This Day In 1970's History: Thursday November 9, 1978
- President Carter made two pledges, to increase the defense budget and still cut the growth rate of government spending, reflecting major concerns expressed in Tuesday's elections. At a news conference in Kansas City, Mo., he said increased defense spending of 3 percent a year above the inflation rate was needed to meet NATO commitments, but that, to control inflation, next year's total budget deficit would be more than $10 billion less than the current one.
President Carter said that the election results had not been a referendum on his performance in office, but an approving judgment on the Democratic Party and its policies. [New York Times]
- Three of 68 accused F.B.I. men have eluded administrative punishment for allegedly illegal break-ins by leaving the bureau during the seven months the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been considering charges against them. The departure of the three, including two supervisors, has prompted arguments that it would be unfair to proceed against lower-level employees. [New York Times]
- George Meany assailed Mr. Carter as "the most conservative President I have seen in my lifetime" and said that Tuesday's election results indicated that Mr. Carter might not be re-elected in 1980. The labor leader accused the President of forming economic policies to combat inflation by creating increased unemployment. Mr. Meany and other labor officials expressed concern about union prospects in the next Congress. [New York Times]
- Norman Rockwell died at the age of 84 at his home in Stockbridge, Mass. Paintings by the noted artist were highlighted by nostalgic evocations of small-town America, which had appeared on hundreds of Saturday Evening Post covers. [New York Times]
- Preserving the nation's pinelands is an issue now growing in governmental as well as environmentalists' concerns. Congress has approved a pilot program to protect New Jersey pinelands from overdevelopment. The bill would provide up to $25 million for acquisition of up to 50,000 acres of pine barrens and would create a commission to plan management of the 970,000 other acres of the pine barrens also. [New York Times]
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