News stories from Saturday May 15, 1982
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- A conservative attack in Congress on the Supreme Court and the lower federal courts, in which the Reagan administration is participating to a lesser extent, could produce, if it is successful, a fundamental shift in the government's system of checks and balances. The more than 30 proposals pending in Congress to curb the courts' powers to interpret constitutional rights would bypass the traditional but cumbersome process of amending the Constitution. David Brink, head of the American Bar Association, says the proposed legislation could be compared to "a missile that could plunge us into internal strife and destroy our rights." [New York Times]
- Citizen activism is re-emerging across the nation after a period of relative dormancy. Experts say that the demonstrations are only part of the picture. New coalitions and campaigns, they say, have been forming around such issues as cuts in federal social programs and nuclear disarmament. [New York Times]
- Still more hefty tuition increases at American colleges and universities -- which are bringing the price of some bachelor degrees to $50,000 -- have suggested that educators and legislators are moving to shift a greater proportion of the costs of higher education onto students. [New York Times]
- The federal Abscam inquiry tactics were defended by the chief prosecutor in the investigation a day after a federal judge threw out the bribery conviction of former Representative Richard Kelly of Florida on the ground that the government had used "outrageous" methods in carrying out the inquiry. The prosecutor, Thomas Puccio, said the inquiry methods did not flout constitutional rights or ethical considerations and were very likely to safeguard them. Mr. Puccio made his remarks on the eve of his departure after 13 years with the Justice Department. He had been head of the department's Organized Crime Strike Force for the Eastern District of New York. [New York Times]
- Challenges to the Teamsters union are coming from the trucking industry and internal opponents, causing major difficulties for an organization that has generally been impervious to criticism. [New York Times]
- British troops returned to the Falklands in force for the first time in sill weeks Friday night, destroying Argentine aircraft and military installations in a remote part of the archipelago, the Ministry of Defense reported in London. The attack was described as "a raid, not an invasion." The ministry said the troops returned safely to ships of the British task force with only two "minor casualties." Some Argentine casualties were also reported. [New York Times]
- The delay in the Falklands talks, which were halted when Sir Anthony Parsons, Britain's representative at the United Nations, was called to London, is Britain's responsibility, Argentine officials said. Foreign Ministry officials in Buenos Aires also voiced hope that the ambassador's summons to London was a positive sign that might lead to an accord within the British government for a negotiated settlement. The Argentine government, however, still believed that an invasion of the Falklands was imminent. [New York Times]
- "Very productive talks" in Greece with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou toward resolving major issues with the United States, including that of military installations, were reported by Secretary of State Alexander Haig, who had also visited Turkey. Other American officials said the mood of the discussions reflected the evident moderation of Mr. Papandreou's anti-American policies since he was elected seven months ago on a platform that called for the closing of the American bases. [New York Times]