News stories from Saturday April 4, 1981
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- Secretary Caspar Weinberger said that the Soviet Union was continuing its military buildup in and around Poland and that the response of the United States and its allies would include "far more effective" trade sanctions against the Soviet Union and possibly the sale of weapons to China. "There's still a lot of activity that we wish weren't going on," he said during a flight to Europe for a meeting in Bonn Tuesday of defense ministers of the NATO countries. [New York Times]
- President Reagan's condition was "good," doctors said after prescribing more antibiotics for a "mild" fever." Measures were also taken to improve his breathing, which had been hampered by blood particles and other debris that had clogged small airways in his injured lung. Despite this problem, described by doctors as a mild "setback," he conferred with aides about the increasing threat of an invasion of Poland by Soviet troops. [New York Times]
- A sharp swerve toward violent emotion in the last six months has been found by federal agents investigating the background of John W. Hinckley, who is accused of shooting President Reagan. The agents said this "stark change" in his personality was reflected in his travels and private writings, many of which have not been made public. The writings are a vital resource, the agents say, in the attempt to piece together a day-by-day account of how he spent his time recently. [New York Times]
- A tornado over Wisconsin destroyed 37 homes in West Bend, 32 miles northwest of Milwaukee, and killed a boy and two elderly persons. Forty-nine homes and other buildings were damaged and more than 100 persons were injured. The storm struck so quickly that the officials could not give an alarm. "It was absolute, abject destruction," Mayor John Pick of West Bend said. [New York Times]
- A boxing promoter linked to a fraud involving the Wells Fargo National Bank was arrested by federal agents on a charge that he knowingly made a false statement in a passport application. The promoter, Harold Smith, had disappeared in January amid allegations that he was involved a $21.3 million fraud against Wells Fargo. [New York Times]
- Diplomatic sources in Moscow said that the Soviet leadership refused to discuss the issue of Poland with Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher of West Germany, who spent three days in Moscow for talks. "Their refusal is consistent, but ominous, especially when they were talking to a man of high rank," a senior Western diplomat observed. [New York Times]
- Secretary of State Alexander Haig assured Egyptian officials of the administration's intention to promote security and peace efforts in the Middle East as he arrived in Cairo for talks, the first stop of a nine-day tour. He was, however, preoccupied with the situation in Poland and was prepared to return immediately if the Soviet Union intervenes in Poland. [New York Times]