This program is 22 minutes long
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Bypassed Introduction Walter Cronkite (NYC)
(Studio) Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas 1st to resign under fire. Says no wrongdoing in his dealings with financier, Louis Wolfson.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(DC) Fortas given $20,000 fee for life from Wolfson Foundation to help shape its community relations program. (Fee to go to his wife after his death.) In June of 1966, Fortas canceled agreement as of yr's. end. When Wolfson indicted, returned initial fee. By resigning, Fortas hoped court would resume work.
REPORTER: Daniel Schorr
(DC) Reporter reads President Nixon's acceptance of resignation. Possible successors include: Attorney Charles Rhyne; former Attorney General Herbert Brownell; Virginia Congman. Richard Poff; and New York Appeals Court Judge Henry Friendly. Justice Potter Stewart may take over Chief Justice post when Earl Warren retires. Justices William O. Douglas, Hugo Black, and John Harlan have age and health difficulties. Nixon may fill 2-5 posts, assuring influence.
REPORTER: Dan Rather
(DC) Congress glad there won't be messy impeachment. Senator Albert Gore demands opening Justice Department's file on Fortas. [Senator Howard BAKER - says no need to investigate further.] [Representative Emanuel CELLER - says good he resigned for court and cntry's sake.] Senator Mike Mansfield says both executive and legislature to use all deliberate speed in apptg. judges.
REPORTER: Roger Mudd
(Studio) Warren acknowledges resignation with praise and good wishes for Fortas.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Before controversy, Fortas's career was classic success story.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Studio) Fortas born in Memphis, Tennessee. Yale student under Prof. William O. Douglas. Worked with Douglas on New Deal. Undersecretary Int. at 32. Friend and aide to Lyndon Johnson helped him in 1948 Senate election. Worked at Arnold, Fortas, and Porter law firm. With attorney wife, income over $200,000 yearly Client Pablo Casals not charged fees. Established right of poorest defendant to have attorney with Clarence Gideon. [FORTAS - cites every man's right to counsel.] Fortas and wife objected to Supreme Court post because of low pay, but Johnson got Fortas to take seat in 1965. [JOHNSON - cites Fortas abilities.] In 1968 Johnson nominated Fortas for Chief Justice, to replace resigning Earl Warren, but Senator opposed him. Republicans felt new president should appointed Chief Justice. Fortas had advised LBJ while on court, and he was paid for college lectures. Fortas withdrew name and was on court until Wolf son issue.
REPORTER: George Herman
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(Studio) Police use tear gas and bird shot to break up crowd protesting closing of Berkeley's People's Park.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Air Force drops request for $15 million for 28 quiet flying planes to Vietnam, which cost $25,000 each in commercial version.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Nixon outlines 8-part Vietnam peace program in speech. Calls for mutual withdrawal and internally supervised elections, with all ptys. involved. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge briefs Cabinet and National Security Council on speech.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(DC) [LODGE - says withdrawal and political solution statements new. If other side desires solid talks, opportunity here.] Reporters ask why should Communists talk if United States to pull out anyway. [LODGE - says doesn't assume withdrawal.]
REPORTER: Robert Pierpoint
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(Studio) Viet Cong reject proposal for mutual withdrawal. Don't reject whole plan.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Reporter tells of South Vietnam reaction.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Saigon, South Vietnam) Reaction mixed. Secretary of State William Rogers briefed by Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker. President Nguyen Van Thieu feels idea of informal settlement with Hanoi undercuts his regime. Rogers to explain Nixon committed to war. Saigon must adjust to Nixon response to Communists South Vietnam resigned to withdrawal.
REPORTER: Marvin Kalb
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(Studio) Former Secretary of State Dean Rusk gets award at West Point and talks of speech.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(West Point, New York) [RUSK - talks of speech and how 2 sides should reach conclusion in Paris.]
REPORTER: Adam Raphael
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(Studio) Allies sweep West of A Shau Valley to cut off infiltration rtes. Casualties reported Hamlets thought secure taken by enemy.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Mekong Delta, South Vietnam) Hamlets seized and destroyed. American bombers wreck 1/10 of homes. Reporter and American civilian advisor talk about who was responsible.
REPORTER: Bert Quint
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(Studio) Malaysia declares national state of emergency as race riots between Chinese and Malaysians in 3rd day in Kuala Lumpur. Curfew violators shot. P.M. Tunku Abdul Rahman accuses China of financing riots to overthrow government Death toll estimated.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Israel celebrates 21st anniversary. Arab terrorists attack occupied Arab areas, including Gaza City and Jerusalem.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Karate expert run through by a sword while showing how to dodge swords.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Reporter analyzes Fortas issue.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(DC) Fortas happy as private attorney Pressured by Johnson into taking Supreme Court post. Fortas proud man. Because of services through years, reporter and others to remain his friend.
REPORTER: Eric Sevareid
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