News stories from Monday September 6, 1976

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

Jimmy Carter formally opened his campaign with a speech in front of the Warm Springs, Ga., home of Franklin D. Roosevelt in which he portrayed President Ford as timid and ineffectual. Offering himself as a representative of a "new generation of leadership," Mr. Carter attempted to link Mr. Ford with former President Herbert Hoover. [New York Times] A former lobbyist for the Gulf Oil Corporation said that he gave Senator Dole, $2,000 in cash in 1970 to distribute to "deserving" Republican candidates around the country. A spokesman for the Republican vice-presidential candidate said the Senator would stand by earlier statements denying that he got any money from Gulf. [New York Times] President Ford's re-election would be better for the economy than the election of Jimmy Carter, according to a New York Times sampling of corporation and banking executives. Almost two-thirds of the executives queried supported Mr. Ford, and most agreed with the statement of one who felt the President would be better able to restrain inflation and hold down government spending. [New York Times] Gold prices rose sharply on European markets as the dollar weakened on most exchanges. London dealers said the rise, between $5 and $8 an ounce, was apparently caused by speculators who had recently sold the metal short in the belief the price would fall below $100 an ounce. [New York Times] The solar energy capital is the future envisioned for New York state in a position paper released by Representative Bella Abzug in her campaign for the Democratic Senate nomination. Mrs. Abzug called for the breaking up of the large oil companies and said the use of solar energy would enable small companies to enter the field. [New York Times] What next on Mars? has become the subject of scientific debate after the successful landings of the Viking research stations. One plan, favored by geologists, envisions a mobile lander that could explore the more rugged terrain on the planet. Biologists, however, would rather see a lander capable of bringing back samples. [New York Times] A North Korean-U.N. agreement to restrict movement of military personnel to their own sides of the truce camp at Panmunjom was announced in Washington. The restrictions are intended to prevent incidents such as the one Aug. 18 in which two American officers were killed. [New York Times] Conditions In southern Africa exist now for blacks and whites to settle the problems of Rhodesia and South-West Africa by negotiation rather than by violence, Secretary of State Kissinger said after his talks with Prime Minister John Vorster of South Africa. The meeting, however, did not seem to focus heavily on the problems of riot-torn South Africa. [New York Times] A Russian jet fighter was flown to Japan by a Soviet air force lieutenant who said he was seeking refuge in the United States. The plane, a MiG-25, is one of the most advanced fighters in the world. The pilot asked the Japanese police to cover it with a canvas since it contained military secrets. [New York Times] A list of U.S. missing was released by the Vietnamese Embassy in Paris. The list contained the names of 12 American pilots, and the embassy confirmed that they had been killed in action. The Vietnamese also issued a statement expressing hope that the United States would show its good will and move to settle postwar problems between the two countries. [New York Times] Switzerland has troubles, according to an assessment by many of its leaders, Its money is too strong, its banks are too reliable, its government is too entrenched and responsive. And the difficulties that result have left the Swiss with a sense of mediocrity and constraint in dealing with exciting and urgent world problems. [New York Times] The rebuilding of Laos by the Communists that took control nine months ago has produced mixed results. A severe food shortage is easing, but its effects are still being felt and fuel is scarce. The government sees the problems as only the growing pains involved in building a new, self-sufficient state, society and economy. [New York Times]