News stories from Saturday July 29, 1972

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

North Vietnam has made its first public evaluation of Senator George McGovern's Vietnam proposals and has found that "his position contains positive elements which would lead to a correct, peaceful settlement of the Vietnam problem." Hanoi's reaction to the Democratic presidential nominee's program has aroused considerable attention in the Nixon administration. [New York Times] Senator George McGovern, in what was hardly an unqualified endorsement, said "there may not be any change" in the Democratic ticket after he and his running mate, Senator Thomas Eagleton, meet early next week. He appeared to be not so adamant about keeping Mr. Eagleton on the ticket. Mr. Eagleton has been under fire since last Tuesday when he disclosed that he had received electroshock treatments for nervous exhaustion and depression. [New York Times] Senator Eagleton returned home to Jefferson City, Mo., claiming new encouragement from Senator McGovern to stay on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Eagleton either ignored or defied Mr. McGovern's implications to news reporters that the Vice-Presidential nominee might want to step aside because of public reaction to the disclosure of his medical history. [New York Times] A survey of Democratic National Convention delegates in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut has found that they are in favor by a 2-to-1 margin of Senator Eagleton's withdrawal from the Democratic ticket. The survey of nearly one-quarter of the 438 delegates is said to be particularly significant because virtually all of the delegates were McGovern supporters. [New York Times] Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley, engulfed by flood waters in June when Hurricane Agnes swelled the Susquehanna River to record heights, remains prostrate after the nation's most disastrous flood. Thousands remain homeless, and some 1,200 persons, mostly elderly, still sleep in hot and steamy schools and churches. Property damage is estimated at between half a billion and three-quarters of a billion dollars. Federal grants are believed necessary if the valley is to recover. [New York Times] The government of Spain put Madrid's two universities under rigid disciplinary controls in an effort to curb student and faculty unrest. Statutes providing some university autonomy and student representation have been suspended for at least a year. Similar measures were expected to be taken in Barcelona. [New York Times]