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News stories from Saturday December 18, 1971
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- The Justice Department ordered almost as many electronic surveillances - wiretaps and bugs -- in 1969 and 1970 on its own authority as were approved by the federal courts in those years, Senator Edward Kennedy disclosed. The Senator added that the warrantless devices were used "from 3.4 to 9.6 times as many days" as were the court-approved devices. The issue of warrantless devices is before the Supreme Court. [New York Times]
- President Nixon, in a surprise appearance accompanied by the finance ministers of the 10 most industrialized nations, announced "the most significant monetary agreement in the history of the world." The agreement, a new set of currency exchange rates, includes a devaluation of the dollar by 8.57% (raising the price of gold from $35 an ounce to $38) and revaluations of the yen by 17% and the mark by 5%. [New York Times]
- President Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan of Pakistan formally asked Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, to return home from the United States to form a new government. A new constitution and a representative government were promised as soon as Mr. Bhutto returned. Other indications of the political turmoil within Pakistan following the country's acceptance of an Indian cease-fire included demonstration in some cities and denunciations of the President by some politicians. [New York Times]
- An investigation of close to 150 large retailers and wholesalers was ordered by the Price Commission. The commission asked the Internal Revenue Service to find out if the companies have increased prices in violation of federal regulations. [New York Times]
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