Vanderbilt Television News Archive

ABC Evening News for 1971-12-16

This program is 27 minutes long

• Introduction Howard K. Smith (Washington, DC)

  #13809

  05:01:00 pm — 05:01:50 pm

• (Commercial: Sanka Coffee.)

  #13810

  05:01:50 pm — 05:02:00 pm

• India-Pakistan / E. Victory / West War

  #13811

  05:02:00 pm — 05:04:50 pm

  (Studio) Independent Bangladesh government established in former E. Pakistan as Pakistani forces surrender to India. Indian Prime Min. Indira Gandhi declares unilateral cease-fire in Kashmir, India. Pakistani President Yahya Khan says fight in West will continue, but doubtful since 1/3 soldiers captured.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (W. India) Fighting conts. in West. Forces there hear Prime Min. Gandhi proclaim victory in E. via radio. Pakistani position considered hopeless, though President Yahya Khan fights on.
  REPORTER: George Watson

• (Commercial: Sanka Coffee; Gravy Train Dog Food.)

  #13812

  05:04:50 pm — 05:05:50 pm

• India-Pakistan / US

  #13813

  05:05:50 pm — 05:08:10 pm

  (Studio) White House encouraged by possible cease-fire in West White House Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler says cease-fire is United States objective. Admin. not happy with letter from Indian Prime Min. Gandhi.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (Key Biscayne, Florida) Gandhi letter criticizes Nixon administration for not requiring West Pakistan to free Bangladesh leader Sheik Mujibur Rahman which would have prevented war. [White House Press Secretary Ronald ZIEGLER - rejects letter, restates India's guilt in starting war.]
  REPORTER: Bill Gill

• India-Pakistan / USSR / China

  #13814

  05:08:10 pm — 05:09:50 pm

  (Studio) USSR reacts quietly to Indian victory. People's Republic of China warns USSR and India not to play with fire. Pakistani For. Min. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who stormed out of United Nations Security Council, warns against further big power involvement.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (NYC) [BHUTTO - says future of subcontinent in hands of big powers.]
  REPORTER: John MacVane

• (Commercial: Jell-O Gelatin; Tang Breakfast Drink.)

  #13815

  05:09:50 pm — 05:11:10 pm

• Vietnam / United States Gis

  #13816

  05:11:10 pm — 05:13:30 pm

  (Studio) Casualties reported.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (Fire Base Gibraltar, South Vietnam) New fire base being built for permanency - concrete floors, electricity. [Lieutenant Colonel Stanley TYSON - says soldiers in defense posture although activities unchanged. I [SP/4 Michael MCNAMARA - says role offensive.]
  REPORTER: Bill Zimmerman

• Cambodia

  #13817

  05:13:30 pm — 05:14:50 pm

  (Studio) Most Indochina fighting recently in Cambodia.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (Skun, Cambodia) Major town for Cambodian defense, Skun, deserted except for Cambodian soldiers; enemy draws near.
  REPORTER: Jim Bennett

• (Commercial: Schick Hot Lather Machine; Absorbine Junior Rub; Allstate Auto. Insurance.)

  #13818

  05:14:50 pm — 05:16:40 pm

• Yardville Prison Riot

  #13819

  05:16:40 pm — 05:19:00 pm

  (Studio) New Jersey has 2nd prison riot, following Rahway's Thanksgiving protest, when inmates at Yardville seize assistant superintendent and guard, taking control of 1 wing of prison. Hostages freed.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (Yardville, New Jersey) Prison and police shown. [AP reporter Carl ZEITZ - says protest stemmed from guard beating black prisoner.] [New Jersey Governor William CAHILL - says new method for airing prisoner complaints needed.] Unknown if Yardville incident will change New Jersey's prison system.
  REPORTER: John Johnson

• China / United States Prisoners Release

  #13820

  05:19:00 pm — 05:21:20 pm

  (Studio) Mary Ann Harbert, captured 3 years ago in yacht off China coast, recently released by People's Republic of China, with Richard Fecteau.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania) Miss Harbert's story related. [Miss HARBERT - says yacht strayed into waters; captured, never tried; says never a spy.] Male companion committed suicide.
  REPORTER: Gregory Jackson

• (Commercial: Lowrey Organ; Old Spice Prdts.)

  #13821

  05:21:20 pm — 05:22:30 pm

• Foreign Aid

  #13822

  05:22:30 pm — 05:22:40 pm

  (Studio) House-Senator Conf. Committee agrees on compromise foreign aid bill; ceiling on Cambodian aid set, South Vietnam troops supported.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• Supreme Court / Noms.

  #13823

  05:22:40 pm — 05:23:10 pm

  (Studio) Louis Powell and William Rehnquist to be sworn in as Supreme Court justices on January 7.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• Ships / United States vs. Cuba

  #13824

  05:23:10 pm — 05:25:00 pm

  (Studio) Castro government admits Cuban gunship attacked and captured Miami-based cargo ship. Crewmen flown to Cuba for medical treatment. President Nixon demands immediate return of ship's Captain Jose Villa.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (Key Biscayne, Florida) Family of wounded captain come to President Nixon's Florida home. [Daughter Isabel VILLA - says President Nixon gave family hope.]
  REPORTER: Charles Murphy

• Price Commission / Steel

  #13825

  05:25:00 pm — 05:25:20 pm

  (Studio) Price Commission approves steel price increases for National Steel Corp., Bethlehem, and Kaiser.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• Stock Market Report (Studio)

  #13826

  05:25:20 pm — 05:25:30 pm

  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• International Economy

  #13827

  05:25:30 pm — 05:26:00 pm

  (Studio) Little fluctuation in value of dollar in world money mkts., though price of gold drops sharply. Mtg. of financial mins. of 10 non-Communist cntrys. begins in DC.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• (Commercial: Polident Denture Cleaner; Savings and Loan Assns.)

  #13828

  05:26:00 pm — 05:27:10 pm

• Commentary (Bangladesh)

  #13829

  05:27:10 pm — 05:28:50 pm

  (Studio) Bangladesh 8th most populous nation in world. New chapter in life of sub-continent begun.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• Good Night

  #665279

  05:28:50 pm — 05:28:50 pm