News stories from Sunday May 12, 1974

Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:

There were a number of indications that President Nixon, whatever he may decide in the future about relinquishing his office, is now acting as if he has made up his mind to let the constitutional impeachment process in Congress run its course. [New York Times] There were a number of indications that President Nixon, whatever he may decide in the future about relinquishing his office, is now acting as if he has made up his mind to let the constitutional impeachment process in Congress run its course. [New York Times] J. Fred Buzhardt, President Nixon's counsel, said that the publication of some of the President's privately spoken reportedly ethnic references were part of a "concerted campaign . . . to poison the public mind against the President by any means, fair or foul." Mr. Buzhardt, interviewed on CBS-TV's "Face the Nation", said he had listened to nearly 40 White House tape recordings and added, "I have heard nothing that I would consider an ethnic slur." [New York Times] Fred Buzhardt, President Nixon's counsel, said that publication of some of the President's privately spoken reportedly ethnic references was part of a "concerted campaign . . . to poison the public mind against the President by any means, fair or foul." Mr. Buzhardt, interviewed on CBS-TV's "Face the Nation," said he had listened to nearly 40 White House tape recordings and added, "I have heard nothing that I would consider an ethnic slur." [New York Times] Secretary of State Kissinger said in Damascus that he and Syrian leaders had gone from the general to "a detailed and complete examination" of all issues in a Syrian-Israeli agreement on troop separation, but that an accord still eluded them. Although he has narrowed the difference between Syria and Israel during his 15 days in the Middle East, the unresolved issues may prove too formidable in the period Mr. Kissinger has allotted himself for achieving the agreement -- roughly this week. [New York Times] If you are more than 15 years old -- and less than 24 -- there will be $50 waiting for you in Amsterdam after June 1, but you will have to answer a few questions. Or, if you are under 24 and are willing to throw away a valid airline ticket between Toronto and New York, you can save up to $350 on the price of a ticket from New York to Europe this summer. These are among the oddities of air travel at the start of the annual summer tourist rush to Europe -- which promises to be more of a trickle than a flood this year. [New York Times] Despite the increasing influence of the United States in Egypt, the Soviet Union's assets in the Arab world remain large and numerous. The visit to Damascus of Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko of the Soviet Union is regarded as a new sign that the Russians intend to protect those assets and to meet the American challenge, but without endangering good relations with Washington. Western diplomats are convinced that Mr. Gromyko, while temporarily dwarfed by the role of Secretary of State Kissinger, will come into his own again when the Geneva conference reconvenes. [New York Times] In sharp contrast to the racially polarized Newark Mayoral campaign four years ago, the contest among the five contenders in Tuesday's election was phased down in low-key amity. The issues are general and broad -- the crime rate, the tax structure and, most of all the personalities of the two principal antagonists -- state Senator Anthony Imperiale and the incumbent Mayor, Kenneth Gibson. [New York Times] The United States government is slowly approaching an agonizing decision on whether to give away more food to nations approaching starvation at the risk of starting a new surge of food prices at home. Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz recognizes the problems involved, but does not believe they are imminent because of the enormous American harvest in prospect this year. He believes that the harvest would permit some increases in food aid in the coming 12 months, above what had been planned, without any important effect on domestic prices. Other officials are less confident. [New York Times] Federal investigators believe that someone last week drugged the chief prosecutor in the extortion-conspiracy trial of a Long Island congressman, Representative Angelo Roncallo. The prosecutor, Assistant United States Attorney Peter Schlam, has been put in the protective custody of United States marshals. [New York Times] Secretary of State Kissinger said in Damascus that he and Syrian leaders had gone from the general to "a detailed and complete examination" of all issues in a Syrian-Israeli agreement on troop separation, but that an accord still eluded them. Although he has narrowed the difference between Syria and Israel during his 15 days in the Middle East, the unresolved issues may prove too formidable in the period Mr. Kissinger has allotted himself for achieving the agreement -- roughly this week. [New York Times] Despite the increasing influence of the United States in Egypt, the Soviet Union's assets in the Arab world remain large and numerous. The visit to Damascus of Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko of the Soviet Union is regarded as a new sign that the Russians intend to protect these assets and to meet the American challenge, but without endangering good relations with Washington. Western diplomats are convinced that Mr. Gromyko, while temporarily dwarfed by the role of Secretary of State Kissinger, will come into his own again when the Geneva conference reconvenes. [New York Times] The United States government is slowly approaching an agonizing decision on whether to give away more food to nations approaching starvation at the risk of starting a new surge of food prices at home. Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz recognizes the problems involved, but does not believe they are imminent because of the enormous American harvest in prospect this year. He believes that the harvest would permit some "increases in food aid" in the coming 12 months, above what had been planned, without any important effect on domestic prices. Other officials are less confident. [New York Times]