This program is 27 minutes long
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(Studio) North Vietnam opens new front in Mekong Delta, South Vietnam. 15 mile north of Saigon on Highway 13, enemy rockets hit Phu Cuong. An Loc and Quan Loi under siege. Refugees and American advisers evacuated from An Loc by copter. Near Cambodia, Loc Ninh and F.B. Hung Tau fall to North Vietnam and Viet Cong attack. In Saigon, curfew extended; President Thieu meets with United States Ambassador Bunker and General Creighton Abrams. Troops pulled from Saigon to protect other areas leave capital almost defenseless. 40,000 enemy troops said massed across Cambodian border. Hundreds of United States jets bomb enemy targets north and south of DMZ; and bridge over river in DMZ (demilitarized zone) destroyed. Constellation joins 3 other aircraft carriers in Gulf of Tonkin; 5 destroyers train guns on land targets. Destroyer Lloyd Thomas hit by enemy artillery and machine gun fire; 3 sailors injured. North Vietnam claims to have shot down 3 more United States aircraft (13 in 2 days); United States says 3 downed since yesterday, 10 since Friday Newsmen see United States plane shot down over Quang Tri by SAM. Fighting rages in Quang Tri city, Hue, and Dong Ha.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Dong Ha, South Vietnam) Fire fight near Dong Ha reported South Vietnam tanks defend city.
REPORTER: Don Webster
(Dong Ha, South Vietnam) Machine gun fire directed toward mortar tubes, but fails to knock them out entirely. 5 newsmen, 3 American advisers, and 12 South Vietnam injured in mortar barrage. Injured evacuated by armored trucks. Rocket attack follows mortars. 500 pound bomb mistakenly dropped on Dong Ha by allied plane.
REPORTER: Bob Simon
(DC) [Defense Secretary Melvin LAIRD - says United States will continue to bomb military targets in and near DMZ (demilitarized zone) until enemy withdraws into North Vietnam and shows willingness to negotiate seriously in Paris.]
REPORTER: Nelson Benton
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(Studio) New Vietnam debate breaks out on Senate floor, touched off by Senator Edward Kennedy. He accuses President Nixon of posturing for domestic political gain, and calls for resumption of Paris Peace Talks. Senator Hubert Humphrey also wants talks resumed. Senator Barry Goldwater calls for end to nit-picking criticism.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) No United States ground troops remaining in Vietnam are directly involved in current offensives, though some American helicopter pilots and advisors are. However, 69,000 American airmen based in South Vietnam, Thailand, Guam and on aircraft carriers are involved directly in support of South Vietnam effort. Associated Press reports 5th carrier, Midway, ordered to Vietnam ahead of scheduled sailing time.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Former President Lyndon B. Johnson hospitalized in Charlottesville, Virginia, with chest pains suffered while visiting daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Robb. Condition said stable.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Econ. statistics for month of Mar. reported.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(DC) Unemployment up to 5.9%, but number people working, up. Wholesale Price Index up only .1%, with food prices down. [Council Econ. Advisers, Marina WHITMAN - encouraged by Mar. figures.] [AFL-CIO President George MEANY - criticizes administration economic policy. Doubts Nixon can be beat in President election, however.]
REPORTER: Daniel Schorr
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(Studio) IRS (Internal Revenue Service) acknowledges report 40% United States corps. paid no Federal income tax. Report of Scripps-Howard newspapers, says firms escape taxes by deductions, credits, and other loopholes. IRS (Internal Revenue Service) says some deductions could be legitimate.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Brooklyn, New York, gang leader Joseph Gallo shot to death in Manhattan restaurant. Attempted murder of Joseph Colombo, Senior (rival of Gallo), 9 mos. ago at meeting of Italian-American Civil Rights League, recalled. Police say 2 shootings may be connected.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) White House announces opening of Heroin Hot Line in DC, a number people can call when they have information on heroin pushers. Toll free number is 800-368-5363. News Secretary Ronald Ziegler says callers may remain anonymous.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) President Nixon nomination John West Warner as Secretary of Navy to succeed resigning John Chafee.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Britain's new secretary state for North Ireland, William Whitelaw, releases 73 suspected IRA (Irish Republican Army) terrorists as peace gesture. 3 men killed in Belfast, North Ireland, in explosion of illegal bomb factory; British soldier killed by sniper fire.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Senator Judiciary Committee votes to continue probe into ITT (International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation) affair until April 20.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) New campaign spending law goes into effect, closing loopholes of often-ignored 47-yr.-old statute governing political contributions. Public disclosure of names and amts. of contributors required.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Washington Court House, Ohio) Dwight Coffman, wealthy, retired, Midwestern industrialist, has given $10,000 to Alabama Governor George Wallace's presidential campaign. [COFFMAN - insisted Wallace try Democrat rte.] Most Wallace money comes from small donations at campaign rallies. He has fewer "Fat Cats" than any other Democratic candidate. Contributors' statistics noted by candidate. (San Francisco, California) Mar. 24, 1972 fund raising party by San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto for Senator Hubert Humphrey shown. (Los Angeles, California) [Attorney Eugene WYMAN - raises money for Humphrey. Describes types of contributors.] Senator Henry Jackson's failure to reveal contributors criticized, picketed by "Common Cause," citizens' lobby which backed new law. [Common Cause Chairperson Jonn GARDNER - attacks Jackson and President Nixon for refusing to say where their money has come from.] Nixon's campaign financial director Maurice Stans urges supporters to make donations before today's deadline for revealing contributors. Cash donations are hard to monitor, but traditional "Fat Cats" won't be able to run campaigns behind scenes with new law.
REPORTER: Joel Blocker
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(Studio) Jolted by setbacks in Florida and WI, Senator Edmund Muskie's campaign strategy undergoes thorough review. With staff shuffling, Robert Squire resigns as television advisor.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite (Bruce Morton quoted)
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(Studio) Soldier, Staff sergeant Donald Friar's attempt to adopt Vietnam baby delayed 14 month due to incorrect diagnosis he was a drug addict. President Nixon intervenes on soldier's behalf.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Hijacker takes over United Airlines 727 jet with 96 aboard en route from Newark, New Jersey, to Los Angeles, California. Asks for money and demands to be flown to San Francisco, California.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
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(Studio) Senator proposal for 1 nation-wide president primary under consideration. Alternative plan of 5 regional primaries suggested.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(DC) Republican crossover vote in Wisconsin provides complications for statisticians, such as Louie Bean. Protest votes nation-wide also play havoc with predictions. Senators Aiken and Mansfield propose 1 nation-wide primary. Oregon Senator Packwood suggests 5 regional primaries.
REPORTER: Eric Sevareid
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