News stories from Saturday July 24, 1971
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- President Nixon urged passage of a $2 billion bill to provide loans to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation and other companies. Nixon got Defense Secretary Melvin Laird to issue a statement in support of the $2 billion loan package; Laird blamed the press for reporting yesterday that he supported the Lockheed loan, but not the total package.
House Banking Committee chairman Wright Patman quoted Deputy Defense Secretary David Packard's statements in favor of Lockheed's loan, but opposed to the package. Senator James Buckley opposes the $2 billion bill; it is rumored that Senator Barry Goldwater may express his opposition to the bill soon.
[CBS] - The countdown continues for the launch of Apollo 15 on Monday. [CBS]
- Senator Frank Church warned of a rising tide of anti-Americanism in Latin America and he called for changes in U.S. policy. A Senate committee reported that the bill for bringing Brazilian military officers to the United States was over $1 million for the years 1968-70. [CBS]
- The Norfolk and Western Railway and the Southern Pacific Railroad were hit by a strike, and the union is threatening to strike six more railroads next Friday if no agreement is reached. California produce growers estimate that the strike will cost them $3 million per day; produce shipped by truck will cost more. [CBS]
- In Casper, Wyoming, National Guardsmen joined the search for a mentally retarded boy, in need of medication, who is hiding in the woods. Nine year old Kevin Dye has been hiding since last Sunday. [CBS]
- A National Airlines plane was hijacked to Havana, Cuba; a stewardess and a passenger have reportedly been shot by the hijacker. [CBS]
- A U.S. student group, the Society of Concerned Asian Scholars, completed their visit to the People's Republic of China; the society is opposed to America's Vietnam war policy. A member of the group reported that President Chou En-lai stated that Taiwan is the most important problem in restoring relations between the U.S. and China; Chou said that China would not enter the U.N. if Taiwan remained.
The Nixon administration hopes to announce within a week its new policy toward admitting China to the United Nations.
[CBS] - South Vietnam President Nguyen Van Thieu formally announced his candidacy for re-election, and said that Tran Van Huong will be his running mate. [CBS]
- 2,000 South Vietnamese troops are being driven into Cambodia. [CBS]
- Vice President Agnew met with King Hassan II in Morocco today. Agnew will return to Spain tomorrow. [CBS]
- Sudan broke off diplomatic relations with Iraq; seven leaders of the attempted coup have been executed so far. Sudanese President Gaafar Mohammed Al-Nimeiry says that coup leader Babakr Al-Nur Osman faces death. [CBS]