This program is 25 minutes long
#252885
(Studio) Supreme Court strikes down death penalty for rape.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(DC) Case before court comes from Georgia, only state permitting death penalty for rape of adult woman. In decision written by Justice Byron White, court says such penalty so rare now, that it is cruel and unusual punishment. Dissenting are Justices Burger and Rehnquist, on grounds this ruling will probably eliminate death penalty for other non-murder offenses. [Georgia state Senator Robert BELL - feels it's another decision where court sides with criminal; had hoped it would be otherwise.] Attorney David Kendall says feminists will applaud decision. [NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) legal defense fund attorney KENDALL - notes women's rights groups had filed briefs in support of defense because of feeling that death penalty didn't adequately protect possible victims; cites reasons.] Florida and Mississippi have death penalty for rape of child, but attys. general of both states says laws probably unenforceable now.
REPORTER: Fred Graham Artist: Aggie Whelan
(Studio) Court throws out busing plans for Omaha, Nebraska, and Milwaukee, WI.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252886
(Studio) Supreme Court also directs federal judge to reconsider order blocking 1976 Congress ban on federal money for abortion. Senator begins debate with regard to this issue; rejects one amendment to ban federal funded abortions except in therapeutic cases and another to put no restrictions on such abortions. Senator then enters debate-with regard to mid. ground.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252888
(Studio) 11 of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) ntns. raised oil prices 10% in January and were to increase that by 5% in July; Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates didn't agree. Now OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) says 9 of 11 won't make July hike and Libya and Iraq expected to agree soon. Nothing is said with regard to Saudi Arabia and Emirates, but information is received in interview, in DC, with visiting Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez, 1 of architects of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) compromise. (Interview shown.) [PEREZ - notes there's not full agreement with regard to unity of cartel, but agreement reached with regard to this year's hikes. Believes Saudis will raise prices to equal 10% of others. Isn't authorized to say when Saudis and Emirates will announce incr., but can say it will be in next few weeks] Perez predicts oil prices will rise 200-300% in next 20 years; says he feels headway made with administration with regard to what Venezuela feels was injustice at being excluded, along with other OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) ntns., from most favored-nation trade consideration after 1973 embargo. Venezuela never participated in embargo. [PEREZ - says it's a consideration of President Carter and of Senators and Representatives on foreign relations cmtes., with whom he's talked. Thinks this status may be reversed.] Reporter notes surprise visit to Perez over wkend. by Panama head of government Omar Torrijos; asks if there was message to be given Carter and, if so, what it is. [PEREZ - notes Canal Zone problem; hopes US understands need to solve it. Says canal should be as Panamanian as Mississippi R. is American Has talked to Carter and believes United States President understands problem; is asking United States people to help in solving problem.] Perez notes discussions with Carter with regard to giving United Nations and Organization of American States more power to enforce human rights, incl. support of proposal by Costa Rica with regard to United Nations high commission on issue.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252889
(Studio) House Commerce Committee votes to keep and expand natural gas price controls, as per President Carter's energy plan. Vote is test and could later be reversed.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252890
(Studio) House refuses to rescind pay raise received in February
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252891
(Studio) President Carter launches studies with regard to government reorg.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(DC) President's action begins part of campaign promise. [CARTER - quotes campaign statement; intends to honor pledge.] Carter refuses comment on B-1 bomber decision; will announce it at Thursday press conference Carter signs painting, in mixture of oil and peanut butter, to be donated to charity. Painting is by Kentucky artist C.G. Morehead. [MOREHEAD - comments on painting.]
REPORTER: Ed Bradley
(Studio) Coverage of news conference on Thursday noted.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252893
(Studio) Fugitive former Black Panther leader Huey Newton has been freed by Canadian authorities, after arrest in passing through Canada en route to face murder charges in US.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Toronto, Canada) Details of Newton's release from Toronto jail and upcoming hearing noted. If allowed to stay, he'll go to Vancouver to confer with attys. before going to California to face murder charges.
REPORTER: Sam Ford
#252894
(Studio) Oklahoma officials continue search for murderer of 3 Girl Scouts there; in Florida, Girl Scout is abducted from camp near Sarasota.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Sarasota, Florida) Details of abduction of Charlotte Grosse noted; are few clues and no known motive. Search conts.
REPORTER: Rod Challenger (WTVT)
#252895
(Studio) In San Francisco, government program worked too well.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(San Francisco, California) San Francisco's water rationing program due to drought noted. In March, city's water chief warned about cutbacks. [Kenneth BOYD - says without rationing water will be gone by 1st of next yr.] Residents were also told rates would go up because of less water usage. Now, city says too much water has been saved and if more water not used soon, bills will go up again. Boyd talks of present situation. [BOYD - says people are overconserving.] [MEN - cite opinions of latest development]
REPORTER: Bernard Goldberg
#252896
(Studio) Report on fire at old, unused New York City pier, near Jersey City, New Jersey. (Film shown.)
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252898
(Studio) Archbishop defies papal ban and ordains traditionalist priests in Switzerland. Could provoke 1st schism in Catholic Church in over 100 years
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Econe, Switzerland) Report on ordination ceremony; in sermon Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre criticizes reforms of Vatican II, accuses Pope Paul VI of coddling Communism and threatening 2 members with excommunication. Reporter asks Lefebvre with regard to objections in new mass. [LEFEBVRE - notes both Protestant and Catholic can now say same mass, with new rite, and for Catholic, that's impossible.] Reporter asks sole American to be ordained, Reverend Anthony Cekada of Milwaukee, WI, what it will mean to him if Lefebvre is excommunicated. [CEKADA - says as far as Pope Paul is concerned, he'll be excommunicated. Cites traditionalist beliefs.] 1 of Lefebvre's followers says it could be greatest schism since Reformation.
REPORTER: Peter Kalischer
(Studio) Pope celebrates 14th anniversary on throne at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome; makes no mention of Lefebvre by name, but Vatican radio does. Comments noted. (Film shown.)
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252899
(Studio) United States will sell some slightly enriched uranium to India; NRC says it's satisfied with Indian assurances that material to be used only to refuel atomic power station.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252900
(Studio) Recent administration statements with regard to Mid. East reveals changing attitude toward Israel.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(DC) Reporter comments on: Carter administration's move to treat Israel more like sovereign nation than with emotion; reactions of both Arabs and Israelis; apparent plans of President Carter to become more responsible for outcome of Mid. East situation; and attitude of Prime Min. Begin. Begin is contrasted to Golda Meir and Yitzhak Rabin.
REPORTER: Eric Sevareid
#252901
(Studio) Index of economy indicators down .2% in May. Agriculture Department notes decline in May-June prices.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252902
(Studio) Value of United States dollar has gone down overseas, especially in West Germany and Japan; possible effects noted.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252904
(Studio) Britain's Virginia Wade upsets Chris Evert at Wimbledon tennis tournament in England. (Film shown.) Wade faces Betty Stove of the Netherlands, who defeated Britain's Sue Barker in finals on Friday
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252906
(Studio) Navy reports Lyndon Johnson had skin cancer, of kind easily cured, removed from ankle 4 years after becoming President
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252907
(Studio) New York decriminalizes small amts. of marijuana.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
#252908
(Studio) There's celebration in Huntsville, Alabama, for important part in American space program.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
(Huntsville, Alabama) (Army film shown.) 1st 2 monkeys to successfully complete space flight made flight in nose cone of Jupiter missile on May 28, 1959. 1 monkey died few days later; details noted. Baker, lived on and eventually mated with Big George, who flunked out of space school. (Navy photograph shown.) Baker and Big George live at Alabama Space and Rocket Center; Today Center celebrates Baker's 20th birthday.
REPORTER: Ed Rabel
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