|
|
News stories from Saturday October 25, 1975
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- The Spanish people waited uneasily for a major change in their nation's history as death seemed imminent for Generalissimo Francisco Franco. Medical bulletins issued in speedy succession stressed the gravity of the 82-year-old Chief of State's heart condition and appeared to prepare the nation for the advent to power of his chosen successor, Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon. A mass was held in the Pardo Palace, the general's home, at which he took communion. and received the sacrament of the sick, which was formerly called the last rites.
Few events in modern Spain have been so eagerly awaited or so greatly feared as the departure of General Franco from power after 36 years. Paradoxically, nearly every group of his supporters and his foes agreed that what was needed was a change in leadership. They also appeared to want as peaceful a transition as possible. [New York Times]
- The issue of the political costs of President Ford's current "party leader" trips has embroiled the Federal Election Commission in a partisan conflict. The bipartisan commission must decide whether the $500,000 the Republican National Committee is providing to finance Mr. Ford's travels should be charged against the $10 million ceiling imposed by the new campaign spending law. [New York Times]
- Vice President Rockefeller has a new official seal -- a bold, aggressive eagle -- in place of the old seal's limp-winged bird. Mr. Rockefeller, who has said that the old seal resembled a "wounded quail," redesigned the coat of arms with President Ford's approval. [New York Times]
- A possible major confrontation is in prospect in the Senate over the annual defense appropriations bill. The Senate Budget Committee, seeking to set up battle lines for the upcoming Senate debate, informed the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee there was no leeway under congressional budget guidelines for increasing the House-approved defense budget. [New York Times]
- Generations of Americans have been riding an economic wave of rising expectations. But, for the first time since public opinion research began measuring such attitudes in 1959, in the last year Americans have experienced a substantial decline in optimism about the future. A survey commissioned by The New York Times showed that inflation, other economic problems and foreboding about the energy crisis have made inroads into Americans' confidence, expectations and aspirations.
An example of Americans' disenchantment is a growing public resistance to surveys. Survey takers are deeply concerned about this new coolness to the studies, which have become a key tool of government, business and scholarship and which often shape governmental policy on such matters as housing, unemployment and health care. The problem is likely to have an impact on the 1976 presidential campaign. [New York Times]
- Members of the Senate Banking Committee, in a compromise designed to broaden Senate support for federal loan guarantees for New York City, shaped legislation that would reduce and delay income for city bondholders and pensioners. Senator Adlai Stevenson III, the Illinois Democrat who has a key role on the issue, said he had proposed that such a guarantee be conditioned on a restructuring of the city's debt. Under his plan, holders of city bonds would receive lower interest rates and delayed payments. [New York Times]
- The Justice Department has begun a top secret project to seek to resolve the vast legal issues raised by the National Security Agency's electronic eavesdropping, law enforcement officials disclosed. The "special project" team, the sources said, is faced with sorting out nearly a decade of illegal bugging by the agency as well as trying to shape new legislation to allow some of the agency's foreign intelligence gathering to proceed within the law. This is said to be the first time that Justice Department lawyers have been fully informed on the security agency's activities. [New York Times]
- Civil order collapsed in Beirut as armed bands of rival political factions spread terror and death in wide sections of the immobilized Lebanese capital. As policemen and army units stood by, rocket, mortar and machine-gun exchanges pinned down citizens around the capital and its suburbs. Many citizens were killed in the crossfire. The American Embassy urged officials to evacuate their families. [New York Times]
- As President Anwar Sadat left Cairo for a crucial visit to Washington, Egyptians seemed to be looking to the future with hope but at the same time pondering a number of questions. One is whether the United States will grant Egypt enough aid. Another is whether the oil-producing Arab countries will continue giving Egypt billions of dollars if her latest Sinai disengagement accord with Israel begins to look disadvantageous to the Arabs. [New York Times]
- The Russians placed the second spacecraft on the surface of Venus in three days. The unmanned craft touched down 1,375 miles from the landing site of the first craft and transmitted photographs showing a terrain far different from the rugged, rock-strewn site of the first craft. The latest pictures showed what Soviet scientists called an old mountain formation with rounded rocks resembling huge pancakes. [New York Times]
|
