News stories from Sunday October 26, 1975

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

Generalissimo Francisco Franco clung to life against all expectations. Millions of Spaniards still faithful to their 82-year-old Chief of State prayed -- as he did, in his bedroom -- as successive medical bulletins told of his critical condition. [New York Times] In the waning days of General Franco's regime, many major West European democratic parties and unions quietly stepped up contacts with Spain's illegal political opposition. Conferees at the sometimes secret meetings believe that the general's successors must adopt new policies. [New York Times] As the 1976 presidential campaign warms up, former Gov. Jimmy Carter of Georgia has apparently taken an unexpected and strong lead in the contest for Iowa's 47 delegates to the Democratic national convention. Iowa has a strategic position in the nominating process, and the state's caucuses that begin selecting Democratic delegates Jan. 19 will have an impact on early primaries, contributors and party leaders. [New York Times] At the request of the steel industry, an official of the federal agency that rules on the levels of cancer-causing agents to which workers may be exposed will testify at a federal hearing at government expense against a new standard proposed by the government. [New York Times] Agents of the Internal Revenue Service have found a possible link between the former law firm of Donald Alexander, the I.R.S. commissioner, and a Bahamian bank suspected of being a haven for Americans seeking to evade taxes, sources close to the inquiry disclosed. [New York Times] A sense of faith in the future has faltered among most Americans, but there is rising optimism among two groups -- young women and young blacks -- particularly because of their widened job opportunities. A national survey commissioned by The New York Times shows that women and blacks under 30 years of age are about twice as confident as Americans in general that they will make marked gains in the next five years toward achieving the "best possible life." [New York Times] The staff of the Senate Banking Committee is to present three option papers today on possible federal aid to New York City, but any plan that reaches the Senate floor is expected to face strong opposition. The options are a federal guarantee for $6 billion in city borrowing, a plan to require holders of city debts to stretch repayment and reduce interest rates in advance of a guarantee and one to allow default. [New York Times] Senator William Proxmire contended that Defense Secretary James Schlesinger was exaggerating and distorting intelligence estimates about the size of Soviet military power. The Wisconsin Democrat made public testimony by leading intelligence officials, expressing strong skepticism about the validity of making dollar comparisons of American and Soviet military strength. [New York Times] The City Council in Englewood, N.J., has added Jews, American Indians, Orientals and all women to the rolls of what it designates as official minorities. As such, these groups join a large population of blacks and Spanish-speaking residents in qualifying for Englewood's controversial affirmative-action job program. [New York Times] At least 52 persons were reported killed as warfare between leftist and rightist mobs spread through the downtown hotel district of Beirut. The towering Holiday Inn complex in the Lebanese capital became a strategic battleground, and more than 100 persons were reported wounded in the city and its suburbs. [New York Times] Anwar Sadat became the first Egyptian President to pay an official visit to the United States as he was warmly embraced by Secretary of State Kissinger in Newport News. Va. Mr. Sadat will seek aid from Washington and explain Cairo's policies to Americans in a 10-day tour. [New York Times]