966 --> 00:22:53,500 called the New Dems. 854 00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:54,333 They're sort of 855 00:22:54,333 --> 00:22:56,733 pro-business oriented. 856 00:22:56,733 --> 00:22:58,766 And people are always looking 857 00:22:58,766 --> 00:23:00,266 at John trying to figure out 858 00:23:00,266 --> 00:23:01,000 which one of these groups 859 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:02,800 he fits into. 860 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:03,600 And nobody could ever put him 861 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:04,800 in a group. 862 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:05,600 And he doesn't join 863 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:07,433 any one of them. 864 00:23:07,433 --> 00:23:08,633 If you look at 865 00:23:08,633 --> 00:23:10,000 his voting record, you says, 866 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:11,500 "Hey, I think 867 00:23:11,500 --> 00:23:13,733 this guy's a Blue Dog." 868 00:23:13,733 --> 00:23:14,700 But every now and then, 869 00:23:14,700 --> 00:23:15,533 I would go to John, 870 00:23:15,533 --> 00:23:17,000 and I'd see him casting a vote. 871 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:18,300 And I've said to him-- 872 00:23:18,300 --> 00:23:18,900 and I've done this 873 00:23:18,900 --> 00:23:19,766 more than once-- 874 00:23:19,766 --> 00:23:20,500 I've said, "John, are you sure 875 00:23:20,500 --> 00:23:23,033 you want to vote this way?" 876 00:23:23,033 --> 00:23:24,033 He said, "Yes I am sure 877 00:23:24,033 --> 00:23:24,833 I want to vote this way." 878 00:23:24,833 --> 00:23:26,533 He said, "There's some things 879 00:23:26,533 --> 00:23:27,266 that's got to get 880 00:23:27,266 --> 00:23:28,600 beyond politics." 881 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:30,700 >> Osteen: Spratt is 882 00:23:30,700 --> 00:23:32,933 an interesting politician, 883 00:23:32,933 --> 00:23:36,300 in my view, because he is, 884 00:23:36,300 --> 00:23:38,300 he's not a camera whore 885 00:23:38,300 --> 00:23:39,766 and not a microphone whore 886 00:23:39,766 --> 00:23:40,633 like many people 887 00:23:40,633 --> 00:23:41,933 in Congress are. 888 00:23:41,933 --> 00:23:43,266 He's a workhorse. 889 00:23:43,266 --> 00:23:44,866 He's not a show horse. 890 00:23:44,866 --> 00:23:46,733 He doesn't look 891 00:23:46,733 --> 00:23:47,766 for the limelight. 892 00:23:47,766 --> 00:23:48,500 He just wants 893 00:23:48,500 --> 00:23:49,566 to get things done. 894 00:23:49,566 --> 00:23:52,133 >> He is the most able fellow, 895 00:23:52,133 --> 00:23:53,433 probably, in the United States 896 00:23:53,433 --> 00:23:55,600 House of Representatives. 897 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:57,933 He's well schooled in defense 898 00:23:57,933 --> 00:24:02,966 and awfully talented and able 899 00:24:02,966 --> 00:24:04,600 and, to my despair, 900 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:07,300 didn't run for the Senate-- 901 00:24:07,300 --> 00:24:08,266 [chuckles] 902 00:24:08,266 --> 00:24:09,633 where he could have really 903 00:24:09,633 --> 00:24:11,566 gone right to the top. 904 00:24:11,566 --> 00:24:13,100 >> Mack: I think he could have, 905 00:24:13,100 --> 00:24:14,800 could have already 906 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:16,433 been the governor 907 00:24:16,433 --> 00:24:18,700 if he'd decided to run. 908 00:24:18,700 --> 00:24:19,666 And a lot of times, 909 00:24:19,666 --> 00:24:20,933 congressmen can't get there, 910 00:24:20,933 --> 00:24:22,066 but I think 911 00:24:22,066 --> 00:24:24,266 people recognize his abilities. 912 00:24:24,266 --> 00:24:25,300 And I think he could have been 913 00:24:25,300 --> 00:24:26,800 in the United States Senate 914 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:27,900 if he'd wanted to. 915 00:24:27,900 --> 00:24:30,233 He likes being the Congressman. 916 00:24:30,233 --> 00:24:31,466 >> Spratt: Ultimately, 917 00:24:31,466 --> 00:24:32,933 I may have, could have a shot 918 00:24:32,933 --> 00:24:33,833 at being chairman of 919 00:24:33,833 --> 00:24:35,533 House Armed Services Committee, 920 00:24:35,533 --> 00:24:37,166 and having served there 921 00:24:37,166 --> 00:24:40,133 for a long period of time, 922 00:24:40,133 --> 00:24:43,233 I'd like to crown my career, 923 00:24:43,233 --> 00:24:45,733 maybe, or at least complete 924 00:24:45,733 --> 00:24:48,033 some things that I've learned 925 00:24:48,033 --> 00:24:49,333 over the years on that committee 926 00:24:49,333 --> 00:24:51,233 by possibly being the chairman 927 00:24:51,233 --> 00:24:52,000 of that committee. 928 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:53,400 That's, that's just a bit 929 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,300 of a dream for the future 930 00:24:56,300 --> 00:24:57,766 because I'm happy where I am, 931 00:24:57,766 --> 00:24:59,566 doing what I'm doing for now 932 00:24:59,566 --> 00:25:00,566 on the Budget Committee, 933 00:25:00,566 --> 00:25:01,566 and I think I can, 934 00:25:01,566 --> 00:25:04,033 I think I can do something 935 00:25:04,033 --> 00:25:06,600 that--good for the country. 936 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:07,433 >> Sanders: Next step 937 00:25:07,433 --> 00:25:08,600 for John Spratt 938 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:10,966 may not be a step at all. 939 00:25:10,966 --> 00:25:11,933 Perhaps it'll just be 940 00:25:11,933 --> 00:25:13,500 the opportunity to continue 941 00:25:13,500 --> 00:25:14,400 to work where he feels 942 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:16,266 he can do the most good. 943 00:25:16,266 --> 00:25:17,300 He may not have completely 944 00:25:17,300 --> 00:25:18,433 ignored his father's advice 945 00:25:18,433 --> 00:25:19,333 about not getting 946 00:25:19,333 --> 00:25:21,200 into politics after all. 947 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:22,533 He appears to be more interested 948 00:25:22,533 --> 00:25:24,700 in getting things done 949 00:25:24,700 --> 00:25:25,533 than in gaining 950 00:25:25,533 --> 00:25:26,933 political points. 951 00:25:26,933 --> 00:25:27,866 He still lives 952 00:25:27,866 --> 00:25:29,200 in the town of York, 953 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:29,933 in the same house 954 00:25:29,933 --> 00:25:31,033 where he grew up. 955 00:25:31,033 --> 00:25:32,466 His home telephone number 956 00:25:32,466 --> 00:25:33,533 is listed in the public 957 00:25:33,533 --> 00:25:34,833 phone directory. 958 00:25:34,833 --> 00:25:36,066 And he moves with ease 959 00:25:36,066 --> 00:25:37,400 from chairing a committee 960 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:39,166 on the Hill to celebrating 961 00:25:39,166 --> 00:25:40,166 the Fourth of July 962 00:25:40,166 --> 00:25:42,733 in a small town back home. 963 00:25:42,733 --> 00:25:43,800 John Spratt knows 964 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:45,133 where he came from, 965 00:25:45,133 --> 00:25:46,800 and he knows very well 966 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:48,200 where he wants to go. 967 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:49,033 >> Spratt: My parents 968 00:25:49,033 --> 00:25:50,966 believed in me, too. 969 00:25:50,966 --> 00:25:51,733 So they raised me 970 00:25:51,733 --> 00:25:55,266 with high expectations. 971 00:25:55,266 --> 00:25:59,033 And I tried to achieve them. 972 00:25:59,033 --> 00:25:59,700 And they gave me 973 00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:01,533 lots of opportunities. 974 00:26:01,533 --> 00:26:05,033 And I have to acknowledge that. 975 00:26:05,033 --> 00:26:08,266 And I had a huge advantage 976 00:26:08,266 --> 00:26:09,300 of some mentors 977 00:26:09,300 --> 00:26:11,133 in this community, 978 00:26:11,133 --> 00:26:12,166 from football coaches 979 00:26:12,166 --> 00:26:13,400 to Boy Scout leaders 980 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:16,766 to high school teachers who-- 981 00:26:16,766 --> 00:26:19,333 and to our ministers-- 982 00:26:19,333 --> 00:26:21,300 who all had an impact 983 00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:22,833 on my personality. 984 00:26:22,833 --> 00:26:23,800 Maybe it's because they thought 985 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:25,066 there was a spark here 986 00:26:25,066 --> 00:26:25,800 or something here 987 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:27,700 that was worth cultivating, 988 00:26:27,700 --> 00:26:30,900 but being a small town, 989 00:26:30,900 --> 00:26:33,066 I got that recognition early on 990 00:26:33,066 --> 00:26:34,533 and got lots of encouragement, 991 00:26:34,533 --> 00:26:35,500 lots of guidance, 992 00:26:35,500 --> 00:26:37,700 lots of support and inspiration 993 00:26:37,700 --> 00:26:39,400 as a consequence of it. 994 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:40,266 So I don't attribute 995 00:26:40,266 --> 00:26:41,700 much of what I've succeeded 996 00:26:41,700 --> 00:26:43,066 in that sense to myself 997 00:26:43,066 --> 00:26:46,900 but to them because I was simply 998 00:26:46,900 --> 00:26:48,833 fulfilling their expectations. 999 00:26:49,033 --> 00:26:54,333 ♪ 1000 00:26:54,333 --> 00:27:00,400 Captioned by: CompuScripts Captioning, Inc. www.compuscriptsinc.com 1001 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:10,400 ♪ 1002 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:20,333 ♪ 1003 00:27:20,333 --> 00:27:30,333 ♪ 1004 00:27:30,333 --> 00:27:38,900 ♪