This Day In 1970's History: Saturday November 22, 1980
- Iran requested the United States to give a "positive" or a "negative" response to its four conditions for the release of the American hostages, Pars, the Iranian press agency, said. The request, the agency said, was sent to the Algerian government, the intermediary in the release terms, Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Rajai was quoted as saying Washington's initial response "was neither explicit nor clear." [New York Times]
- More than 100 people might have died in the Las Vegas hotel fire, and it is known that at least 500 others were injured in the blaze that engulfed the first two floors of the MGM Grand Hotel at dawn Friday. The number of dead has been confirmed at 83. Most of them died of the smoke that rose through the 26-story building, which contained 2,076 rooms and a casino. The fire's origin has not been determined, but the kitchen is the focus of attention. [New York Times]
- Ronald Reagan's key advisers were helping him in Los Angeles to choose nominees for his principal cabinet posts: State, Defense, Treasury and Attorney General. [New York Times]
- The Reagan administation may be greeted by a Soviet Union looking for a "a more stable, less confrontational relationship," with the United States, according to Secretary of State Edmund Muskie. He said in an interview that Moscow seems to desire "a face-saving" way to resolve the Afghanistan issue. The new administration, he said, will have to deal with some issues immediately, including the necessity of ending the war between Iran and Iraq, which threatens to further inflate oil prices. [New York Times]
- Mae West died at her home in Hollywood. She was 87 years old and had been recuperating from a stroke three months ago. [New York Times]
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