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News stories from Saturday December 30, 1978
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- John F. Kennedy "was probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy," a House committee has concluded. The committee also said that, on the basis of circumstantial evidence, "there is a likelihood" that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated "as a result of a conspiracy." [New York Times]
- Cutbacks of some Social Security benefits for future beneficiaries will be proposed by President Carter to trim the 1980 budget as closely as possible, administration officials said. If the proposals are enacted by Congress, the savings would be about $900 million for the fiscal year 1980, and $5 billion a year by 1984. Among the proposals is an end to lump-sum death benefits. [New York Times]
- The remains of 27 bodies have been dug from under the home of 36-year-old John Wayne Gacy in Des Plaines, Ill., a Chicago suburb. The first victim was identified as John Butkovich, 18 years old, who had worked for Mr. Gacy. Mr. Gacy, charged with the murder of a 15-year-old boy, told the police that he had killed 32 young men in the last four years. [New York Times]
- A civilian government will be established in Iran within a week, and a month later the Shah will leave the capital for a prolonged period, after appointing a special council to exercise his powers during his absence, Shahpur Bakhtiar, the opposition leader chosen by the Shah to form the civilian government, said in an interview. Mr. Bakhtiar said that he will present his cabinet to the Shah probably on Tuesday and that on the following day the Shah will send the civilian government decree to parliament.
Iran's daily oil production fell to a new low of 150,000 barrels, a source within the oil industry said, and no oil was being exported. Iran's oil production has now declined to less than half of its domestic requirements. [New York Times]
- Agreements with China on scientific and technical exchanges are expected to be signed in Washington during Deputy Prime Minister Teng Hsiao-ping's visit next month, Leonard Woodcock, head of the United States liaison office in Peking, said. The proposed agreements, he said, had been discussed in previous visits to China by American officials, and concern the exchanges of scientists, agricultural specialists and the development of China's coal and oil resources.
The advantages to the U.S of diplomatic relations with Peking will be illusory, according to President Chiang Ching-kuo of Nationalist China. "Injuries will emerge, one after the other," because the United States is "mistaking foe for friend," Mr. Chiang said, and he predicted at least three diplomatic reverses for Washington "in the foreseeable future." [New York Times]
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