News stories from Saturday November 17, 1973

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

Despite the Watergate scandals, the Nixon administration can still count on considerable support in the Senate for the principal elements of its foreign policy. Interviews with 12 Senators across the political spectrum, supplemented by discussions with key staff aides, found that backing for the administration is directly tied to admiration for Secretary of State Kissinger. [New York Times] President Nixon defended himself against all charges of wrongdoing and attempted to regain the political offensive in a televised one-hour session with 400 members of The Associated Press Managing Editors Association at their convention in Disney World, Fla., He gave detailed answers to more than a dozen questions. [New York Times] Fulfilling a campaign promise made in 1968, President Nixon set up during his first term a minority capitalism program to provide money and other aid to minority businessmen. Last year, the program was turned into a vehicle by which the President's re-election effort sought nonwhite support, and today the program's survival is threatened not only by politicalizing, but by investigations into charges of corruption and mismanagement. A survey by The New York Times found that few minorities were awarded contracts last year without at least an attempted political quid pro quo. Minority businessmen were under intense pressure from the White House and the President's campaign staff to give support to Mr. Nixon's re-election effort. [New York Times] Travel by Americans to Europe this fall appears to have fallen into its deepest slump in more than a decade. The State Department estimated that visits to Europe during September and October lagged 12 percent behind comparable periods in 1972, and it forecast a 13 percent drop this month. Estimates are based on the number of passports issued by the department. Travel agents attributed the decline principally to cautious spending by many Americans because of inflation and an uncertain economy; higher prices abroad because of dollar devaluation; fears about the Middle East war and higher air fares. [New York Times] The Skylab 3 astronauts moved into their earth-orbiting space station and found it in good condition for their planned stay of 84 days. They reached the space station, 270 miles above the earth, after an eight-hour journey from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. The crew, however, was reprimanded by Mission Control for withholding apparently vital medical information from the flight controller. [New York Times] President George Papadopoulos of Greece imposed martial law after a night of street clashes in Athens between the police and student and worker demonstrators. The police said that five people were killed during the fighting Friday and that 203 were hospitalized with serious injuries. Those hurt included 35 policemen. Early this morning, army tanks and armored personnel carriers dislodged students and workers barricaded in the Athens Polytechnic University. The demonstrators dispersed, but the police were unable to deal with fresh demonstrations later in the day, and at least 40 tanks and armored vehicles were ordered back into Athens. [New York Times] Prime Minister Heath of Britain and President Pompidou of France concluded two days of talks on the future unity of Europe and then toasted the signing of a historic treaty that will bring their countries closer together. The treaty will open the way to the start of construction of a 32-mile tunnel under the English Channel to France. [New York Times]