News stories from Tuesday April 4, 1972
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- North Vietnamese forces continued to drive through the demilitarized zone into South Vietnam's Quang Tri province. The South Vietnamese naval base on the Cua Viet River near Dong Ha and Fire Base Anne have fallen to North Vietnam; Quang Tri and Hue are now endangered. Fourteen South Vietnamese bases have been taken since Thursday. U.S. jets are pounding those bases and American ships are firing on the enemy, and being fired upon by North Vietnam. Refugees are streaming southward and some South Vietnamese soldiers are also running away in the face of the enemy.
The massive U.S. counter-offensive is on. Planes from Air Force bases in Danang and Thailand and from carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin are being committed to save the area of South Vietnam below the DMZ, but weather is hampering the planes. South Vietnamese troops are preparing to re-enter Dong Ha, which was abandoned under heavy fire. One American advisor, Marine Capt. John Ripley, accompanies the South Vietnamese force.
[CBS] - The State Department called North Vietnam's offensive a naked attack; the Pentagon called it a continuing invasion. North Vietnam says it's a "people's uprising". [CBS]
- Communists are demanding that the Paris Peace Talks resume, but the U.S. and its allies refuse. [CBS]
- Six of the 12 Democrat presidential contenders are battling in Wisconsin; the economy and Vietnam are the key issues. George McGovern has the best organization in the state, and a real chance of winning. His questionable charge that ITT hasn't paid taxes hasn't hurt him. Hubert Humphrey wants to win here, as he lost Wisconsin in 1960 to John Kennedy. Humphrey wants votes from labor, farmers and blacks, and scoffed at critics who say that he is promising too much.
Edmund Muskie urged voters in Milwaukee to pick the candidate who has a chance of beating Nixon -- himself. George Wallace said that he regrets not having recognized his potential in Wisconsin earlier; Henry Jackson is seeking Republican crossover votes as the "different" Democrat in the race; a shortage of funds caused spending on media advertising by John Lindsay to be cut. On the Republican ballot with President Nixon are representatives John Ashbrook and Pete McCloskey, neither of whom are campaigning.
[CBS] - After being charged by Ralph Nader, General Motors agreed to recall 130,000 Chevrolet Vegas for a possible fire hazard. [CBS]
- A government advisory commission on venereal disease recommended a five-year, $300 million federal program to control the epidemic of gonorrhea and syphilis. [CBS]
- The opening of baseball season has been postponed due to the players' strike. [CBS]
- The Teamsters magazine "Focus" criticized the Archie Bunker television character and politicians for their uncomplimentary characterizations of blue-collar workers. [CBS]
- A trade team headed by Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz left for the Soviet Union to sell the Russians surplus American grain. [CBS]
- The U.S. granted official diplomatic recognition to Bangladesh. Indian Premier Indira Gandhi contacted Pakistan for the first time since the war. [CBS]
- UPI reported that a Soviet military mission was in North Vietnam on the eve of the current offensive. [CBS]
- The cost of Life Savers candy has increased from 8 cents to 10 cents. A Beech-Nut company official claims that the price hike is justified by improved flavor and a larger quantity (the holes are smaller). [CBS]
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Stock Market Report
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 943.41 (+2.49, +0.26%)
Arms Index is the ratio of volume per declining issue to volume per advancing issue; a figure below 1.0 is bullish. | |||||||||||||||
| Market Index Trends | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | DJIA | S&P | Volume* |
| April 3, 1972 | 940.92 | 107.48 | 14.99 |
| March 30, 1972 | 940.70 | 107.20 | 14.36 |
| March 29, 1972 | 933.02 | 106.49 | 13.86 |
| March 28, 1972 | 937.01 | 107.17 | 15.38 |
| March 27, 1972 | 939.72 | 107.30 | 12.18 |
| March 24, 1972 | 942.28 | 107.52 | 15.39 |
| March 23, 1972 | 944.69 | 107.75 | 18.38 |
| March 22, 1972 | 933.93 | 106.84 | 15.40 |
| March 21, 1972 | 934.00 | 106.69 | 18.61 |
| March 20, 1972 | 941.15 | 107.59 | 16.42 |