The U.S. Citizens Congress Education Foundation, an ultraconservative group founded by Rabbi Baruch Korff of Rehoboth, Mass., is conducting a congressional internship program that is open to students from Israel, Iran and four Arab countries–Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
According to the Foundation’s executive director, Barry Cooperstain of Taunton, Mass., the program is designed to place students for periods of six to nine months in jobs at the Capitol. The Foundation’s scholarship fund pays part of their expenses, he said, but none of them is compensated in any way by the U.S. government. Cooperstein has directed the Foundation since it was organized in December, 1976.
Two Iranians have completed their training period. One served under the aegis of Rep. James R. Mann (D. SC) and the other worked in a research capacity for the Senate Republic Steering Committee at the suggestion of Sen. James McClure (R. Id.).
At present, two Egyptians are in training. Mohammed Shebl is on the staff of Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R. Utah) and Omar Said is supervised by Dr. Daniel R. Cloutier, director of research for the Senate Republican Conference of which Sen. Carl T. Curtis (R. Neb.) is chairman.
The interns’ duties, according to the Foundation’s publication, include participation in the “full range of staff activities, from monitoring hearings and specific legislative proposals, to conducting research projects and handling correspondence.” They have opportunities, it said, to meet leaders of the House and Senate and top government officials.
Korff, who is honorary president of the U.S. Citizens Congress which he also founded and contributed to Richard Nixon’s financial support after his resignation from the Presidency, was the guest of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat last December in Cairo. He initiated the internships after meeting with Egyptian officials here early last winter. Both the Congress and the Foundation have their offices in Washington.
“It is the intention of the Foundation not only to facilitate the learning process of the intern but also to motivate him in the pursuit of those components essential to good government and domestic stability,” Cooperstein said. “This should ultimately benefit the intern’s native country and its future relationship with the United States and its neighbors.” Cooperstein to come here in the next two months.
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