Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) In legislature proposals, President asks for $722 million in military aid and $250 million in humanitarian aid for South Vietnam; requests legal authority to use American troops if evacuation necessary. White House demands action by end of week; full Senate Foreign Relations Committee goes to White House to confer with President himself.
REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

(White House) Committee spends over hour discussing President's and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's options. [Senator Clifford CASE - doesn't rule out approval of some military aid.] [Senator Joseph BIDEN - says he'll do whatever he feels is best to insure safety of Americans in South Vietnam; doesn't feel moral obligation to South Vietnam who have been friends to Americans] White House unable to cite legal justification for President's use of United States Marines to evacuate 159 Cambodians from Phnom Penh over wkend. Any such evacuation from South Vietnam would be more massive.
REPORTER: Tom Jarriel

(Capitol Hill) House Judiciary subcommittee hears from assistant Secretary of State Philip Habib with regard to administration's plans for possible evacuation of thousands of South Vietnam. [Chairperson Joshua EILBERG - says there's been virtually no advance planning for movement of South Vietnam refugees.] Senate Democrats caucus on advisability of using American troops to evacuate people from South Vietnam. [Senator Mike MANSFIELD - says President has power in limited areas to use American troops in South Vietnam.]
REPORTER: Sam Donaldson

(Studio) President sets April 19 as deadline for Congress to act on his requests; congress leaders say final action by deadline most unlikely.
REPORTER: Howard K. Smith