Word: wrighting
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...Democratic leaders, however, were frantically mobilizing support-for opposite sides. Indiana's John Brademas, the Democratic whip and a leader of the pro-Greek lobby, was fighting to keep the embargo. At this point, he had a lone vote in reserve. Opposing him was Democratic Floor Leader James Wright of Texas, who had already used up most of the "sleepers" he could call on to vote for the resumption of arms sales to Turkey. Brademas played his last card and Wright matched him; the tally...
...victory, reports TIME Congressional Correspondent Neil MacNeil, came only after some important private maneuvering by Jim Wright. Although he personally favored keeping the embargo against Turkey, he felt that as Democratic leader he must back the Administration's pro-Turkey policy. First he tried to draft a compromise acceptable to Brademas and others who favored Greece rather than Turkey. Brademas agreed to a one year suspension of the embargo if Turkey would take positive steps to end the Cyprus stalemate. The President rejected that, however, arguing that it "would be like putting the Turks on parole. It would offend...
...Wright then started searching for some formula that could satisfy both the President and a House majority. The result was the bill passed last week. Similar to the Senate version, it allows the President to end the embargo if he certifies that Turkey "is acting in good faith to achieve a just and peaceful settlement of the Cyprus problem." The President must report to Congress every 60 days on progress toward a Cyprus solution...
...Wright began calling several dozen Democratic Congressmen to enlist their support. He said later, "A lot of them wanted the lifting of the embargo to pass, but they didn't want to vote for it." With an election only three months away, most Congressmen preferred not to antagonize the influential Greek lobby. But by the time the issue hit the House floor, Wright had a list of 16 Democrats whom he could call on if necessary to back the President...
Carter, meanwhile, had been doing some phoning of his own and was startled by what he found. Of the 30 backbenchers with whom he talked, ten said their vote depended upon what Wright did. This persuaded Carter to endorse the Texan's new compromise...