Vanderbilt Television News Archive

ABC Evening News for 1971-12-15

This program is 27 minutes long

• Introduction Howard K. Smith (Washington, DC)

  #13788

  05:00:50 pm — 05:01:50 pm

• (Commercial: Glo-Coat Wax.)

  #13789

  05:01:50 pm — 05:02:10 pm

• India-Pakistan / War East

  #13790

  05:02:10 pm — 05:02:30 pm

  (Studio) War reaches crisis stage as Indian troops advance to within 1 mile of Dacca, E. Pakistan; demand Pakistani surrender.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• India-Pakistan / United Nations

  #13791

  05:02:30 pm — 05:05:20 pm

  (Studio) At United Nations Pakistani For. Min. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto walks out of Security Council after harsh attack.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (NYC) Bhutto gives emotional statement before Security Council [BHUTTO - praises US, attacks Britain and France for abstentions on cncl., cease-fire and withdrawal resolutions.] Bhutto says he won't return to council
  REPORTER: John MacVane

  (Studio) British and French give up hope for their proposal; Italian and Belgian delegations work on new resolution. Security Council works against USSR veto for cease-fire.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• India-Pakistan / War West

  #13792

  05:05:20 pm — 05:07:10 pm

  (Studio) Indian bombers attack Karachi, West Pakistan.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (Chhamb, India) Inside Kashmir, Pakistan army penetrates Chhamb. Importance of capture cited.
  REPORTER: Lou Cioffi

• India-Pakistan / US

  #13793

  05:07:10 pm — 05:08:50 pm

  (Studio) President aide Henry Kissinger said yesterday President Nixon may reconsider Moscow trip if USSR conts. to block peace moves. Today White House Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler says trip not an issue, but US-USSR relations could be affected if war spreads to West Pakistan. Ziegler made no comment on US naval task force in Bay of Bengal.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (State Department) State Department makes no comment on mission of naval task force led by carrier Enterprise; ships headed toward Bay of Bengal, supposedly to counter large USSR build up there. Americans can be evacuated via fleet, though evacuation plans via Thailand `copters planned. Naval maneuver said similar to 1 made in Mideast earlier this year for Jordan.
  REPORTER: Ted Koppel

• (Commercial: Glo-Coat Wax; Pledge Furniture Wax.)

  #13794

  05:08:50 pm — 05:10:10 pm

• Kerner / Indictment

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  05:10:10 pm — 05:10:40 pm

  (Studio) Chicago Federal Appeals Court Judge Otto Kerner indicted by federal grand jury on charges of bribery, mail fraud, tax evasion, conspiracy. Kerner former Illinois governor; was chairperson Commission on Civil Disorders in Johnson administration
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• Panther Newton / Release

  #13796

  05:10:40 pm — 05:12:30 pm

  (Studio) Black Panther leader Huey Newton's murder charge dropped.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (Oakland, California) Newton stood trial 3 times for killing Oakland policeman, 2 with hung jury. [District attorney Lowell JENSEN - believes sufficient evidence to try Newton; sorry to drop charges.] [Defense attorney Chas. GARRY - says dismissal overdue.] Newton has no comment.
  REPORTER: Dick Shoemaker

• (Commercial: Rain Barrel Fabric Softener; Regard Wood Polish.)

  #13797

  05:12:30 pm — 05:13:40 pm

• United States Prisoners / China Release

  #13798

  05:13:40 pm — 05:16:10 pm

  (Studio) Americans Richard Fecteau and Mary Ann Harbert released from prison by China, P.R.; undergoing medical tests at Philadelphia hosp.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) [FECTEAU - discusses solitary confinement; refuses comment on espionage role.] Mary Ann Harbert shown; to hold news conf. tomorrow.
  REPORTER: John Johnson

• (Commercial: Admiral Televisions; Confident Denture Adhesive; Schick Hot Lather Machine; Alpo Dog Food.)

  #13799

  05:16:10 pm — 05:18:10 pm

• Dollar Devaluation

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  05:18:10 pm — 05:20:10 pm

  (Studio) Dollar value drops on world mkts. after devaluation report Congress leaders promise President Nixon prompt action on dollar devaluation plan.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (DC) Congress leaders warned negotiation with regard to devaluation lies ahead. [Senator maj. leader Mike MANSFIELD - expresses optimism at probable results of devaluation on international monetary scene.] [Speaker of House Carl ALBERT - predicts Congress support of President' recommendations for devaluation.] Need act of Congress for devaluation.
  REPORTER: Bob Clark

• Med. Costs

  #13801

  05:20:10 pm — 05:22:30 pm

  (Studio) Price Commission rules government permission required for doctors to increase fees more than 2 1/2% year; hospitals 6%. Health service inflation cut.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (NYC) Mt. Sinai Hospital costs exemplify inflation in medical care. Hospital's facilities described. [Director Dr. South David POMRINSE - attributes rising costs to labor, technology.]
  REPORTER: Gregory Jackson

• Defense Bill

  #13802

  05:22:30 pm — 05:22:40 pm

  (Studio) Senator approves appropriations bill with 4 Senators present.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• (Commercial: Playtex Bras; Playtex Girdles.)

  #13803

  05:22:40 pm — 05:23:40 pm

• Ships / Cuba-US

  #13804

  05:23:40 pm — 05:24:30 pm

  (Studio) Miami cargo ship captain radios ship under fire from Cuban gunboats. Ship Johnny Express, under Panamanian registry, said rammed and sinking when radio went out.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• USSR / Earthquake

  #13805

  05:24:30 pm — 05:25:00 pm

  (Studio) Earthquake recorded off USSR 's Siberian peninsula.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• Missouri / Tornado

  #13806

  05:25:00 pm — 05:26:20 pm

  (Studio) Tornadoes rip through south Missouri killing 2, injuring 50. Missouri Governor Warren Hearnes declares state of emergency.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (Republic, Missouri) Destruction of tornado described, shown.
  REPORTER: John Russell (KMBC-TV)

  (Springfield, Missouri) 50 small planes destroyed at airport.
  REPORTER: John Russell (KMBC-TV)

• (Commercial: Sunbeam Hair Driers; English Leather Prdts.)

  #13807

  05:26:20 pm — 05:27:20 pm

• Commentary (Washington, DC Football)

  #13808

  05:27:20 pm — 05:29:00 pm

  (Studio) Washington, DC Redskins football victory over Los Angeles Rams analyzed in context of Washington, DC government City pours stifled civic pride into team of winners.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• Good Night

  #665276

  05:29:00 pm — 05:29:00 pm