News stories from Sunday May 2, 1971
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- The federal government has revoked the permit of antiwar demonstrators to assemble at a Washington, DC park. Police cleared the park of 40,000 people today; 242 were arrested. Demonstrators plan to block highways tomorrow and Tuesday. The permit was revoked because of illegal activities, including the use of narcotics. Police chief Jerry Wilson said that the decision was made by the Justice and Interior Departments along with the D.C. police department. Rennie Davis said that provocation will not stop the planned antiwar activities for the rest of the week.
4,000 soldiers and 2,000 Marines have been brought to Andrews Air Force Base in case they are needed to control protesters.
[CBS] - President Nixon made a radio address on the high cost of farming and the low price of hogs. Nixon now has 22 "image makers" on staff; today's speech was the first of several that will be targeted to various political groups. [CBS]
- Senator Edward Kennedy says that he sees no conditions under which he would be a presidential candidate in 1972; Rep. Wilbur Mills said that he would accept the 1972 nomination. [CBS]
- President Sadat of Egypt has reportedly dismissed Vice President Aly Sabry. [CBS]
- Secretary of State William Rogers arrived in Amman, Jordan. [CBS]
- There was little fighting in Vietnam, as bad weather grounded planes. [CBS]
- Great Britain is facing a military crisis due to a lack of recruits for its armed forces. The Sandhurst Royal Military Academy has produced elite officers since 1812. Today less than 500 attend though there is room for 1,100. General Philip Tower says that the decline in the number of cadets is due to the belief that there won't be another world war because of the nuclear threat. There has also been a decline in the number of places that a British soldier can serve abroad, an anti-military feeling among today's youth, and the feeling that discipline is repugnant. Sandhurst is now advertising for recruits. [CBS]