News stories from Monday May 28, 1973
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- Disaster struck the Indianapolis 500 automobile race. On the first lap of the event, Salt Walther crashed into a wall, injuring spectators and causing several other cars to wreck. The race was then halted for the day. Walther is in serious condition. [CBS]
- Storms slammed into the South, causing disaster over the three-day holiday. The town of Brent, Alabama, was completely demolished by tornadoes. Churches, the fire hall, a lumber yard and most homes were destroyed; most of Brent's residents are now homeless. Severe storms also hit Jonesboro, Arkansas and Asheville, North Carolina. [CBS]
- After two days of repairs, astronauts Joseph Kerwin, Pete Conrad and Paul Weitz have moved into Skylab and held a news conference from space. Regarding weightlessness, Kerwin stated that whatever position a person's body is in, the brain will compensate. Conrad said that although more physical exertion is required than he anticipated, he believes that completing 28 days in Skylab will be no trouble. [CBS]
- Senate Watergate Committee chairman Sam Ervin said that the Watergate hearings will proceed as hearings usually do, logically developing the case. One of the committee's main witnesses, former White House aide John Dean, has received limited immunity for his testimony and is trying to get full immunity in the Watergate criminal court case. Government sources reported that chief prosecutor Earl Silbert sent Dean a letter, bargaining for Dean's testimony with the assurance that he will be indicted on only one count, obstruction of justice. [CBS]
- Senator Edmund Muskie gave a speech on honesty and integrity in government at memorial services today for Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Muskie charged that Nixon administration officials have built a wall between themselves and the public in the name of national security; their secrecy has led to deception. [CBS]
- The federal government reported spending $39,525 on security improvements to the California White House. The Associated Press now claims that the government actually spent more than $100,000 according to building permits. [CBS]
- A convoy of supply ships made its way through Communist-held territory in Cambodia using American air and sea protection. No U.S. casualties were reported. [CBS]
- Russian nuclear physicist Andrei Sakharov sent an open letter protesting the arrest of writer Andrei Amalrik, who is jailed on defamation of state charges. [CBS]
- A Russian air force pilot parachuted into West Germany just before his plane crashed. The pilot is seeking political asylum; West German officials are investigating. [CBS]
- Iceland is demanding NATO's help in evicting British fishing trawlers from Iceland's territorial waters. Premier Johannesson of Iceland will meet with President Nixon and French President Pompidou next week. U.S. officials say that there will be no American involvement in the dispute. [CBS]
- The Greek military regime released more details of last weekend's attempted rebel takeover. The defense ministry reported that 35 naval officers were involved. They planned to seize warships, sail to Skyros, Greece, and take over Salonika and Athens. Investigations are continuing. [CBS]
- Newly-elected President Campora of Argentina announced the resumption of relations with Cuba. Cuban President Dorticos is said to be pleased. Mexico, Peru, and Chile are other Western Hemisphere nations which have diplomatic relations with Cuba. [CBS]
- Washington is getting a new baseball team, the San Diego Padres. Two other baseball teams never made it in DC; now the Padres will attempt to make the nation's capital their home. The Padres are the last-place team in the National League's western division. Joseph Danzansky, the new owner of the club, said that his people will do everything to make spectators happy.
The Padres probably will not be renamed the "Senators", as the two past DC teams have been known. Danzansky will ask the public for suggestions on a new name.
[CBS] - Secretary of Defense-designate James Schlesinger laid a presidential wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier today during the playing of taps sounded by a bugle. [CBS]