News stories from Saturday February 15, 1975
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- President Ford says he needs "responsible conservative backing" to be elected in 1976 and believes the formation of a third political party on the right "would probably defeat the real objectives of a conservative movement." He said he did not "believe in the proliferation of political parties." Mr. Ford made it plain in an interview in the Oval Office that he was not prepared to pay the price of dropping Vice President Rockefeller to assure right-wing support in the 1976 election. [New York Times]
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation periodically dispatches American citizens on intelligence-gathering missions outside the United States, according to a 42-year-old Florida man who said that he and others have been used for that purpose. The man, Joseph Burton, said that for more than two years, beginning in May, 1972, he posed as a Marxist in order to infiltrate revolutionary groups here and abroad. Officials of the F.B.I. confirmed that the bureau had used American citizens in its operations outside the country. [New York Times]
- Dr. Kenneth Edelin, a Boston obstetrician, was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of a male fetus in a legal abortion that he performed at the Boston City Hospital on Oct. 3, 1973. The jury, which had heard evidence for six weeks, reached its decision on the second day of deliberation. The case had become the focus of medical, religious and political controversy. The verdict was regarded as a victory for anti-abortion forces. Dr. Edelin's lawyer, William Homans, said the case would be appealed. [New York Times]
- Spurred by investigations in New York, the nursing-home industry has become the focus of a national re-examination of the treatment accorded the aged. Dade County in Florida, in which Miami is the principal city, is among the latest regions that will undertake an investigation of nursing homes. The State Attorney in Dade County, Richard Gerstein, said he would investigate all of the approximately 40 profit-making nursing homes in and around Miami. Two of the homes, together cited for more than 200 state and local violations in the last three years, are owned in part by Bernard Bergman, a central figure in nursing-home investigations in New York. Nursing-home investigations are also under way in New Jersey and Connecticut and reported abuses have prompted inquiries in Massachusetts, Virginia, Illinois and Nebraska. [New York Times]
- Secretary of State Kissinger flew to Bonn today after discussing with King Faisal the American plan for long-term oil agreements between producers and consumers at prices lower than the current world price of $11 a barrel. Newsmen accompanying Mr. Kissinger were told that at least one major oil producer had expressed interest in such an arrangement to the United States. He met with Faisal on his arrival from Aqaba, Jordan, where he was told by King Hussein of Jordan's support for his effort to bring about a new Egyptian-Israeli agreement on Sinai. However, King Hussein said that Jordan had no interest in returning to the Geneva peace conference so long as the Palestine Liberation Organization had responsibility for recovering the West Bank of the Jordan River from Israel. [New York Times]
- King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was reported to be seeking a meeting of the heads of state of Egypt, Syria and Jordan with Yasser Arafat, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, to unify Arab views before Secretary of State Kissinger makes his next Middle East visit. Faisal was reported by Arab diplomats to have become concerned over the tensions between Egypt on the one hand and Syria and the P.L.O. on the other, concerning the next step on disengagement and political negotiations with Israel. [New York Times]
- Sir Julian Huxley, the British scientist, humanist and writer, died at his home in London at the age of 87. He was the grandson of Thomas Henry Huxley, the biologist, and the elder brother of the late novelist, Aldous Huxley. Sir Julian was a frequent radio and television panelist and lecturer, gaining wide popularity for his ability to explain scientific topics in simple terms. He became a world figure in 1946 with his appointment as the first director general of UNESCO. [New York Times]