Today in History from the Vanderbilt Television News Archive

Nov 19 1977: Face To Face In Jerusalem (Anwar Sadat Arrival In Israel)

(1977). NBC news special report covering Anwar Sadat's historical visit to Israel, with live coverage and analysis from Edwin Newman, John Hart, John Palmer, John Chancellor, Bob Jamieson, Richard Valeriani, Richard Hunt, Garrick Utley, and David Burrington. Live expert analysis from Dr. Michael Hudson and Wolf Blitzer.

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Nov 19 1978: Guyana Incident

(1978). (Studio) Shooting deaths of United States Congman. and 3 American newsmen in Guyana jungles as they prepared to leave with unhappy members of religious sect noted. Guyana government's dispatch of troops to area reported Those gunned down said to be United States Representative Leo Ryan, NBC newsmen Don Harris and Bob Brown, "San Francisco Examiner" photographer Gregory Robinson and Peoples Temple member Patricia Parks. Temple's original headquarters in San Francisco mentioned. Ryan's investigation of sect because of reports Americans were being held in Guyana against their wills stated; other reports of mistreatment of sect members described. Film of airport ambush shown; film said to have been flown out of Guyana and sent via satellite from Puerto Rico. Anchor narrates incidents in film, just prior to ambush at Port Kaituma airstrip. Is noted that NBC news field product Robert Flick was present but escaped. Flick's flight to San Juan, P.R., after leaving ambush scene reported Satellite interview with Flick mentioned. Slow motion film of shooting shown; Flick interview shown. [FLICK - describes ambush, include deaths of Ryan, Harris and Brown; mentions Steve Sung. Says there was nothing to this point indicating sect members were capable of this type of violence. Describes his escape. Asked Guyanese soldiers at other end of runway to help; says they couldn't.] Flick's other experiences after shooting stopped detailed. Among wounded are reported to be American, diplomat Richard Dwyer, Ryan legislature aid Jacqueline Speier and NBC News technician Steven Sung. Reports that attys. Mark Lane and Charles Garry were missing mentioned; later reports said to state attys. are safe. Evacuation of dead and wounded to Washington, DC described. State Department comments about contact with US mission in Georgetown, Guyana, and with Guyana officials stated.
REPORTER: Jessica Savitch

(DC) State Department spokesperson Tom Reston's refusal to confirm reports of mass suicide among Peoples Temple members noted; his report that Guyanese police haven't reached area stated. [RESTON - gives Guyanese officials' report that Peoples Temple members in Georgetown have killed fellow members and committed suicide. Claim of man, alleging to have escaped temple and commune, that about 200 there have committed suicide reported Notes possibility that temple members in US, mostly California, may begin to take own lives.] Other details about situation in Guyana, local probe of events and United States extradition agreement with Guyana given.
REPORTER: Bob Kur

(Studio) President Carter's comments about Ryan given, as well as those from NBC pres. Lester M. Crystal about slain newsmen.
REPORTER: Jessica Savitch

Nov 17 1971: Conservatism / Reagan

(1971). (Studio) California Governor Ronald Reagan talks to Nixon with regard to Taiwan expulsion from UN and President planned trip to China (People's Republic)
REPORTER: John Chancellor

(DC) [REAGAN - says United Nations affair and proposed Chinese trip disturbing to conservatives. They'll be reassured when realize President won't bargain away anything of value to US.]
REPORTER: No reporter given

Nov 17 1972: CBS Strike

(1972). (Studio) American Federal television and Radio Artist (AFTRA) orders members to honor striking electrical workers union picket lines around CBS beginning Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Order affects CBS News reporters as well as entertainers. Arnold Zenker to fill anchorman's chair.
REPORTER: Roger Mudd

Nov 16 1973: Andy The Donkey Man

(1973). (Studio) Some frontiersmen try to hold on to quickly fading frontier.
REPORTER: Roger Mudd

(Palm Desert, California) In middle of richest neighborhood outside Palm Springs, Andy the donkey man discovered. Andy parks wagon on last vacant lot, boxed in by hwys. and homes. [ANDY - says in bygone days, person was free to roam land, but then people moved in and brought progress.] More and more progress eases up on Andy. [ANDY - admits feeling a little crowded.]
REPORTER: Charles Kuralt

Nov 16 1978: Traffic Violation Reason

(1978). (Studio) Report on reason given by Milwaukee, WI, driver for running red light when stopped by police for violation. Loss of false teeth between brake and floorboard of car given as reason.
REPORTER: David Brinkley

Nov 13 1977: Li'L Abner Ends

(1977). (Studio) Final publication of comic strip "Li'l Abner" in today's papers, due to ill health of creator Al Capp, noted. (Film shown.) Events on day of 1st publication of strip in 1934 with regard to Admiral Byrd and Babe Ruth noted; people, institutions and items created in strip listed. Musical play and movie made from it also noted. (Music played and photograph shown.)
REPORTER: Morton Dean

Nov 11 1975: Ship Disappears

(1975). (Studio) Freighter "Edmund Fitzgerald" with 29 aboard disappears on Lake Superior.
REPORTER: Tom Brokaw

(Lake Superior) Oil slick, life jackets and boat found. Freighter fought wind and waves. Ship left docks Sunday with cargo of taconite ore pellets; bound for Detroit. [US Coast Guard Captain Charles MILLRADT - speculates re: what happened.] Search for survivors conts., although no 1 could live for more than 4 hrs. in 49-degree water.
REPORTER: Rebecca Bell

Nov 11 1979: Solar-Powered Hospital

(1979). (Studio) Nation's 1st solar-power hospital said to open next week at Fort Apache, Arizona.
REPORTER: Sam Donaldson

(White River Apache Reservation, Arizona) Film of movie "Fort Apache" shown. Solar power unit at Fort Apache hospital described. [Hospital administration Don MARTIN - says solar power system should pay for itself in less than 6 years] Solar power system detailed.
REPORTER: Jules Bergman

Nov 05 1968: Election Returns

(1968). Live coverage of Election Returns by John Chancellor, David Barrington, Chet Huntley, Frank McGee, David Brinkley, Ed Newman and Sander Vanocur Live interview with Herbert Klein. Press Conference with Senator Edmund Muskie

Nov 05 2006: George W. Bush Statement Re: Saddam Hussein Verdict

(2006). LIve CNN coverage of President George W. Bush's statement re: the guilty verdict rendered earlier today in the trial of former Iraq President Saddam Hussein.

Nov 02 2007: On This Day...

(2007). (Studio: Shepard Smith) On this day in history: Howard Hughes piloted the first and only flight of the spruce goose in 1947.

Nov 02 1997: Thailand / Swimming Contest

(1997). (Studio: Gene Randall) The elephant swimming contest in Buriram, Thailand, presented; scenes shown from the Moon River.

Oct 30 1969: Lindbergh

(1969). (Studio) Charles Lindbergh, 67, and companion escape injury as aircraft crashes in Philippines.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite

Oct 30 1974: Ali, Foreman Fight

(1974). (Studio) Muhammad Ali beats George Foreman in Zaire.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner

(Kinshasa, Zaire) Pandemonium erupts following Ali's knockout of Foreman. [ALI - discusses fight.] Fight was logistical nightmare, but no one would have missed coming.
REPORTER: Bill Brannigan

Oct 30 1999: California / Vineyards / Black Goo

(1999). (Studio: Andria Hall) Report introduced.

(Sonoma County, California: Rusty Dornin) The attack of "black goo" fungus on California vineyards featured. [Wine grower Joe MARTIN - says a vine is doing poorly.] [Vineyard Consultant Mike PORTER - says the fungus is in the root stock.] [Caldwell Nurseries John CALDWELL - says black goo will mess up business.] [Grower Bill LERNER - calls the infestation a catastrophe.]

Oct 29 1990: Dallas, Texas / Ruby's Gun

(1990). (Studio: Tom Brokaw) Report introduced.

(Dallas: Jim Cummins) Court battle over gun used by Texan Jack Ruby to shoot and kill Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who assassinated President John F. Kennedy, featured; scenes shown from Dallas courtroom; historical scenes shown of assassination and of shooting of Oswald on live TV. [December 1989, executor Jules MAYER - names his asking price for gun.] [Brother Earl RUBY - comments.] [December 1989, IRS (Internal Revenue Service) Mary VANCE - cites government claims on Ruby estate.] [At Texas Schoolbook Depository building, MAN - recalls that day.]

Oct 29 1982: Hall / Death

(1982). (Studio) Death of Hallmark Cards founder Joyce Hall reported; details given.
REPORTER: Roger Mudd

Oct 28 2007: Chattanooga, Tennessee / Burger Eating

(2007). (Studio: Laurie Dhue) Joey "Jaws" Chestnut's victory at the burger eating championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee, reported; scenes shown.

Oct 27 1978: Woman Climber

(1978). (Studio) Beverly Johnson completion of climbing of El Capitan Mt. reported; film of Johnson climbing shown.
REPORTER: Max Robinson

Oct 27 1979: Father Charles Coughlin Death

(1979). (Studio) Death of Father Charles E. Coughlin announced.
REPORTER: Jessica Savitch

Oct 27 1985: Paris / Art Theft

(1985). (Studio) Report introduced
REPORTER: Sam Donaldson

(Paris, France) Major art theft from museum here involving primarily paintings by Claude Monet examined; scenes shown. [Christie's art expert David ELLIS-JONES - explains significance of loss.]
REPORTER: Greg Dobbs