This Day In 1970's History: Friday December 27, 1974
- President Ford held a meeting with 15 advisers in Vail, Colo., where he is vacationing, in an attempt to work out new policy proposals on energy that would both increase the supply and restrict consumption. Ron Nessen, the White House press secretary, described the meeting as "intense," and said the President had ordered that there be "no public discussion" of the options under consideration. [New York Times]
- The prosecution completed its final arguments at the Watergate cover-up trial by telling the jurors that it was now up to them to "balance the accounts" and close the ledgers on Watergate. "It's no fun casting stones," the chief prosecutor, James Neal, told the jury. "This government that's represented here does not cast stones with joy or happiness." The jurors are scheduled to begin their deliberations Monday after getting instructions in the law from Judge John Sirica. [New York Times]
- Federal Judge Arthur Garrity held three Boston school committeemen in civil contempt of court for refusing to approve a citywide busing plan for desegregation. He took under advisement until Monday what penalties he might impose on the committee members. Near the end of a court hearing, Judge Garrity appeared to be proposing a solution in which the committee would somehow "submit" the plan without approving it, although the committeemen had been firm in their opposition. [New York Times]
- Jack Benny, the comedian who had been a star of radio and then television for 40 years, died at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 80 years old, but Mr. Benny, in one of his best-loved and oldest jokes, had insisted for years that he was only 39. For millions in the 1930's and 1940's Sunday night at 7 meant Jack Benny and "The Gang." [New York Times]
- The Commerce Department reported that the United States balance of export and import trade slipped back into a modest deficit in November after a small surplus in October. The deficit, $113 million, was the sixth in the last seven months and brought the excess of imports over exports for the year to $2.4 billion. The deficit was more than accounted for by one product -- oil. [New York Times]
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