News stories from Monday May 8, 1972
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- President Nixon will address the nation about Vietnam at 9:00 p.m. EDT; anxiety is building due to the renewed bombing around Hanoi. The President met with the National Security Council earlier today. Secretary of State Rogers rushed back from Europe to attend the meeting, as did Vice-President Agnew. Congressional leaders of both parties were summoned for a conference prior to Nixon's speech. Speculation regarding the President's speech tonight includes rumors such as: cancellation of his trip to Moscow; a meeting with South Vietnamese president Thieu; U.S. Marines landing in Vietnam; a blockade of Haiphong harbor; a secret trip involving Henry Kissinger; the introduction of a new secret weapon; a new Geneva conference.
The Senate has requested a meeting with the President; Senators Fulbright and Church have complained that the Senate is not consulted before decisions are made.
[CBS] - The U.S. bombed Hanoi and claims that only military targets were hit, including 3 MiG jets. Radio Hanoi said that the U.S. attacked dykes on the Red River delta and civilian areas. North Vietnam shelled the outer defenses of Hue in South Vietnam.
The Agency for International Development testified that 700,000 South Vietnamese refugees have resulted from North Vietnam's invasion. Many of them are now in Danang, which is currently the northern-most safe haven for refugees. American trucks haul refugees to schools, churches and former U.S. military installations, but enemy infiltration is feared. U.S. Navy units have been placed on alert; some are trailing Russian freighters which are headed for North Vietnam with military supplies. Their presence may preclude the blockade of Haiphong harbor. Communist rockets hit Ben Het and Polei Kleng, near Kontum in the Central Highlands; rockets also hit Moc Hoa and blew up a gasoline storage area.
[CBS] - Three Arab terrorists have hijacked a Sabena Airlines jet from Brussels, Belgium, to Tel Aviv, Israel. They are holding 100 passengers and the crew hostage until Israel releases 100 guerrillas of the "Black September" movement. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan is on hand at the airport. [CBS]
- The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered rewiring so that rear exit doors on Boeing 727's can't be opened in flight, in order to thwart parachute escapes during hijackings. [CBS]
- The battle for Democratic convention delegate votes has become a three-man race, with George McGovern first, followed by Hubert Humphrey and George Wallace. Tomorrow Humphrey and Wallace face off in the West Virginia popularity contest; Humphrey and McGovern will battle for delegates in Nebraska. In Omaha, Henry Jackson tagged McGovern as the candidate for "marijuana, amnesty, and abortion". McGovern is trying to correct the record on those issues. [CBS]
- Senator John Tunney filed a dissent to the Senate Judiciary Committee's approval of Richard Kleindienst as Attorney General. Tunney criticized Kleindienst's actions in clearing a prosecutor in San Diego who was accused of interfering with a federal investigation. Senators Kennedy and Bayh are expected to register their dissent also, urging the rejection of Kleindienst because of the ITT affair. [CBS]
- Former President Harry Truman celebrated his 88th birthday at home with his wife Bess in Independence, Missouri. [CBS]
- At the Sunshine Silver Mine in Kellogg, Idaho, the death toll from a mine fire stands at 35 and 58 miners are still trapped. The continuing fire and a power line break caused new setbacks in rescue operations. Air pressure in the mine has dropped sharply. Sunshine Mining Company V.P. Marvin Chase says there is still a chance that the trapped miners are alive, but optimism is fading. Criticism is growing against the mine's safety precautions, and the federal government and the Bureau of Mines are being blamed for failure to enforce safety laws. [CBS]
- Last month General Motors recalled Chevrolet Vegas because of a fire hazard in the fuel and exhaust systems. G.M. is now recalling 350,000 more cars because of a problem with the throttle. [CBS]
- 900 antiwar demonstrators attempted to shut down the John F. Kennedy Federal Building in Boston; they were unsuccessful. Police kept a corridor open for federal employees on their way to work. [CBS]
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Stock Market Report
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 937.84 (-3.39, -0.36%)
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* |
| May 5, 1972 | 941.23 | 106.63 | 13.21 |
| May 4, 1972 | 937.31 | 106.25 | 14.79 |
| May 3, 1972 | 933.47 | 105.99 | 15.90 |
| May 2, 1972 | 935.20 | 106.08 | 15.37 |
| May 1, 1972 | 942.28 | 106.69 | 12.88 |
| April 28, 1972 | 954.17 | 107.67 | 14.16 |
| April 27, 1972 | 945.97 | 107.05 | 15.74 |
| April 26, 1972 | 946.94 | 106.89 | 17.71 |
| April 25, 1972 | 946.49 | 107.12 | 17.03 |
| April 24, 1972 | 957.48 | 108.19 | 14.65 |