News stories from Saturday January 23, 1971
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- In his State of the Union message, President Nixon outlined many goals: welfare reform, full employment, attacking environmental problems, a new national health care plan, revenue sharing and restructuring the executive department. The President is seeking the cooperation of Congress to help achieve these goals.
Nixon met with congressional leaders and urged non-political consideration of his programs. Congressmen expressed doubts about the prospects for a significant restructuring of executive departments because too many bureaucrats would be affected. A health program is possible along with some welfare reform, but revenue sharing and government reorganization will face strong opposition. Democratic party chairman Lawrence O'Brien accused the President of ignoring two vital aspects of the state of the union: Vietnam and the economy.
[CBS] - U.S. transport planes delivered supplies to Cambodia; Cambodian forces fought North Vietnamese on the outskirts of Phnom Penh; a bomb exploded at a government office. [CBS]
- Sources in Washington said that the U.S. is giving financial aid to Thailand's forces in Laos. All three countries denied the report.
Communist Chinese forces are involved in Laos. Chinese activity is most obvious in the building of roads across northern Laos; Chinese troops and artillery protect the roads. The roads are considered too politically sensitive for the allies to attack.
[CBS] - President Nixon flew to Georgia to pay respects to Senator Richard Russell, who died Thursday. Nixon placed a wreath on Russell's coffin at the Georgia state capitol building and called Russell the most reliable of Senators in times of crisis. [CBS]
- Former President Harry Truman is suffering from inflammation of the large intestine. He is listed in good condition in a Kansas City hospital. [CBS]
- A oil tanker ran aground in Long Island Sound, spilling 386,000 gallons of oil near New Haven, Connecticut, but there was no significant damage to marine life. [CBS]
- A chemical plant in Providence, Maryland, is polluting Little Big Creek. Some residents say that the odor from the creek is sickening, yet others in the area report no problems. Plant owner Paul Mraz is concerned about the complaints but believes that the claims of sickness are groundless. A court order gives the plant until March 15th to stop the odor, but due to a lack of progress the State Health Department has asked that the plant be closed immediately. A court ruling is expected on Monday. [CBS]
- Eugene Cernan, a backup astronaut for next week's moon flight, narrowly escaped death when his helicopter crashed; he suffered only minor cuts and bruises. [CBS]
- A hearing has determined that the prosecution of Clay Shaw for perjury should be halted. Shaw is accused of lying to a jury in a trial which charged him with conspiracy in President Kennedy's 1963 assassination; Shaw was acquitted. Shaw retired in 1965 but the cost of his defense in this trial means he must find a new job because he is financially ruined compared to what he had before the trial. Shaw says that he will continue fighting until he is vindicated. [CBS]