Utah Senator Orrin Hatch Interview

Journalist Cokie Roberts, off camera, interviews U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) in Temple Square; cars parked or driving by in BG, the Salt Lake Temple across street. Roberts and Sen. Hatch chat before an adult male, off camera, states the camera crew is ready. Roberts asks Sen. Hatch what he believes are the major issues in this campaign. Hatch sees this campaign being about whether this country will continue in a new direction, bringing the country out of its current mess, or whether we revert back to taxing, spending, and watching inflation go out of control. Unfortunately, it will take time to get out of this mess, but Hatch believes in sticking with the values, principles, and programs U.S. President Ronald Reagan is articulating. Roberts asks Sen. Hatch if there any issues being so closely tied with President Reagan, given the current state of the economy. Hatch will live with his decision because he believes in the President's direction and believes in the intelligence of his electorate. There are other issues that are important to Utah and he and Sen. Jake Garn (R-UT) chair a couple of committees in the Senate that bring Utah some power and influence.