War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Interview with Michael Mawby, 1987
Description:
Michael Mawby was Assistant Director of SANE. In the interview he describes his participation in the fight against deployment of the MX missile system, an issue that began as a local concern for people living in Utah and Nevada, where the missiles were going to be based. However, once those states campaigned enough to change the strategic plan, the issue rose to the national level. Mr. Mawby then describes the extensive lobbying efforts to cancel the MX system altogether, as well as the fight in the House of Representatives, which began to consume members to such an extent that they tried to avoid discussing the issue at all during visits to their home districts. Key freeze supporters like Les Aspin and Norman Dicks, he comments, created public confusion over their decision to back the basing policy. He analyzes a compromise that has passed both the House and the Senate, which would permanently cap the number of MX Missiles at 50.
