This program is 28 minutes long
#54636
(Studio) New program format noted; welcome given. Connection between future of United States-USSR relations and fate of men who have spoken what they believe cited.
REPORTER: Frank Reynolds
(Studio) Charges against Alexander Ginzburg and Anatoly Shcharansky stated. Restrictions on West reporters in covering trials and news program's problems due to failure of film sent from Moscow to arrive mentioned.
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
(Moscow, USSR ) Films of Shcharansky and Ginzburg shown. Membership of both in Helsinki agreement watchdog group in USSR noted. Details about Shcharansky trial, reported by his brother, Leonid, given; refusal of authorities to allow Shcharansky's mother in ctroom. noted. Charges against Shcharansky, include that he worked for CIA, outlined. 1976 film shown. [SHCHARANSKY - notes harassment he recd.; decided to send wife to Israel.] Soviet reports about trial described.
REPORTER: Charles Bierbauer
(Studio) Secretary of State Cyrus Vance's statements about dissident trials and United States-USSR relations reported Film shown. [VANCE - regrets recent actions against dissidents. Says it hasn't helped United States-USSR relations, but the two nations must continue to try to find common ground.] Vance's upcoming trip to Geneva for Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) negotiations with foreign minister Andrei Gromyko mentioned; Secretary's position against linking trials to SALT reported Senator Robert Dole's resolution to suspend SALT discussions until outcome of trials is known stated; Senator Henry Jackson's position on SALT and dissident trials and his floor speech with regard to administration USSR policy detailed. Jackson's statements about President Carter's talk and action quoted.
REPORTER: Frank Reynolds
(DC) Press Secretary Jody Powell's comments on administration view of dissident trials and relations with USSR given. Powell's report that trials won't be allowed to upset SALT, but that other phases of United States-USSR relations are under review outlined. Meeting of five American Jewish leaders with national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski noted. [National Conference on Soviet Jewry spokesperson Stanley LOWELL - has learned that Soviets are pragmatic: when they are hurt they'll change, when not hurt won't change. Says there are lots of ways in which United States can hurt Soviets.] Jewish immigration from USSR in last few years described; graph shown. White House view that dissident trials may be aimed directly at President Carter examined.
REPORTER: Sam Donaldson
(Jerusalem, Israel) Prime Min. Menahem Begin's remarks about dissident trials and actions Carter can take reported [BEGIN - says Carter can write personally to Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and demand that Shcharansky be freed and allowed to go to Israel. Says if it's intervention, it's legitimate.] Vandalism at Jerusalem's Russian Orthodox church by Jewish Defense League and prayer vigil at Wailing Wall noted.
REPORTER: Bill Seamans
(Studio) Film of Shcharansky's wife, Avital (Natalia), shown; is noted she lives in Israel but is in Paris launching campaign to help husband. Her plans to go to Washington, DC mentioned. Interview with reporter Jack Smith shown, during which Mrs. Shcharansky recs. First word from husband that she's had in 16 months. [Mrs. SHCHARANSKY - doesn't believe husband is guilty; says he's done nothing against Soviet law, but is active for Jewish movement because he wants to go to Israel. Notes husband's work in group in Moscow. Thinks Soviet actions are criminal and destroy human rights. Is worried about possibility that death sentence may be carried out against husband.]
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
(Studio) Shcharansky's mother's request for help from Harvard law professor and Soviet law expert Alan Dershowitz noted. Attorney's failure to be able to defend Shcharansky reported Interview with Dershowitz shown; he's asked to compare and contrast Soviet and American trials for treason. [DERSHOWITZ - describes Soviet treason trial; mentions that Shcharansky refused attorney approved by KGB. Calls trial farce. Says there's no possibility that Shcharansky will be found innocent; discusses possibility that Shcharansky might be freed later. Lists reasons Shcharansky is being tried, include his being Jewish and leader of Helsinki movement States message this trial gives to other dissidents.] Dershowitz' comment that President Carter's human rights position has helped dissident movement reported.
REPORTER: Barbara Walters
#54637
#54638
#54639
(Studio) Bills before Congress, to be considered before October adjournment, listed, include tax cut, energy, abortion funding and ERA deadline extension. Debate between House and Senator with regard to abortion funds noted. Sunday's march in Washington, DC by ERA supporters urging deadline extension and their lobbying in Capitol today reported Film shown.
REPORTER: Frank Reynolds
#54640
(Studio) Federal government's proposed recall of Firestone 500 steel-belted radial tires and Firestone's response that tires are safe stated. House subcommittee 's report with regard to tire's safety detailed. Report is on testimony about tire's dangers.
REPORTER: Frank Reynolds
(DC) Martinsburg, West Virginia, resident Robert Doyle's uninvited appearance at subcommittee hearing to display and testify about his tire that blew out after being driven only 15,000 mile reported [DOYLE - describes blowout.] Details given about alleged damage to Doyle's car from blowout and tire dealer's alleged treatment of case. [Firestone Vice President John FOLBERG - is sorry Doyle has had this experience. Says Martinsburg store manager will learn of company method of dealing with such complaints, if he doesn't know them. Promises Doyle will get action.] [DOYLE - fears for safety of other tires on car.]
REPORTER: Bettina Gregory
#54641
(Studio) President Carter's proposal for helping local communities fight crime and for more security in large public hsing. projects outlined; film shown.
REPORTER: Frank Reynolds
#54642
(Studio) Cleveland's problem's in getting policemen to take walking beats in public hsing. projects because of fears for own safety reported.
REPORTER: Max Robinson
#54643
(Studio) Rptd. efforts by Chicago's firemen and police to get pay increase noted. Dim outlook for public employee pay hikes in Michigan, due to filing of petition by supporters there of tax cut proposal similar to Prop. 13 stated.
REPORTER: Max Robinson (WXYZ newstape, Lansing)
#54646
(Studio) Report on hostage incident going on at NYC's World Trade Center.
REPORTER: Max Robinson
(NYC) Details given about Polish-speaking ex-machinist Ladislaw Fraczeck, of Brooklyn, and his dissatisfaction with workmen's compensation settlement and seizure of judge and others in ctroom. in World Trade Center; his announcement that he has bomb noted. [Court clerk Adeline WALKER - describes situation in ctroom. and own escape.] [New York City police Lieutenant Frank REILLY - hasn't been able to confirm that there is explosive device in room.]
REPORTER: Lynn Sherr
#54647
(Studio) Beginning of Joan Little's jailbreak trial in Raleigh, North Carolina, reported Judge's refusal to move trial elsewhere or to allow New York City attorney William Kunstler to join Little's defense noted.
REPORTER: Max Robinson
#54648
(Studio) Grasshopper plague on farmers in West described; example of effects given is area along Colorado-Kansas border. Film shown.
REPORTER: Max Robinson
#54649
(Studio) NASA's report that Skylab is rolling into orbit and plans to regain control of it detailed. Agency's plans for space shuttle to dock with Skylab in 1979 mentioned. Film shown. Beginning preparations in Houston by 1st space shuttle astronauts, include 1st women and blacks, reported.
REPORTER: Frank Reynolds
(Houston, Texas) Details given about new astronauts 1st preparations for flight training. One of women is Dr. Judy Resnik; one of blacks is Air Force Major Fred Gregory. [RESNIK - would like to fly any mission.] Training noted as taking place at Johnson Space Center.
REPORTER: Jules Bergman
#54651
(Studio) Comment is on limits of outside protest against USSR trials of dissidents Shcharansky and Ginzburg. History of repression in USSR described, beginning with Lenin's forceful dissolving of freely elected assembly, in which Bolsheviks lost, in 1917. Effects of behind-the-scenes pressure on Sovs. outlined; Solzhenitsyn's release and that of more Jews noted.
REPORTER: Howard K. Smith
#671535