Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for August 19, 1980
August 18, 1980
August 20, 1980
Transcript:
Man: Mr. Cutler, the reason we are all here today is because the people have a right to know if the President's brother influenced the U.S. government. This committee's investigation will be thorough but fair. To expand on Senator Dole's phrase, we're not here to push anyone into a buzz saw, or over a cliff, or in front of a powerful, speeding locomotive. In the final analysis, Mr. Cutler, this committee exists but to ask one critical question: what did the President know and when did he know it? Voice: That's kind of a trite question, don't you think, Senator? Man: Don't worry, it's only ceremonial. We expect to work for the answers.
For those not in the know: In September 1978, Billy took a trip to Libya seeking to make a deal with Muammar Gaddafi. While there, Billy made anti-Semitic comments and urinated on the airport tarmac. This all caused a great deal of embarrassment for Jimmy Carter. Worse, it was soon revealed that Billy had received hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans from Libya. The scandal was dubbed Billygate. After a Senate investigation, a bipartisan report concluded Billy had not done anything illegal. However, it was another black eye against the already embattled President Carter.