University of Virginia Library

Senator Spong Interview

Q: You said this war has turned
some of our interests away from
home, away from some of the
problems that we are facing. What
are the major problems that you see
that we are facing in America
today?

A: I think we have got to do
something about our cities, that's
obvious, and there isn't any easy
answer to that. I think that we have
got to restructure our priorities. I
think that it is absolutely ridiculous
that this nation would have the
health needs that it has and yet be
so overly involved with remote
problems. We have found a way to
make people live longer, the
population is growing and yet
relatively speaking, we are faced
with a shortage of doctor's, with
problems in our medical schools,
with insurance problems in so far as
health care is concerned. It just
seems to me that we have got to
face up to these domestic needs.

Q: You have long been interested
in education, especially in Virginia,
what are your feelings about
students in college today?

A: Well, I think they have gone
through a phase. I think that the
students today have had more
knowledge available to them than
students in past generations, simply
because there is more to learn
today than there was 10 or 20 years
ago. I think that the students are
relatively well informed, on
occasion I think they lack
perspective. I was rather
disappointed last Spring, several
thousand students came here and I
saw over three thousand of them,
but they disappeared once the
beaches opened and the holidays
began. And it gave me pause to
question how serious some of them
were about the matters that
brought them to Washington just
before the school year ended,
because their interest obviously
dropped off. On the other hand,
the fact that so many manifested
any interest in national affairs is far
different from the days when I was
a student at the University of
Virginia.

Q: What is your reasoning behind
your advocacy of full public
disclosure of legislator's assets and
liabilities?

A: I believe that the voting public
is entitled to know where a man's
investments are. I don't mean to
say by this that a man shouldn't
have investments. I think it is
perfectly alright for a Congressman
or Senator to have his wealth
invested in the American capital
system. On the other hand, I think
if he makes public and discloses
what these interests are this will
enable those who vote to judge for
themselves whether any public trust
is being violated or abused by the
method in which he votes. I am a
strong advocate of this, I do it myself,
although it isn't required under the
law. I think the public would feel a
lot better about their government if
they had an opportunity to judge
the interests of those who represent
them.

Q: Why has nothing come of this
proposed legislation?

A: It just missed by four votes
back in 1967 in the Senate. We
have been having a great deal of
difficulty having hearings. I have a
bill to require public disclosure by
members of Congress, members of
the Cabinet and by judges, Federal
judges, and I have been promised
hearings this year. We're going to
have hearings and I am very hopeful
that some legislation will emanate
from these.

Q: What would go on in those
hearings?

A: I think those who advocate
public disclosure of course would
testify and have some new
problems that have come up since I
have been working on this
legislation. For instance, the
American Bar Association has
passed regulations about lawyers
who serve in state legislatures and
Congress and I certainly think there
will be some testimony about what
the practices should be in regard to
the practice of law by one who is a
legislator. I personally have
divorced myself from my law firm.
I receive no income from the firm,
my name has been removed from it
and so I think that I have met the
requirements set by the ABA. But
there are many members of
Congress who feel that it is
perfectly alright for them to
continue practicing law while they
serve here

Q: And finally, what do you
remember most about your days at
The University?

A: Well, I had a very fine time at
the University of Virginia. I went
there just after the Second World
War. I had served almost four years
in the Air Force and I returned to
The University. The study of law
was very challenging. That is a very
excellent law school down there.
The people who returned were
excellent students. The competition
was very great. And while I was
returning and enjoying the study of
law as a veteran, I also worked for
the Athletic Department and wrote
sports publicity while I was there.
Virginia had very good football and
basketball teams in those days and
boxing was still a major sport. And
I did a great deal of writing and this
helped me to go to school and was
something that I enjoyed doing.
Charlottesville was a very
interesting community filled with
so many veterans from the Second
World War. Over half of the law
students were married and I
suppose that is not even unusual
today, but it was at that time. And
I have very happy memories of my
time there.