This program is 26 minutes long
#94658
[Beginning of broadcast preempted by local news]
(NYC) Report introduced
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
(Moscow, USSR ) Tass report that USSR President Konstantin Chernenko addresses weekly Politburo meeting examined in light of confusion surrounding state of his health; immediately prior to Tass statement, London newspaper noted claiming Chernenko suffered major heart attack while another source vowed Soviet president underwent surgery to remove portion of lung. [Yesterday, "Pravda" director Victor AFANASYEV - (thru translator) claims Chernenko is ill.]
REPORTER: Walter Rodgers
#94659
(Studio) Report introduced
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
(Torun, Poland) Conviction and sentence of Polish secret police defs. chgd. with murdering pro-Solidarity priest Father Jerzy Popieluszko examined; films shown. Terms given Captain Grzegorz Piotrowski, former Colonel Adam Pietruska and others listed. Reaction of priest's former attorney Edward Wende and brother quoted. Long-range political implications of trial considered; martyrdom of Popieluszko described.
REPORTER: Greg Dobbs
#94660
(Studio) Report introduced
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
(Castellaneta, Italy) Apt. building collapse in Castellaneta, Italy, examined; films shown. Final death toll predicted by civil defense director Giuseppe Zamberletti mentioned.
REPORTER: Mike McCourt
#94663
(Studio) General praise for President Reagan's State of the Union address last night noted.
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
(DC) Atmosphere on Capitol Hill last night described; OMB director David Stockman shown sitting with joint chiefs of staff. [Representative Thomas O'NEILL - notes President now has to defense proposed budget cuts.] Stockman and Treasury Secretary James Baker noted continuing budget-related testimony to Congress cmtes. [STOCKMAN - explains need to eliminate farm price supports.] [Senator John DANFORTH - asks Weinberger if defense contractors are patriotic enough to stop milking government] [WEINBERGER - responds.] Congress's traditional handling of defense budget debate described.
REPORTER: Brit Hume
(Studio) Report introduced
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
(NYC) Reagan recalled introduction Jean Nguyen and Clara "Mother" Hale after last night's State of the Union speech. [Wednesday, REAGAN - praises both women as American heroes.] Nguyen noted entering United States after fall of Saigon; her accomplishments since outlined. [NGUYEN - feels serving country is her duty.] Hale's founding of Hale House in Harlem to aid infants of heroin-addicted mothers noted. [HALE - praises her chgs.]
REPORTER: Stephen Geer
(Studio) Coverage of Democrat response to President `s speech tonight announced.
#94666
(Studio) Gunman, identifying self as "Elijah," reported killing priest and others in Onalaska, WI, church, apparently over issue of girls' participation in services; details given, films shown.
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
#94667
(Studio) Report introduced
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
(DC) Senator hearings on television commercials for alcohol featured; Congress ban on cigarette ads on television recalled. Some shown. [Dr. Charles ATKINS - claims relationship between advertising and drinking.] Lack of causal link between ads and alcohol abuse noted agreed upon by hearing participants. [US Brewers Association spokesperson Don. SHEA - believes censorship is antithesis of education] Cntrys. experimenting with banning alcohol ads on television said experiencing no decline in alcohol abuse. Econs. involved in beer and wine advertising on television described.
REPORTER: Charles Gibson
#94668
(Studio) "New England Journal of Medicine" editorial, citing experiences of North Carolina Dr. Keith Rinn, reported calling on regional medical ctrs. to treat those needing medical aid regardless of ability to pay; details given.
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
(Murphy, North Carolina) Rinn's inability to obtain emergency medical care for patient Kathy Ball at Emory Univ. hospital due to her lack of medical insurance and her Possible permanent disfigurement as result of delayed treatment examined. [BALL - describes extent of injuries.] [RINN - recalls hospital's refusal to accept patient without insurance] [Emory hospital ADMIN. - defs. policy.] Arizona hospital recalled indicted for refusing to admit indigent patients; Eugene Barnes noted dying in California as result of hospitals' refusal to treat him due to lack of insurance [Emory ADMIN. - conts. justification.]
REPORTER: George Strait
#94669
(Studio) Parents of children injured or killed by whooping cough vaccine, known as DPT, reported calling for financial compensation and development of safer drug; details given, films shown. Recent "20/20" report on possible misdiagnosis of DPT reactions as crib death recalled; ABC News said redirecting audience response to American Academy of Pediatrics for further study.
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
#94674
(Studio) President Reagan reported denying weakening of ANZUS alliance between US, Australia and New Zealand; his White House meeting with Australian Prime Min. Robert Hawke and Hawke's withdrawal from planned cooperation with upcoming MX missile tests in Pacific noted. Reagan mentioned acknowledging strain in relationship with New Zealand due to latter's ban on nuclear-powered and/or nuclear weapons carrying ships in its ports.
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
(Auckland, New Zealand) Nuclear weapons controversy here and reaction to fragile relations with United States at present discussed; films shown. [WOMAN - comments.] Growth of anti-nuclear movement noted illustrated by demonstrations meeting United States and British nuclear-powered warships in 1983. [Prime Min. David LANGE - won't be bullied by United States or USSR .] [WOMAN - supports Lange.] ["Peace Through Security" Jim SPROTT - claims United States is only nation in world with ability and willingness to protect New Zealand.] Concern over possible military and economy sanctions by United States noted. [Rancher Brian CHAMBERLAIN - will need government subsidies if United States imposes economy sanctions.] Pol. ramifications of situation considered.
REPORTER: Ken Kashiwahara
#94676
#94677
(Studio) Report introduced
REPORTER: Peter Jennings
(DC) Marty Davis, wife of Representative Robert Davis, featured; her recent magazine photograph shown. [Marty DAVIS - describes tongue-in-cheek letter to magazine] [Robert DAVIS - isn't embarrassed.] [Michigan constituents Bob KORTUM, Lori BUDERA - Praise Marty Davis.]
REPORTER: Bill Greenwood
#678095