News stories from Sunday June 4, 1972
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- Angela Davis has been found innocent of all charges (murder, kidnapping and conspiracy) in connection with the California courthouse shootout two years ago. After a trial which lasted 13 weeks, the jury deliberated for only 13 hours. Prosecutor Albert Harris looked as though he knew what the verdict would be, though the jurors were impassive. Upon hearing "not guilty" Davis threw her arms around a friend and both begin sobbing; her supporters shrieked. Davis says that her freedom is an example of all victories that are to come. Jury foreman Mary Timothy said that the unanimous verdict speaks for itself; Davis thanked each juror who set her free. [NBC]
- The most important primary this year is two days off, in California; all 271 convention votes go to the winner. Polls say it will be George McGovern, but Hubert Humphrey doesn't believe the polls. Another recent poll shows McGovern equal to President Nixon in popularity. A third televised debate in California was held today between McGovern and Humphrey. Rep. Shirley Chisholm, Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty and a representative for Alabama Governor George Wallace joined them. The first two debates probably did not change very many minds and the third was even less decisive because of five candidates participating. On ABC's "Issues and Answers", Humphrey and McGovern both stated that they will support whoever the Democratic party nominee is.
Humphrey and McGovern also agreed on another hour-long debate; Yorty called the one-on-one debate proposal useless, as the two front-runners would just argue about who turned against the Vietnam war first. Yorty says he could have added a different point of view.
[NBC] - Three other primaries are set for next Tuesday. The New Jersey race is important because 109 delegate votes are at stake. In South Dakota, McGovern is unopposed; he'll pick up 17 delegates in his home state.
In New Mexico, Humphrey and McGovern face each other again. New Mexico is a huge state with a small population. Only 18 convention delegates are chosen there. McGovern's wife Eleanor and his daughter & grandson are campaigning for him In New Mexico. He has money for ads, and plenty of volunteers. The Wallace campaign in New Mexico is being run out of a trailer in Albuquerque. Wallace's son George, Jr. is campaigning in the state. Humphrey has little going for him in New Mexico. His campaign is run out of a headquarters that was abandoned by Senator Jackson; he has no money or staff. Most of the state's political leaders support him, but won't say so.
[NBC] - A year ago when George McGovern announced that he would run for president, many fellow Democrats laughed at him. Today, some are planning a movement to try to stop McGovern from the winning the nomination. [NBC]
- The National Governors conference is meeting in Houston, Texas. Many Democrat governors favor a "Stop McGovern" movement; they believe that McGovern would do to Democrats what Barry Goldwater did to Republicans in 1964 -- cause them to lose big. Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter said that one-third of the Democrat governors have contacted him, and they are concerned about McGovern winning the nomination. Wisconsin Governor Patrick Lucey stated that a "Stop McGovern" movement will not succeed. If McGovern wins the California primary, most Democrat governors will climb on the bandwagon. [NBC]
- The alternatives to McGovern aren't good. Humphrey has done only fair in the primaries, Muskie was forced out, and Wallace is not in a position to get the nomination. That leaves Senator Edward Kennedy, who is not a candidate. In a campaign speech in Columbus, Ohio, Kennedy said that American aspirations are no longer being met. He stated that the United States searches for peace, but finds war; searches for justice, but finds special privilege; searches for excellence, but finds mediocrity. Kennedy insists that he is still not a candidate. [NBC]
- Alabama Governor George Wallace loses his job at midnight tonight, temporarily. He is still recuperating in a Maryland hospital, and the Alabama constitution says that if the governor is out of the state for more than 20 days, the lieutenant governor takes over. Wallace and Lt. Governor Jere Beasley have feuded in the past, but Beasley says that he won't move into Wallace's office or change his program. Wallace will become governor again when he returns to Alabama. [NBC]
- American warplanes bombed North Vietnam. An oil-pumping station was wrecked near Haiphong and a section of railroad between Hanoi and China was cut. [NBC]
- U.S. bombing in South Vietnam is being hampered by bad weather. Before North Vietnam's offensive began, operations at Bien Hoa were being closed out. The base had been turned over to South Vietnam as part of Vietnamization. But the Americans never left; instead a build-up of American forces is evident. 3,500 U.S. airmen are now stationed at Bien Hoa, triple the number of two months ago. The airmen make bombing runs over An Loc, Kontum and other enemy concentrations in the area. [NBC]
- U.S. officials are negotiating with Algerian leaders for the return of $500,000 which was paid to a man who hijacked a plane from San Francisco to Algiers on Friday. [NBC]
- In Jerusalem, Japan officially asked forgiveness from Israel for last week's massacre at the Tel Aviv airport by three Japanese gunmen. President Nixon had the American ambassador read a message of condolence. [NBC]
- In Lake Conway, Arkansas, an ecological experiment is underway. The lake near Little Rock provides excellent fishing, but parts of it are clogged with weeds and grass. Chemicals to control them are harmful. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is experimenting with exotic fish from China which feed on underwater grasses. Walking catfish which were previously imported became more of a nuisance than a help, so conservationists are cautious. In 10 years of experiments, however, no adverse effects have been found from the Chinese fish. Their eggs must be hatched artificially in a laboratory since they don't spawn naturally in Arkansas waters. This will keep them from becoming a nuisance. [NBC]