This program is 27 minutes long
#240322
(Studio) House subcommittee working on legislature to aid South Vietnam refugees.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Capitol Hill) [Representative Peter RODINO - urges American not to turn its back on immigrants - the homeless, fearful and oppressed of world. American dream at end if we do.] To get bill passed, administration accepts 2 subcommittee recommendations: Large American companies to be asked to reimburse government for any evacuation expenses and something must be done about undesirable refugees. Setting up detention camps discussed. [US Immigration Service deputy commissioner James GREENE - says if person had to be taken out of circulation, detention camp could be used for purpose.] [Representative Joshua EILBERG - wants assurances no penal kind of institution would be used for undesirable refugees.] Final refugee appropriations bill not expected to pass both hses. of Congress for 2 more weeks
REPORTER: Lesley Stahl
#240323
(Studio) Estimated 20,000 refugees arrive in Philippines and taken to Guam; thought to be last large number of refugees coming out of Saigon; refugees aboard 24 South Vietnam navy ships all flying American flag now.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#240324
(Studio) Group of Cambodian refugees arrives in California; 1 in group makes startling statement.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Camp Pendleton, California) Last president of Cambodia, Sau Kham Khoy, now refugee in US, says predecessor Lon Nol given $1 million bribe to leave Cambodia. Cambodian refugees to be processed just like South Vietnam refugees here. New problem faces refugee camp-lost children. Badly needed clothes handed out to some refugees today. In Honolulu, Lon Nol not available for comment on Khoy's statement.
REPORTER: Terry Drinkwater
#240325
(Studio) During final Communist assault on Saigon's Ton Son Nhut airport, 2 US Marines killed. Bodies of Lance Corporation Darwin Judge and Corporation Charles McMahon Junior left behind in confusion of evacuation.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Massachusetts) [McMAHON SR. - believes Marines knew a week ago bodies not brought out. If they had nerve enough to tell him of son's death they should have nerve enough to tell him his son's body still in South Vietnam.]
REPORTER: No reporter given
(Studio) Saigon government hasn't confirmed it has bodies; State Department pressing inquiries.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#240326
(Studio) President Ford proclaims today as end of Vietnam war era as far as eligibility for some wartime benefits go; proclamation doesn't affect GI Bill education and job training rights. Mr. Ford plans to ask Congress to phase out those benefits July 1.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#240328
(Studio) Viet Cong and North Vietnam takeover in Saigon swift. East German television film shows Saigon soon after takeover; mood of city described as festive. International communications with Saigon restored after 1 week According to day's reports, Saigon back to normal now; even black market open again. However, there's still no police force or operating government for Saigon.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#240329
(Studio) Pentagon retrieves more than 100 planes and copters from Thailand before Thai government ordered United States suspend removal. 122 South Vietnam aircraft flown into Thailand by fleeing South Vietnam pilots just before Communist takeover.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#240330
(Studio) Report follows on Thailand's adaption to recent developments in S.E. Asia.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Bangkok, Thailand) Thais suddenly outflanked by Communist, Socialist, neutralist cntrys. Thais forced to equate survival with flexibility once again; by taking this approach, Thailand never colonized. Removal of US troops from Thailand all part of flexibility plan. Thais' fate may hinge on their ability to deal with internal problems. Trouble brewing in north and northe. provinces; seeds of insurgency planted. Insurgency problem discussed. [Thai Prime Min. Kukrit PRAMOJ - says Thailand has rich government with very poor people; situation must be corrected.] If Thailand fails to survive, fault will be mostly its own.
REPORTER: Murray Fromson
#240331
(Studio) Communist-led forces in Laos capture strategic town Muong Kassy. Soon after town overrun, Communist and non Communist members of Laotian government sign cease-fire to end 3-wk. Communist offensive in area.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#240333
(Studio) Secretary of State Henry Kissinger defends 6 year record in foreign policy in taped NBC interview; thinks it would be disservice to leave job now.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#240334
(Studio) President Ford becoming more involved with foreign policy; mtgs. scheduled with 15 foreign leaders in coming weeks
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(White House) President meets with New Zealand's Prime Min. Wallace Rowling, later Australia's Edward Gough Whitlam, and finally Britain's Harold Wilson. Mr. Ford reassures these leaders of United States support; mtgs. to counteract criticism following United States pullout in Cambodia and South Vietnam. During news conference last night, President Ford says ties with South Korea to be strengthened and commitments to Taiwan to be reaffirmed. Remark about Taiwan raises eyebrows, but administration says United States still trying to normalize relations with Communist China. Susan Ford preparing photograph essay on President as part of school project.
REPORTER: Bob Schieffer
#240335
(Studio) 7 prominent Republicans meet in Washington, DC to begin planning President Ford's `76 presidential election campaign.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(White House) William Scranton, Melvin Laird, Robert Douglas, Leon Parma, Richard Herman, Dean Burch, Bryce Harlow discuss Ford's presidential plans. [After meeting, BURCH - admits there's some conservative dissatisfaction with President, but believes Mr. Ford only logical Republican presidential nominee.] Pol. aides convince President if he wants nomination, he must organize and fight for it.
REPORTER: Phil Jones
#240336
(Studio) 1st black mayor Gary, IN, Richard Hatcher, wins by comfortable margin in Democratic primary.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#240337
(Studio) Nebraska Governor, J.J. Exon, asks President to declare tornado-torn Omaha fed. disaster area.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Omaha, Nebraska) Destruction very heavy; damage may exceed $1/2 billion. Film of destruction shown. [Appliance salesman Leonard STEIN - says losing his business is big shock.] Full economy impact of disaster not yet calculated. [Mayor Edward ZORINSKY - believes tornado to have tremendous impact on city.] National Guardsmen on patrol.
REPORTER: Chris Kelley
#240338
(Studio) Ford Motor Company to shut all assembly and mfring. plants for 2 weeks in July; action taken because of current sales slump. AMC reports loss of $48 million during 1st quarter of `75.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#240340
(Studio) Federal government reduces by about 1/2 its estimate of undiscovered energy resources this country can count on. Private national research cncl.'s estimates and federal government's now much closer. Research council says goal of energy self-sufficiency 10 years from now is virtual impossibility.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#240341
(Studio) House gives final congress approval to strip mining bill; very similar bill pocket vetoed by President in December Congress could override presidential veto.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#240342
(Studio) Federal Energy Administration directs 9 Mid. West utilities to switch from oil to coal in 25 plants. 54 more utilities to receive some directives within next several wks.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#240344
(Studio) Suez Canal opens to allow 1st of 15 ships trapped in canal since 1967 Mid. E. war to sail home.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Suez Canal) [W. German Captain Helmut RAASCH - discusses ways the crews of ships spent last 8 years while trapped in canal.] German ships able to sail home under own steam; fleet of tugboats to remove other ships. Suez Canal scheduled to reopen on June 5.
REPORTER: John Sheahan
#240345
(Studio) In Geneva, Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) talks between United States and USSR recess for month
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#240347
(Studio) Eric Sevareid senses swing away from criticism of United States resettlement of Vietnam refugees.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(DC) Opposition to resettlement of South Vietnam refugees in United States dying away as thousands of Americans offer help to South Vietnam. Refugee difficulty to become localized. Other cntrys. should be pressed to help with refugee dilemma. If United States refused help to refugees, it would be worst possible auspices for bicentennial celebration.
REPORTER: Eric Sevareid
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