Vanderbilt Television News Archive

ABC Evening News for 1972-01-20

This program is 27 minutes long

• Introduction Howard K. Smith (Washington, DC)

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  05:00:40 pm — 05:01:40 pm

• (Commercial)

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  05:01:40 pm — 05:01:50 pm

• State of The Union Address

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  05:01:50 pm — 05:07:50 pm

  (Studio) President Nixon makes annual State of the Union Address, in accordance with Article 2 of the Constitution, also setting stage for re-election.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (DC) [NIXON - acknowledges rivals for President in humorous vein, calls for candidates to transcend partisanship on nation's vital issues.] In foreign affairs, Nixon endorses limited involvement, summitry in Peking and Moscow, accelerated defense spending. On domestic front, Nixon cites fewer riots as evidence national climate improved, concedes difficulty of inflation, unemployment. Calls for national sales tax, to relieve property tax, for school support. Asks Congress to act on previously requested legislation: welfare reform, revenue sharing, health care, environmental
  REPORTER: Tom Jarriel

• State of The Union / Response

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  05:07:50 pm — 05:08:10 pm

  (Studio) Tomorrow a panel of 9 Democratic Representatives and Senators will respond to President speech on televised phone-in program.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• (Commercial)

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  05:08:10 pm — 05:09:20 pm

• State of The Union / Reaction

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  05:09:20 pm — 05:12:50 pm

  (Studio) Reactions to speech follow party lines; anti-war demonstrators also react.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (Capitol Hill) [Senator Edmund MUSKIE - says speech lacked substantive proposals to deal with problems he mentioned.] [Senator Edward KENNEDY - disappointed in Nixon's lack of concern for domestic needs.] [Senator Hubert HUMPHREY - considers speech a confrontation with Congress, poor way to produce constructive results. Reacts negatively to tax for schools.]
  REPORTER: Bob Clark

  (DC) In church near Capitol, P.O.W. families gather for march to Capitol on vigil of peace during President speech. [P.O.W. wife, Valerie KUSHNER - says her children scarred by war while President speaks of generation of peace.] Some Senators endorse vigil.
  REPORTER: Virginia Sherwood

• Paris Peace Talks / POWs

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  05:12:50 pm — 05:13:10 pm

  (Studio) At Paris Peace Talks, United States delegation inquires into fate of 14 downed US pilots not named on North Vietnam prisoner lists. Communists give no response.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• (Commercial)

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  05:13:10 pm — 05:14:20 pm

• State of The Economy

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  05:14:20 pm — 05:16:20 pm

  (Studio) Treasury Secretary Connally delivers State of the Economy message to top businessmen, blaming them for slow improvement.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (DC) United States Chamber of Commerce complains that Nixon said nothing about lifting wage-price controls quickly. [CONNALLY - says their cooperation must improve first.]
  REPORTER: Sam Donaldson

• Personal Income

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  05:16:20 pm — 05:16:30 pm

  (Studio) Commerce Department reports personal income rose $9 billion in December, triple monthly increase of freeze period.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• (Commercial)

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  05:16:30 pm — 05:18:40 pm

• Vietnam / Casualties

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  05:18:40 pm — 05:18:50 pm

  (Studio) 5 United States troops listed killed in action, 26 wounded last week.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• Vietnam

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  05:18:50 pm — 05:21:00 pm

  (Studio) United States ground troops to aid South Vietnam forces in combating expected Tet offensive.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (Central Highlands, South Vietnam) Major target in upcoming offensive cited; fortifications adequate. [South Vietnam Major General NGO DZU - is ready to defend area.]
  REPORTER: Jim Giggans

• Soldier Longhair

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  05:21:00 pm — 05:21:30 pm

  (Studio) United States military court in Saigon sentences airman Ned Pasey to 3 mos. in prison $600 fine, for refusing haircut.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• (Commercial)

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  05:21:30 pm — 05:22:30 pm

• Howard Hughes

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  05:22:30 pm — 05:23:00 pm

  (Studio) McGraw-Hill publishers agree to postpone printing of alleged Howard Hughes autobiography pending investigation.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• Hijacking / Las Vegas

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  05:23:00 pm — 05:23:20 pm

  (Studio) Hijacker took over Howard Hughes Air West DC-9 in Las Vegas, collected $50,000 ransom, forced flight to Denver. Hijacker bailed out over Colo.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• Cadet Cheating

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  05:23:20 pm — 05:23:40 pm

  (Studio) Air Force Academy finds academic cheating for 2nd time in 5 years In 1965, 109 cadets resigned after similar investigation. Academy Supt. Albert Clark says 20-40 men now implicated.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• Pro-Vietnam Singer

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  05:23:40 pm — 05:26:00 pm

  (Studio) White House folk singer writes pro-admin. Vietnam War song.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

  (Greenwood, Ind.) Dolf Droge a hit at Jaycee-awards dinner. A White House expert on Vietnam, Droge travels widely giving map talks and singing about Vietnam. [DROGE - sings about P.O.W.s, endorses owls rather than hawks and doves.]
  REPORTER: Stephen Geer

• (Commercial)

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  05:26:00 pm — 05:27:10 pm

• Commentary (State of The Union)

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  05:27:10 pm — 05:28:40 pm

  (Studio) President Nixon's State of the Union message was one of his more cautious, non-innovative efforts. Year in Congress may yield stalemates or competitive achievements.
  REPORTER: Howard K. Smith

• Good Night

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  05:28:40 pm — 05:28:40 pm