Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Contd. coal strike and breakdown in talks noted. President Carter's mtgs. with involved government officials mentioned.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner

(DC) Carter's mtgs. with govs. of major coal-producing states and with congress leaders detailed. [Senator Howard BAKER - thinks President must use tools left to him to end strike, include Taft-Hartley and seizure legislature Would support seizure legislature] Baker's expressed belief that seizure legislature couldn't be passed before May noted. [House majority leader Jim WRIGHT - believes House would act swiftly to give President whatever he needs to end strike.] [CARTER - doesn't yet know if he'll have to take action; is still trying to get ptys. to negotiate. Hasn't given up on negotiated settlement.] Statements of 3 coal-state govs., after meeting with Carter, outlined. [West Virginia Governor Jay ROCKEFELLER - says settlement will come only if BCOA agrees to contract. Notes Carter's intention to act if BCOA doesn't.]
REPORTER: Sam Donaldson

(DC) 3 options left for Carter to use detailed: binding arbitration, Taft-Hartley and seizure of mines. [Labor Secretary MARSHALL - doesn't think there's much support for binding arbitration and people aren't supporting Taft-Hartley. Notes mine seizure is difficult.] Miners' defiance of Taft-Hartley orders in past and John L. Lewis' attitude toward law mentioned; photos and films shown. Harry Truman's threatened seizure of mines in 1950 recalled; reasons for union's preference for seizure in this strike cited. Possible option of encouraging local unions to negotiate contracts with individual coal companies, and problems involved in it, noted.
REPORTER: Charles Gibson

(Studio) Shipments of independent west coal to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and private power companies in eastern states noted. Effect of strike on jobs of others than just miners reported.
REPORTER: Barbara Walters

(NYC) Coal shortages in states dependent on it for industry product described and effect in those states, IN, Ohio, West Virginia, MD, Tennessee and North Carolina, and in other areas where factories would be closed because of closures in affected states noted.
REPORTER: Dan Cordtz