News stories from Sunday December 27, 1970
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- President Nixon can be re-elected in 1972 only through the failures of the Democratic party, Lawrence O'Brien, the Democratic National Chairman, said in a year-end report on the state of his party. He explained that the Congressional elections this year showed that Mr. Nixon was "exceedingly vulnerable," partly because of "the divisive Nixon-Agnew campaign strategy." [New York Times]
- James Farmer, who was one of the highest ranking blacks in the Nixon administration until his resignation this month, said that he was "not entirely convinced" that Mr. Nixon had been persuaded to write off the black vote in 1972 and he asked the President to "make up his mind soon so we'll know where he stands." [New York Times]
- Dr, Edward H. Teller, who is often called the "father of the hydrogen bomb", recommended at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science that the secrecy surrounding much of the nation's scientific research, including nuclear science, be abolished to make clear what is at stake in the debate over the impact of science on society.
Overpopulation is the cause of pollution, the rise in crime, the weakening of the democratic process, the loss of communications efficiency and the rising per capita cost of government, some of the scientists at another session of the A.A.A.S. meeting contended. Others said that the fault was with how things were done, not with how many people were doing them.
[New York Times] - Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, citing rightist opposition to her social and economic reforms, dissolved India's Parliament and ordered new national elections. Informed sources said the elections would be in early March, a year before such elections would be constitutionally required. [New York Times]
- In an interview released today, President Sadat of the United Arab Republic defined his conditions for peace with Israel. He said Israel must withdraw from all Egyptian territory captured in 1967. After that, Egypt would recognize Israel's right to exist and would negotiate Israel's rights of passage through the Strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba, he said, but passage through the Suez Canal would depend on an agreement on the Palestinian refugees. [New York Times]
- Israelis are pleased at the international protest against the Soviet death sentence for two Jewish hijackers, and Israel may rejoin the Mideast peace talks. Nine more Soviet Jews are to be tried in connection with the hijack attempt. [CBS]
- Vietnam casualties were light last week due to the cease-fire. Communists shelled an allied base in South Vietnam. [CBS]
- Spain will announce the sentences for 16 Basque separatists; death sentences will probably be commuted. [CBS]
- A Finnish oil tanker broke in two in the Atlantic; the crew was rescued. [CBS]
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce predicts that the economy will rise during the first half of next year. U.S. News and World Report magazine is also predicting a better economy next year. [CBS]
- Senator Robert Byrd stated that he may be able to unseat Senator Edward Kennedy as Democrat party Whip in the next Congress, but doesn't know if he'll run for the job. [CBS]