This Day In 1970's History: Thursday February 8, 1973
- Congress passed emergency legislation to end the strike against the Penn Central Railroad; the strike had been called to protest railroad job cutting. A long strike could cause major problems since freight is carried to 16 states by the railroad. Congress called for a 90-day cooling-off session and also called for the Nixon administration to submit a plan to Congress within 45 days ensuring the preservation of essential rail services in the Northeast.
Penn Central can't continue without government help. Trustee Jervis Langdon says that an overall plan is needed to restore rail viability in the Northeast. United Transportation Union president Al Chesser says the railroad is like a welfare patient. The bill passed by Congress will be flown to President Nixon who is now in California. [CBS]
- Bodies are still being recovered from the crash of a Navy jet into an apartment building in Alameda, California. The Navy's Corsair has had multiple problems and several have crashed. Recovery teams which were digging out bodies this morning believe that 40 people were in the building at the time of the crash. The body of the pilot, Lt. Robert Ward, has been uncovered. [CBS]
- Senate Republican George Aiken says that the Vietnam aftermath requires a spirit of reconciliation. But when Secretary of State Rogers testified today in Congress, little spirit of reconciliation was present. Rogers ran into congressional opposition for post-war aid to Indochina. Rogers stated that if certain people had kept quiet, the war could have been ended earlier, and he said that he hopes Congress will admit that President Nixon was right all along. Rep. Donald Fraser asked if Rogers wants Congress to go further and declare it has approved everything that the President has done in the last four years. Rogers replied that Congress should say that it's very pleased with and proud of government policies. Congress is not in the mood to approve post-war aid to Indochina. [CBS]
- President Thieu of South Vietnam charged Communists with more cease-fire violations. [CBS]
- In Paris, the Viet Cong is said to be anxious for high level talks in Saigon regarding the political future of South Vietnam, but they will come to Saigon only if they are allowed the same freedom of movement they get in Paris. Viet Cong delegations currently in South Vietnam are being kept isolated. In an incident at Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base where Viet Cong and North Vietnamese delegates are being kept, reporters were arrested by South Vietnamese troops and their papers confiscated for trying to interview delegates. The government later apologized. [CBS]
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