News stories from Saturday September 22, 1979
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- The impact of a Chrysler bankruptcy on the economy is being studied by the Treasury Department. Dissatisfaction with private studies based on "worst case" assumptions that predicted severe economic consequences if Chrysler shut down led the Treasury to make its own analysis of what officials describe "more realistic," not so severe effects on the economy. [New York Times]
- Elvis Presley lived in torment in the year before he died on Aug. 16, 1977, according to his associates. By their accounts, the singer suffered from chronic hypertension and was a "medical drug addict," and they have challenged the official finding that his death was due to heart disease. The controversy has led to a criminal investigation of prescriptions written by his personal physician. [New York Times]
- Rosalynn Carter is the top fundraiser for the Carter-Mondale Presidential Committee. She has so far raised $850,000 for the committee in appearances around the country, more than Vice President Mondale or any of the cabinet members. In a recent 31 hours on the road, Mrs. Carter delivered seven speeches in five cities, held four airport news conferences and attended three events that provided $250,000 in campaign funds. She is totally unequivocal about her confidence in her husband. "I just know he is going to be President for a long, long time," she said in an interview. [New York Times]
- A sewage spill is killing marine life at the southern end of San Francisco Bay, which has become a virtual septic tank. Officials say that the bay may not recover for years from the spill caused by a breakdown in the San Jose sewage treatment plant. [New York Times]
- Nuclear power's future is clouded by what may be the most serious challenge it has faced in the 25-year history of the nation's civilian atomic energy program. The challenge has arisen from the political, financial and technical problems that followed the accident six months ago at the Three Mile Island reactor in Pennsylvania. [New York Times]
- France and African nations helped plan the overthrow of Bokassa I, making preparations two months ago, President David Dacko of the restored Central African Republic said. Mr. Dacko also said he had freed the remaining political prisoners held by the Bokassa dictatorship.
Bokassa I remained isolated in his private plane at a French military airfield. The French government said the presence of the ousted Emperor of the Central African Empire was "inopportune at this time." Mr. Bokassa, a former sergeant in the French army, was reportedly claiming dual nationality and the right to reside in France as a citizen.
[New York Times] - The U.S. will retaliate if Moscow does nothing to alter the status of the Soviet combat brigade in Cuba, Zbigniew Brzezinski said in an interview with editors released by the White House. President Carter's national security adviser said the stationing of the brigade in Cuba was an indication of the Soviet Union's "pattern of disregard" for American interests. [New York Times]