News stories from Monday June 19, 1972
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- A strike by airline pilots has stopped most overseas flights and is hindering air travel in Western Europe, but domestic U.S. air traffic is barely affected. The strike was called to dramatize the hijacking problem. Fiumicino International Airport in Rome is cut off from the rest of the world, as Alitalia flights are all grounded by the pilots' strike. American intercontinental carriers are flying only because of a court order. At Orly International Airport, traffic was reduced to 25% of normal as Air France pilots went on strike. Swiss Air, Sabena Belgium, Scandinavian and other airlines are grounded. Heathrow airport was also hit hard. Israel's El Al is not flying. The International Association of Airline Pilots calls the strike a success, but it will take governmental action to meet their demands for stricter measures to prevent air piracy.
The largest carrier affected in the U.S. is Eastern Airlines. Northeast has also shut down, and Southern has had token work stoppages. But scarcely a dent in the day's business was noticed at O'Hare Airport in Chicago. Some pilots obeyed the court order not to strike, others were influenced by United Airlines decision not to strike. Air Line Pilots Association president John O'Donnell stated that any violence which occurs is now the responsibility of the airline industry, which refused the boycott for economic reasons. Airline Transport Association V.P. Paul Ignatius says that O'Donnell is a sincere and honorable man, but the industry sought legal means to prevent the strike because a strike won't do anything about the problem of hijacking.
[CBS] - The Supreme Court has outlawed the Nixon administration's practice of wiretapping suspected domestic subversives without a court order, stating that it is a violation of the fourth amendment's protection against illegal search and seizure. Nixon campaign manager John Mitchell and Justice William Rehnquist, in their previous posts with the Justice Department, had maintained that wiretapping was the inherent right of a president. Justice Louis Powell, a Nixon appointee, presented the court's opinion holding otherwise. [CBS]
- The Democratic party's national headquarters was broken into over the weekend. The Watergate Hotel office complex is noted for its security, but burglars penetrated that security to reach the offices of the Democratic national headquarters. Five men were caught near the receptionist's desk and were arrested at gunpoint; their photographic and electronic eavesdropping gear was confiscated. James McCord, a former FBI and CIA agent, was one of the five who was arrested. He was working as security consultant for the Republican national committee, and the Committee to Re-Elect the President. Democratic party chairman Lawrence O'Brien questioned the extent of the spying operations and criticized the crass violation of individual rights by an allegedly "law and order" administration. Republican party chairman Robert Dole says that he can't comprehend why anyone would want to spy on Democrats.
The Democratic presidential candidates spoke out about the incident -- Hubert Humphrey said that he presumes the Justice Department will prosecute the guilty parties for their incredible act of political surveillance and intrusion, and stated that the Nixon administration owes the nation an explanation and an apology. Edmund Muskie claims that the incident is symptomatic of the tendencies of the current administration, and said that the threat to privacy should concern all citizens. George McGovern noted the legacy of years of wiretapping, snooping and invasion of privacy in which the government has been involved. He noted that John Mitchell, as Attorney General, encouraged the use of wiretaps.
Democratic party officials are considering legal action. The five suspects are still in jail; also charged with McCord in the case are four men connected to the Cuban exile community in Miami.
[CBS] - A federal judge in Washington, DC ruled that it is unconstitutional to impose a quota system on elected delegations. The judge's action may prevent challenges to the Democratic national convention delegations based on party reform which calls for quotas. [CBS]
- George McGovern won more convention delegates from several states over the weekend, putting him two-thirds of the way toward clinching the Democratic presidential nomination. In Kentucky, Edmund Muskie won the backing of 37 heretofore uncommitted delegates, giving him more than the 200 which are needed to keep his candidacy alive. The next contest is in New York tomorrow with 248 delegates at stake. McGovern is the frontrunner and the only runner in the New York primary. He generates crowds, money, excitement and cameras, but frontrunners also face problems. McGovern pointed out that a candidate's name doesn't appear on the ballot in New York, so the names of delegates backing him must be publicized. McGovern has spent much time denying that he is anti-Israel, in order to try to win Jewish votes.
New York Rep. Shirley Chisholm says that she expects to have delegate power at the national convention. Hubert Humphrey and Edmund Muskie are hoping for some limited amount of support in New York. Muskie says that he's part of a "Stop Nixon" movement, not a "Stop McGovern" movement.
[CBS] - Hubert Humphrey, noting speculation about a McGovern-Kennedy ticket, said that they are too much alike and that Kennedy should join his campaign instead. Senator Kennedy has an understanding with McGovern to help push him over the top to the nomination; he will encourage speculation that he will run as McGovern's vice president, but will not actually do so. Kennedy told the Boston Globe that he was holding the V.P. possibility open. Moves by Senator Muskie and Rep. Wilbur Mills to stop McGovern prompted Kennedy's action. Sources for both Kennedy and McGovern denied any political arrangement between them. [CBS]
- Soviet President Podgorny has returned to Russia from North Vietnam. The Soviet news agency Tass is now taking an even harder line on Vietnam, squelching speculation that any new peace initiative was in the works. The Soviets are now demanding that the U.S. return to the Paris Peace Talks and halt the bombing of North Vietnam, while the Soviets will continue to send military supplies to North Vietnam. [CBS]
- Henry Kissinger has arrived in Peking for talks. Le Duc Tho, the North Vietnamese negotiator at the Paris Peace Talks, left China as Kissinger arrived. [CBS]
- American planes resumed the bombing of Hanoi, which had been suspended during Soviet President Podgorny's visit there. American pilots dropped tin foil in order to confuse enemy radar, then knocked out 200 pieces of air defense equipment, including 76 surface to air missiles. Radio Hanoi claims that four American planes were shot down. [CBS]
- In South Vietnam, fighting was reported on several fronts. South Vietnamese marines pushed into Communist-held Quang Tri province. Two battles south of An Loc were reported; one American adviser was killed. [CBS]
- Heavy rains and 90 mile-per-hour winds from Hurricane Agnes hit the northwest coast of Florida near Panama City. 12 persons have perished in the storm. [CBS]
- A federal judge's ruling strikes at the heart of the McGovern Commission's guidelines for Democratic party reform. Those guidelines sought to assure significant minority representation in delegations to the Democratic national convention, including more women, youths, blacks and other minorities. These requirements have been ruled unconstitutional, a victory for Chicago alderman Thomas Keane, who is a friend of Mayor Richard Daley. Daley's slate of delegates was challenged because it did not accurately represent the minority composition of the state of Illinois. Democratic national committee counsel Joseph Califano said that the judge's decision is a major blow to the thrust of McGovern's rules, and it would be a tragedy if the decision wasn't reversed on appeal. [CBS]
- The Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit brought by ex-major league player Curt Flood, who asked that baseball be subject to antitrust laws. The court stated that if baseball's special status is to be removed, it should be done by Congress. [CBS]
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Stock Market Report
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 941.83 (-3.23, -0.34%)
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* |
| June 16, 1972 | 945.06 | 108.36 | 13.01 |
| June 15, 1972 | 945.97 | 108.44 | 16.94 |
| June 14, 1972 | 946.79 | 108.39 | 12.32 |
| June 13, 1972 | 938.29 | 107.55 | 15.71 |
| June 12, 1972 | 936.71 | 107.01 | 13.39 |
| June 9, 1972 | 934.45 | 106.86 | 12.79 |
| June 8, 1972 | 941.30 | 107.28 | 13.82 |
| June 7, 1972 | 944.08 | 107.65 | 0.00 |
| June 6, 1972 | 951.46 | 108.21 | 15.98 |
| June 5, 1972 | 954.39 | 108.82 | 13.45 |