News stories from Sunday April 16, 1972
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- Senator Edward Kennedy declared that the American people and Congress should be outraged with the resurgence of heavy bombing in North Vietnam. Democrats in Congress are demanding an to end American involvement in Vietnam.
The bombing of North Vietnam is likely to be increased; last night American planes bombed Hanoi and Haiphong. Fighting continued in the South, including at Dong Ha. South Vietnamese troops met heavy resistance south of Dong Ha, but gained ground. North Vietnam is sending more troops to the northern provinces.
[NBC] - President Nixon doesn't want Vietnam to be a political issue in the November election, but the new bombing campaign may change things. Senator George McGovern said that bombing brings us one step further away from peace and the release of American POWs, and contradicts Nixon's pledge from four years ago not to escalate the war in Vietnam.
George Wallace noted that after bombing was stopped in 1968, North Vietnam made some concessions. Senator Hubert Humphrey termed the bombings "unfortunate"; he wants to take the case of North Vietnam's new aggression to the U.N. Security Council, and have it call for a cease-fire. Senate Democratic leader Mike Mansfield, who is on his way to China, said that he is discouraged and disheartened. Increased bombing will lengthen the war and hurt his visit to Peking.
[NBC] - Apollo 16 blasted off on its 12-day journey to the moon. Astronauts John Young, Ken Mattingly and Charles Duke commented on the beautiful views of earth from outer space. This is Young's fourth space journey, Mattingly and Duke's first. [NBC]
- Three British soldiers were killed by the Irish Republican Army in Londonderry and Belfast in retaliation for the British killing an IRA officer. IRA leader Joseph McCann's death spurred the worst riots seen in Belfast in some time. [NBC]
- George McGovern is having a hard time attracting big donors to his campaign, but Barbara Streisand, Carole King and James Taylor gave a concert in Los Angeles which raised $300,000 for McGovern's campaign. There are plans for other concerts across the country. [NBC]