August 1980: Unemployment rising to 13.6%; Brown White House & Congress differing on strategies of economic recovery
Once the July Jobs Report came out, members of both political parties clashed quickly on how to interpret them & more importantly, what to do about it. Congressional GOPers attacked the Brown administration for the ongoing inflation crisis & energy crisis; while Congressional Dems faulted the Brown administration for austerity politics as the President vetoed high numbers of spending bills in recent months. President Brown & his team quickly rejected the criticism: "We cannot spend our way out of this economic downturn by increasing deficits," the President told reporters at the Rose Garden of the White House. "We can't even talk about certain expenditures that have stimulating effects, but unfortunately some on the Republican side of the aisle in Congress have ignored my offer in proposing bipartisan alternatives with meaningful spending cuts across the board. None were even offered, just using the ongoing economic recession as a political football," he added.
In the meantime, former CA Governor Ronald Reagan (R) emphasized broad tax reforms in lowering corporate taxes & several tax brackets for individuals. He discussed his "Secret Tax Reform Plan" once he took his formal nomination back in July. Reagan also called on Congress & President Brown to negotiate for immediate action.
Inside sources: Vance's shadow diplomacy backfiring in bid to rescue American hostages out of Iran; massive political pressure on Brown mounting
Over a year following the overthrow of the Pahlavi's in Iran & after the Iranian Islamic government took American hostages, there's no end in sight. Despite several various diplomatic efforts & threats of military action, the Iranian Islamic government had refused to budge. Sources surrounding US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance confessed an informal & secretive meeting arranged by West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt between Vance & Iranian diplomats produced any good results. Some insiders of the US State Department pressured Vance in lobbying the President into using military force. Following the disastrous botched military rescue attempt a few months earlier, President Jerry Brown has refused to do so, siding with Vance's shadow diplomatic solutions because of fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East. He has urged Vance & the US State Department continuing to use all diplomatic options. Assessing the situation upon Vance's return, President Brown may have to make another decision in the remaining months he has left in office.