This program is 28 minutes long
#36278
(Studio) Refugees rptdly. streaming out of 3 highland provinces given up by South Vietnam. In Saigon, there were reports withdrawal negotiated by South Vietnam's President Thieu and Viet Congress
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
(South Vietnam) North Vietnam overtake Ban Me Thuot this wkend; Communists cut exodus route to coast; refugees stranded and dazed. Many more refugees leave Pleiku, Kontum, Darlac, but all must be airlifted out. Nha Trang now site of army headquarters; to become haven for refugees from all over central highlands region.
REPORTER: Frank Mariano
(Studio) White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen says President Ford quite concerned about present South Vietnam situation.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
(White House) American officials who are Vietnam experts, highly skeptical of alleged deal made between Thieu and North Vietnam. Washington, DC experts agree with Thieu that highlands no longer defensible. Mil. setback seems to support United States claim that Saigon government in trouble without United States military aid.
REPORTER: Tom Jarriel
(Studio) Americans who were personally and deeply involved in Vietnam situation watching latest dvts. closely.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
(DC) Retired General William Westmoreland discusses South Vietnam situation. [WESTMORELAND - thinks South Vietnam's decision to give up central highlands not unreasonable action, under circumstances.] [Former assistant Secretary of State Roger HILSMAN - doesn't believe Vietnam will end with bang. It will drag out for years; eventually Hanoi to control Vietnam; move to mean nothing to US.]
REPORTER: Frank Reynolds (WCBD-TV videotape)
#36279
(Studio) President Ford gets ultimatum of sorts on his request for military aid to Cambodia. Representative William Broomfield, ranking Republican on House For. Affairs Committee, tells President he must agree to June 30 aid cutoff date or his request for aid won't get out of committee In Cambodia, rebels mark 5th anniversary of Lon Nol government with intensive rocket attacks around Phnom Penh.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
#36282
(Studio) Econ. news follows.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
(No location given) 2 big New York banks cut prime interest rates on loans to 7 1/2%. Govt. announces mortgage interest rates down last month Bldging. starts and hsing. permits fall again last month, however. Savings and loan assns. in no hurry to make new mortgage commitments; some experts believe hsing. industry to remain in doldrums till mid year Commerce Department study confirms United States more dependent on foreign oil than ever; details given.
REPORTER: Dan Cordtz
#36283
(Studio) Federal Energy Administration says users of propane gas overcharged during last winter's oil embargo. During investigation some bottled gas mfrs. forced to roll back prices; some consumers get rebates.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
#36284
(Studio) House overwhelmingly approves stiff environmental regulations on strip mining of coal.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
#36285
(Studio) Representatives of 15 RRs meet in Chicago, Illinois, to discuss reorganization of bankrupt Rock Island RR. 2 weeks ago, ABC reported 1/3 employees agreed to loan RRs 10% of their pay; railroad says plan scrapped and employees to get money back.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
#36287
(Studio) Over wkend., there were published reports about alleged IRS (Internal Revenue Service) spy network assigned to gather information on sex and drinking habits of prominent people. Miami woman, Elsa Swarez, says she was recruited in 1972 to pick up dirt on 30 prominent judges and pols. in Miami area. IRS (Internal Revenue Service) commissioner Don. Alexander conducting own investigation into matter.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
(NYC) Elizabeth Bettner also undercover agent for IRS. [BETTNER - says she was involved in Florida pols., so it was easy to get information about other pols. Admits doing some spying on former Florida governor Claude Kirk.] Bettner says she gathered enough information to help get Senator Edward Gurney indicted. [BETTNER - claims credit for gathering information on several prominent Florida pols.; names given. Feels no remorse about turning in names and info. supplied to IRS.] Ms. Bettner says IRS (Internal Revenue Service) agent Cotton Smith her supervisor; Smith denies being her boss.
REPORTER: Lem Tucker
(Studio) ABC to present "IRS: A Question of Power" this Thursday, March 21, at 10 p.m. EDT.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
#36288
(Studio) United States Postal Service discloses federal government obtained 431 court orders to open mail in past 2 years and requested more than 8500 mail surveillances.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
#36289
(Studio) Supreme Court rules 7 to 1 states need not provide welfare benefits for unborn children. Supreme Court rules censorship standards for stage production must follow standards set for movies.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
#36291
(Studio) Leftist military government in Portugal outlaws one right-wing party and 2 ptys. on extreme left. Communist party has incrd. influence since coup.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
#36292
(Studio) Secretary of State Henry Kissinger flies from Egypt to Israel for renewed talks on Sinai disengagement.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
(Aswan, Egypt) Kissinger and Egyptian President Sadat hold news conf. [KISSINGER - says gap between Israel and Egypt narrows; unknown if gap to be finally closed.] [SADAT - says nonbelligerency pact won't be agreed to as long as any foreign soldier present on Egyptian land.]
REPORTER: Ted Koppel
(Tel Aviv, Israel) Both sides have vested interest in appearance of toughness. Kissinger convinced concessions and agreement still possible.
REPORTER: Ted Koppel
#36293
(Studio) In 1945, daughter born to Russian actress Zoya Fyodorova shortly before father, an American attache, expelled from Russia. Victoria Fyodorova granted visa to visit father, Rear Admiral Jackson Tate,in Florida.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
#36294
(Studio) Mrs. John Ehrlichman takes government-funded $10,000 year job with Seattle symphony orchestra.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
#36295
(Studio) Scranton, Pennsylvania, newspaper recs. letter signed by SLA; letter says Patricia Hearst and SLA alive; series of New York Telephone Company fires to stop when city's poor federal FBI investigating letter's authenticity.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
#36296
(Studio) Aristotle Onassis buried on own private Greek island
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
(Scorpios, Greece) Burial ceremony simple. Daughter to inherit most of wealth. Mrs. Jacqueline Onassis accompanied by Senator Edward Kennedy. Onassis secretly contributed to charities.
REPORTER: Lou Cioffi
#36298
(Studio) Thinking Americans should avoid subject of who lost Indochina. Thinking men should include Senator Hugh Scott, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and President Gerald Ford, but obviously don't. Reality of Indochina should be faced up to.
REPORTER: Harry Reasoner
#668761