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News stories from Sunday June 18, 1972
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- George Wallace was operated on for the removal of a bullet from his spine. It is believed that he probably will walk again, with braces and crutches. Governor Wallace is reported in good condition. Dr. Stacy Rollins estimated that Wallace has less than a 50% chance for a total recovery, but a 90% chance of walking again with aids. He probably can go to the Democratic national convention, in a wheelchair. Wallace may return to Alabama in a couple of weeks. [NBC]
- A British European Airlines jet crashed just after takeoff near Staines, England, during a flight from London to Brussels, Belgium; 118 people were killed. There is no evidence of sabotage. This was the third major plane crash in the last five days. [NBC]
- A worldwide work stoppage by airline pilots is still scheduled for tomorrow, but today a U.S. appeals court ruled that American pilots cannot take part in it. The ruling represents a temporary stay, not a final decision. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger refused to lift the stay. The head of the Air Line Pilots Association in the U.S. said that he will order his pilots to stop work tomorrow anyway. [NBC]
- The reason for the imminent pilots' strike is hijackings. Security precautions at airports in several nations are reported:
Security is tight at the Tel Aviv airport in Israel. Armed guards are present and extensive passenger and luggage searching is enforced; travel delays may occur as a result. Security police are particularly wary of Swiss Air flights. It is feared that terrorists plan to seize a flight as ransom in exchange for the lone surviving terrorist from the recent Tel Aviv airport massacre. Passengers are under strict orders regarding their behavior, and Israel has stated that direct retaliation against Arabs will follow if more such terrorism occurs. Security at Paris and other airports in Europe is said to be sporadic, but tighter now since the Tel Aviv massacre. At London's Heathrow airport, each airline decides its own security measures. El Al's flights to Israel are the most closely protected. Security has increased at the Munich airport, making it among the strictest in Europe. Hand luggage and body searches are common. Armed guards patrol the lobby and the runways. But West Germany has offered political asylum to hijackers from Communist countries in the past, which creates an incentive for some hijackings. The U.S. government announced that 1,163 persons were arrested during the first 16 months of the tighter security program at airports, and 44,000 potentially lethal weapons were seized. [NBC]
- James McCord was one of five people who were caught inside Democrat party headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC. McCord, a former CIA employee, now operates a private security service. He is also a consultant to President Nixon's re-election campaign committee and was hired to install its security system. McCord and his accomplices were caught removing part of the ceiling from the office of Democratic party chairman Lawrence O'Brien.
Former Attorney General John Mitchell, who is now chairman of the Nixon re-election committee, denied any connection with the incident and said that the actions of McCord and the others had nothing to do with the committee. O'Brien is reportedly not satisfied with Mitchell's statement, and he is calling for an FBI investigation. McCord is charged with burglary and has been released on bail. [NBC]
- Five more state conventions were held this weekend (Connecticut, Colorado, Minnesota, Utah and Idaho), giving George McGovern 80 more delegates. McGovern now has 1,100 delegate votes and 200 more are predicted from the upcoming primary on Tuesday in New York, where McGovern is now campaigning. McGovern is addressing his campaign to ethnic groups -- he began the day in New York City seeking the votes of Jews and Negroes; in Utica, he visited a white suburban family; in Buffalo, McGovern spoke to a group of Polish voters.
McGovern did not get the endorsement of New York City Mayor John Lindsay. McGovern still expects victory in New York and hopes for it to be broadly based. Arkansas, Delaware and Washington will hold conventions next weekend to choose 46 delegates. [NBC]
- Soviet President Nikolai Podgorny left Hanoi and stopped in Calcutta, India. He announced that the Paris Peace Talks will resume soon, and said that his visit to Hanoi was successful. Podgorny also stated that the USSR will do all it can to de-escalate the Vietnam war. Meanwhile Le Duc Tho, North Vietnam's peace talks negotiator, has flown back to Hanoi, leaving Peking before Henry Kissinger arrives there. [NBC]
- The Communist offensive in South Vietnam is said to be out of steam. 3,000 South Vietnamese marines have launched operations in Quang Tri province. [NBC]
- Some Polish-Americans are returning to Poland; in Warsaw, a club of ex-American citizens has been formed. Henry Podolski said that he finds more freedom in Poland than in the United States. Erazm Tomczak spoke about being free from the fear of street crime now. The Polish government purchases U.S. dollars from these emigrants at a premium rate, which leads to a high standard of living for those who receive U.S. Social Security benefits. They admit that life is better in America, but dollars go farther in Poland. The rewards of capitalism are being enjoyed in a Communist state. [NBC]
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