Rendez-Vous - Domengeaux Interview LA013;
Audiovisual Bureau/Consulate of France - 1340 Poydras Street, Suite 1710 - New Orleans, LA 70112;
Interview avec James Domengeaux, fondateur et président du CODOFIL, le Conseil pour le Développement du Français en Louisiane. 18:45;

Vicki ?;
CODOFIL founded in 1968;
Mr. Domengeaux is not necessarily in love with the French language because he cannot read or write it and never studied it. But he sees the possibilities and advantages that French education could give us;
Article in Times Picayune said the U.S. is lacking people who know foreign language skills;
Second languages in the U.S.;
At first, the U.S. wanted to overcome the melting pot it was becoming and become uniform in the language that it spoke. Now, people are differentiating and accepting cultural differences;
His family has been here in Louisiana for 300 years. Grew up speaking both English and French and he believes this to be the best way to learn a language, especially when one is young;
It's easy. We might not speak French as well, but everyone understands one another;
04:49 Mr. Domengeaux receiving credit/privilege from France, Canada, Belgium, etc. for what he did for French in Louisiana;
Going to numerous francophone countries and numerous tourists coming here, there's no trouble communicating with them whatsoever;
Little red button - les gens d'honneur de France;
French poll of what three things they desire most. Women were first, wine was second, and people of honor were third;
Being lucky to be born in Louisiana;
Writer Yves Berger writes for Le Monde in France and says Louisiana is the prettiest place in the world;
Mr. Domengeaux was a congressman before getting involved with French (1941-1949);
Playing poker with government officials;
Truman was the Senator of Missouri at that time (before he was Vice President). They'd play poker every Saturday night and he was very lucky. After he became President, Mr. Domengeaux said he ran the government just like he played poker. He'd take chances and luck out;
He has been an attorney in Lafayette for over 50 years and works with Bob Wright;
Commodities Exchange in New Orleans started with Bob Wright started about 5 years ago;
Not his influence, but it was something that was there and he took advantage of it;
CODOFIL on television/radio portrays the Cajuns as people who lives in the swamps with big webbed feet and live with alligators;
09:59 Lafayette is the home base for CODOFIL? Trying to have branches in Shreveport and New Orleans;
Opened New Orleans branch yesterday;
Mr. Breaux (John Breaux?), Jimmy Fitzmorris' assistant;
Chapters in East and West Banks and 10th Ward, LaFourche Parish chapter (Galliano, Golden Meadow, no more French from Lock Port to Grand Isle);
What does CODOFIL do exactly? Use/promote/develop French everywhere possible for educative, economic, and touristic benefits;
Brought pride back to degraded/ignorant/poor language;
Competitive languages;
Anglo-Saxon Protestants support this movement;
Cosmopolitan atmosphere;
Tourism increased over 33% due to French activity - Bob LeBlanc;
Publicity that could not have been bought;
France knows CODOFIL better than President Carter;
14:40 People in Louisiana don't realize how important French in Louisiana is;
No desire to force everyone to speak French;
More beneficial form bilingual Americans;
Made mistakes because communication wasn't there. Vietnam War and French President Charles De Gaulle, Iranian language and crisis;
RadioFrance. French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac? American Ambassador to France coudn't speak any French. Mr. Domengeaux the American ambassador to tell President Ford that it was a crime to send someone to represent the United States who couldn't speak French;
Ambassador Firestone in Belgium couldn't speak French either;
Let's Be Proud To Speak French/Soyons Fiers De Parler Français;
Speak French, It's Money In The Pocket/Parlez Français, C'est De L'argent En Poche;