A photograph of US Congressman Les AuCoin at a hearing for the MX missile in 1985. Those in favor of disarmament criticized the development and deployment of the American MX missile (MX standing for "Missile, Experimental"), later known as the LGM-118 Peacekeeper. In a seperate letter to his fellow representatives, Congressman AuCoin and Congressman Bill Green stated "As we approach they key votes on the MX, we urge you not to be beguiled by the Administration's 'Geneva argument' -- i.e., that voting against unfencing the funds for 21 more MX missiles will undercut our position at Geneva. Let's face it: If we buy that argument we wil abdicate Congressional control of the defense budget indefinitely. The Geneva negotiations will almost certainly continue for many years, and will involve virtually all nuclear, space and even conventional programs. If we allow it, all these programs could then be cut off from Congressional scrutiny on the grounds that they are 'bargaining chips.'"
