This program is 27 minutes long
#503524
(Studio) Difficulties in cooling reactor core said basis of evacuation of pregnant women and preschool children; details given. Present situation with regard to xenon gas trapped in reactor outlined; diagrams shown.
REPORTER: John Chancellor
(Bethesda, Maryland) Details given with regard to necessary future actions mandatory for cooling reactor core and risks involved with regard to gas bubble expansion, with resulting meltdown. [NRC spokesperson Brian GRIMES - says conditions stable at present.] [NRC spokesperson Dudley THOMPSON - comments with regard to term "meltdown."] Possibility of meltdown said small; extent of damage to nuclear core stated.
REPORTER: Bob Kur
(Studio) Concept of meltdown explained; diagrams shown. Authorities opinion with regard to unlikelihood of meltdown quoted.
REPORTER: John Chancellor
#503525
(Studio) Conflicting reports with regard to extent of danger involved in Pennsylvania nuclear plant accident since Wednesday cited. Pennsylvania Governor Richard Thornburgh's evacuation order for pregnant women and preschool children noted
REPORTER: David Brinkley
(Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania) Attempts to cool down reactor said aggravated by heat within plant and escaping radioactive gases. Recent uncontrolled radioactive leak noted. Films shown. [NRC spokesperson E.C McCABE - says reactor not cooling down as expected.] Playing down of situation by NRC and Metropolitan Edison Company officials earlier stated. [Met. Edward spokesperson Jack HERBEIN - says plant under control.] Company officials' later concession re: release of radioactive materials into air for next 5 days cited.
REPORTER: Ford Rowan
(Middletown, Pennsylvania) Situation in Middletown, Pennsylvania, reported [Sound TRUCK - announces instructions.] Alert of 4-county area said ordered by Governor Richard Thornburgh; film shown. [RADIO - announces alert in 4 counties.] Paul and Shirley Yoder cited as example of frightened residents. Middletown preparations with regard to possible evacuation outlined. Checking of city by Civil Defense for radiation said to yield negative results. Chris Long's evacuation of daughter cited; [Brian WHITE - comments-on mother's taking him from school.] Dorenlaw, Steips and Whitmer families featured in response to evacuation fear; pregnancy of Mrs. Whitmer noted. Films shown. Rodney Waltinmeir quoted with regard to reason for staying. [Governor Richard THORNBURGH - advises evacuation of pregnant women and preschool children near Three Mile Is facility.]
REPORTER: Robert Hager
(Hershey, Pennsylvania) Partial evacuation advice said probable overreaction by state officials. Evacuee center at Hershey Sports Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania, noted; films shown; Red Cross' preparations for evacuees cited. [WOMAN - entertains children.] [PEOPLE - react to situation.]
REPORTER: Gerald Harrington
#503526
(Studio) Washington, DC meeting of environmental scientists and disagreement with regard to amount of radiation exposure deemed safe reported.
REPORTER: David Brinkley
(DC) Concern at meeting with regard to Pennsylvania situation cited. [MAN - comments.] Link of radiation exposure to genetic damage and cancer, and scientists' concern re: continued lack of radioactive gas at Three Mile Island noted. [National Academy of Sciences spokesperson Dr. Edward RADFORD - comments with regard to Thornburgh's partial evacuation order; radiation level at plant and surrounding areas.] Scientists respond by show of hands to reporters question with regard to having own families leave area.
REPORTER: Chris Wallace
#503528
(Studio) President Carter quoted with regard to Pennsylvania nuclear power plant accident in relationship to present rules governing nuclear energy.
REPORTER: David Brinkley
(DC) Energy Secretary James Schlesinger's Congress testimony today with regard to Pennsylvania nuclear accident cited as given without knowledge of most recent radiation leak. [SCHLESINGER - says risk to population in vicinity of plant is limited and that population agrees.] Schlesinger quoted re: difficulty in selling safety of nuclear plants to Congress after latest news with regard to incrd. leakage. [SCHLESINGER - comments.] Unlikelihood of Pres Carter stressing nuclear energy in energy speech next week noted.
REPORTER: Andrea Mitchell
(DC) Effect of Pennsylvania accident on nuclear energy as power source examined. [Senator Richard SCHWEICKER - comments.] [Senator Henry JACKSON - comments.] Construction of plants in Harrisburg and 6 other states by Babcock and Wilcox noted; company spokesperson quoted with regard to safety checks in other plants. [Senator Gary HART - comments.] Call for moratorium on new plants by Senator Mike Gravel said endorsed by Ralph Nader; Nader quoted.
REPORTER: Tom Pettit
(Studio) Report issued today with regard to state and federal government's unpreparedness to deal with nuclear accidents quoted.
REPORTER: David Brinkley
(DC) Proliferation of nuclear facilities in United States cited. General Accounting Office report quoted with regard to government inability to deal with nuclear accidents; Pennsylvania noted as one of states that is prepared. Criticism of NRC licensing and federal government's inability to deal with accident stated. Official lack of education of public with regard to actions in event of accident as well as risk level involved in living near facilities stated.
REPORTER: Carole Simpson
(Studio) Special, "Crisis at Three Mile Island," to be shown tonight.
REPORTER: John Chancellor
#503529
#503530
(Studio) Fire on Italian cruise ship, Angelina Lauro, in Virgin Island rptd
REPORTER: John Chancellor
#503532
(Studio) Scheduled Saturday strike by Teamsters stated; indications of contract agreement due to govt relaxation of wage increase rules detailed.
REPORTER: John Chancellor
#503533
(Studio) Cancellation of all United Airlines flights due to machinists strike reported.
REPORTER: John Chancellor
#503534
(Studio) Death of parliament mbr., Airey Neave, by car bomb at House of Commons reported Neave noted as Conservative party spokesperson on N Ireland and opponent of IRA.
REPORTER: David Brinkley
(London, England) Details given about bombing, Neave's death Films shown IRA warning with regard to incrd. terrorism during present elect campaign cited Background on Neave's role in N Ireland situation given [In previous trip to North Ireland Airey NEAVE - comments with regard to terrorist threats to own life.] Neave's role as political adviser to Margaret Thatcher and IRA (Irish Republican Army) warning with regard to more bombings cited. Big Ben mentioned.
REPORTER: John Cochran
#503535
(Studio) Referendum with regard to Islamic state in Iran rptd; pressure tactics on voters noted. Films shown
REPORTER: David Brinkley
#503536
(Studio) Shah of Iran's departure from Morocco for stay in Bahamas reported; urging of Shah not to come to United States stated Brazil mentioned as possible stop for Shah after Bahamas.
REPORTER: David Brinkley
#503538
(Studio) Reports with regard to Senator Adlai Stevenson's announcement with regard to not seeking reelec. in 1980; arrest of suspect in Boston fires at Copley Plaza and Sheraton-Boston hotels; and imminent fall of Kampala, Uganda, and Idi Amin, given.
REPORTER: John Chancellor
#503539
(Studio) Pryor, OK, trial of Gene Leroy Hart and not guilty verdict reported; chgs. against Hart in 1977 murders of 3 Girl Scouts recalled.
REPORTER: David Brinkley
(Pryor, OK) Reaction to jury's verdict by Hart reported; mother quoted re: verdict. [Mrs. HART - comments.] Manhunt, culminating in Hart's April, 1978, arrest recalled; film shown. Hart noted as prison escapee at time of arrest. Defense attorney's argument with regard to local authorities' vendetta against Hart stated. Impt. of case with regard to local Indian population outlined. [March 20, 1979, interview, HART - says he represents fears with regard to ability of system to overwhelm individual.] Hart's return to prison on previous chgs. rptd
REPORTER: Dianne Wildman
#672203