A blog of national and Arkansas politics by Congressman Ed Bethune

 Meryl Streep’s portrayal of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the movie Iron Lady is extraordinary. Some critics have said ugly things about the movie but, after all, it was made in Hollywood. If you discount the expected historical inaccuracies, a very instructive and entertaining film remains. As one who served in the United States Congress during the first five years of her ministry, I had the opportunity to meet her and appreciate the kinship between her policies and those of President Reagan.

The following is taken from my memoir, Jackhammered:  "In 1983, a bill to create a Martin Luther King holiday came to the floor of the House of Representatives. The bill was explosively controversial, but I vowed to support it. Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina and a number of outside groups were attacking the bill arguing that confidential FBI records would show that Dr. King had communist ties. It was a specious claim, but it was politically effective. As a former FBI agent, I countered the contention.