News stories from Sunday August 13, 1972
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- George McGovern charged that President Nixon is following the low road in his effort to be re-elected by using his Secretaries of Defense and State for political attacks. McGovern's charge follows an attack against Ramsey Clark by John Mitchell. Hanoi Radio broadcast statements by Clark denouncing the American bombing of North Vietnam, after which Mitchell called Clark's behavior "outrageous".
On ABC's "Issues and Answers", McGovern said that he does not support the forum Clark chose for his remarks, but neither does he indict it; the issue is not Clark's statement, but Nixon's bombing. McGovern criticized the President's technique of questioning the loyalty of those who disagree with him, citing past examples of the technique against Rep. Jerry Voorhis 25 years ago and Helen Gahagan Douglas in 1950. Now the target is Clark.
Democratic vice president nominee Sargent Shriver stands by his accusation that President Nixon missed an opportunity for peace in Vietnam in 1969. The State Department denies that such a chance existed; Vice President Spiro Agnew called Shriver "very inexperienced".
[NBC] - North Vietnam continues small hit-and-run attacks, blowing up a bridge in Danang, an ammo dump at Long Binh and one at Saigon. North Vietnamese troops have been discovered within 15 miles of Saigon. Regular ARVN troops were sent to drive them out after local militiamen had taken a heavy beating. A convoy took troops, ammo and food to Binh Son without incident. But little "brush fire" incidents divert regular troops from the main battle fronts. [NBC]
- An American fighter shot down a North Vietnamese MiG-21 near Hanoi. One U.S. plane was downed over the DMZ. [NBC]
- Three Americans have been fighting alongside the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong. The identities of the three are unknown. Their code names are Salt and Pepper (a white and black team), and Pork Chop. They have been reportedly fighting with and propagandizing for the Communists. [NBC]
- A group of westerners finished their tour of North Vietnam; one of them is former Attorney General Ramsey Clark, who stated in Bangkok, Thailand, that he saw evidence of heavy bombing damage in North Vietnam. A member of the Danish parliament claimed that the damage was worse than in Germany in 1945. Sean McBride, former foreign minister of Ireland, said that American POW's appear to be healthy. Two Frenchmen insisted that North Vietnamese dikes are being bombed deliberately.
A South Vietnamese priest who was released by North Vietnam reported that the Communists are not interested in exchanging POW's; he said that they will trade American POW's for the rebuilding of North Vietnam.
[NBC] - Frank Carlucci, who was picked by President Nixon to speed aid to flood victims, visited Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Mobile homes have been set up to provide shelter for those who lost their homes in floods caused by Hurricane Agnes, but the Red Cross will shut down its last relief kitchen this week. Shelters in schools have been closed and the streets are littered with debris. Residents have been complaining about bureaucratic delays. [NBC]
- Boris Spassky asked to see his doctor, who told him to take a rest. The 14th game of the world chess championship in Iceland against Bobby Fischer has been postponed until Tuesday. Fischer leads 8 games to 5. [NBC]
- A U.S. Marine helicopter with eight people aboard crashed in the Philippines; all escaped with only minor injuries. The helicopter was on a relief mission to Luzon, which has been badly hit by floods; 400 people have died there. A massive relief operation is underway. [NBC]
- The Mediterranean Sea has become a sewer. French officials have banned swimming along four miles of beach at Hyeres. Each quart of sea water contains 36 million germs, 2 ½ times the danger level. All of the town's waste is pumped into the sea six feet from shore.
Even a modern sanitation plant has limitations. Boats from Nice and Cannes took water samples, scooping up floating trash. The sanitation department sprays insecticide, disinfectant and deodorizer on the beach; they blame the smell on hippies who sleep on the beach. But tourists still abound.
[NBC]