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Bethany Sue Boyles, a student at Crosby high school That in Crosby, Texas, echoed similar thoughts. "I think when I watch the news I'll have a much better appreciation for what's being said and certainly better understanding of our government."
     Jennifer Facciolla, a student at James E. Taylor high school in Katy, Texas, asked Meese why the Reagan Administration wanted to abolish the Education and Energy Departments. Although not in total agreement with his view, she was favorably impressed with Meese, who expressed the President's philosophy on cutting government bureaucracy. "He (Meese) seemed personable. Seeing the President's advisors in person like this makes one realize that our government is made up of people. He sounded as if he is truly concerned about us in the job the Administration is doing." 
     Earlier in the day, the 90 students who participated in the three interviews that their respective Congressional representatives or visited committee meetings on Capitol Hill.
     Rick Juarez, who is involved in student government at San Lorenzo High School in San Lorenzo, Calif. said the experience was uplifting. "I saw a congressional committee hearing in progress and later saw a law being passed. I think if everyone took the opportunity to go to Washington and see government firsthand, we would have better informed citizens and a better government."
     Juarez also was impressed by his tour of the nation's capital. "They didn't look like what I expected," said Juarez about the White House and the capital. "The city is much more real and interesting. You can feel the presence of something important going on."
     The Close Up Foundation, a national nonprofit organization, has, in 11 years, exposed almost 100,000 students and teachers from more than 30 states to intensive one-week programs in the nation's capital.
     R.J. Reynolds Industries, with headquarters in Winston-Salem, N.C. is the parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Del Monte Corp. (canned and prepared frozen foods, beverages, and fresh fruit); R.J. Reynolds Tobacco International, Inc.; Aminoil USA, Inc. (energy exploration and development); Sea-Land Industries Investments, Inc. (containerized shipping); and R.J. Reynolds Development Corp.

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INTERVIEWED AT THE WHITE HOUSE by high school students from the Houston and San Francisco bay areas was presidential advisor Edwin Meese. The interview was telecast nationally in mid-February to more than 2,000 CLASSROOMS by the Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network, sponsored by R.J. Reynolds Industries, Inc.

ATLANTA — in a major effort to support minority enterprise, R.J. Reynolds Industries, Inc. today announced the program to create a $10 million line of credit at 53 minority banks nationwide.
     The program is aimed at expanding lending programs "to currently operating minority businesses and to support establishment of new ones," said Joseph F. Abely Jr., RJR vice chairman of the board, in a speech here to the National Minority Supplier Development Council.
     In explaining the program, Abely said Reynolds Industries, the largest corporation in the southeast, next week "will place $1 million on deposit with Freedom National Bank in Harlem, New York. This $1 deposit supports a $10 million line of credit that will be syndicated to 53 minority banks."
  The RJR minority banking program is an extension of a broadscale company program in support of minority employment and educational opportunities, business development and community improvement.
  RJR's minority support program includes a $1 million contribution to the United Negro College Fund; a $1 million program to establish a scholastic achievement program at Winston-Salem State University designed to attract high achievers, strengthen faculty and improve curriculum; purchases from some 950 minority suppliers totaling more than $60 million in 1981; and support for minority community improvement organizations such as the National Urban League and others.
  "It is our responsibility to prove that we can make our economic system work - for the benefit of all segments of our society, not just a privileged few," Abely said in announcing the company's banking program.
  The RJR executive said the company's commitment to the program will be long-term. "We intend to make additional investment in the future of minority enterprise in 1982 and the years beyond."
  Abely explained that, "Minority entrepreneurs are a necessary and vital element in the business fabric of our country," but that, "dreams of making it in the mainstream of American entrepreneurship are more difficult today because of the cost and reduced availability of the money that is essential to finance those dreams."
  Current economic difficulties, however, can present an opportunity for the private sector to take a leadership role in society, Abely said.  
  "There is an emerging new environment for business in the U.S. today," the RJR executive commented "For many years, business spokesmen have shouted that government interference in business decision-making and operations was stifling progress.
  "Now, government regulations is easing. New tax incentives encourage us to invest, to expand, to modernize. It is up to all of us to prove that we can intelligently and responsibly manage in this changing environment."
  Abely called for private enterprise "to fill the void that now exists. We have an excellent opportunity to prove that private enterprise can help and with better results than those so far produced through government programs.
  "The minority business segment of the national economic structure holds great potential to reduce unemployment and produce independence" among the disadvantaged of society, he said.
  The RJR executive called upon private business to extend its commitment to minority enterprise. "We cannot limit our commitment to the purchase of the products or services of those (minority owned and controlled) companies. We must go beyond that commitment," Abely said, suggesting that other corporations join in supporting minority banking.
  R.J. Reynolds Industries, with headquarters in Winston-Salem, N.C., is the parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co,; Del Monte Corp. (canned and prepared frozen foods, beverage, and fresh fruit); R.J. Reynolds Tobacco International, Inc.; Aminoil USA, Inc. (energy); Sea-Land Industries Investments, Inc. (containerized shipping); and R.J. Reynolds Development Corp.
  
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