Week of December 8, 1970

President Nixon carries his campaign for reform of the nation’s welfare program

to the opening session of the White House Conference on Children. He called his

family Assistance Plan “the most important piece of social legislation in our

nation’s history” in terms of consequences for children.

swearing that the young officer methodically executed My Lai villagers as they

were herded to him in groups and that he killed a women as she raised her

hands in surrender. Calley’s lawyers promptly moved for a mistrial, contending

the surprise testimony went beyond the crimes alleged in the court martial’s bill of

particulars.

President

Nixon

confers

with King

Hussein of

Jordan on

ways to

get the

Middle

East

peace talks started again and on economic and military aid to Jordan. They met

for an hour in the President’s office. At night, the President gave a small stage

dinner for the king.

Leading members of the House Crime Committee are proposing whether drug

companies should be forced to curtail their production of amphetamines, the

stimulants known to young addicts as “speed,” pep pills and “bennies.”

Farm labor leader Cesar Chavez under court order to end a lettuce boycott or

stay in jail, promises to “escalate” his campaign instead.

President Nixon confers with Israeli defense Minister Moshe Dayan, hoping to

prod Israel into resuming Middle East peace talks with the Arabs.

An explosion and fire rip through Ryan’s Bar and Grill - a tavern opposite City

Hall in Manhattan. 60 are injured.

A rail strike sweeps across the nation in defiance of a congressional ban and a

plea by President Nixon that rail workers return to their jobs.

Week of December 8, 1970

The nationwide rail strike is abruptly called off after 18 yours but the dispute that

caused it is far from settled.

Commission on Campus unrest that only he could

provide the moral leadership to reconcile violently

divided Americans and reunite the country. The report

came in the wake of disruptions on hundreds of

college campuses. The outbreak followed the move of

U.S. troops into Cambodia and led to the deaths of six

students at Kent State and Jackson State College.

Said President Nixon - “During these past 22 months,

I have tried to exercise that authority to bring an end

to violence and bitterness and I have sought to use

the power of this office to advance the cause of peace

abroad and social justice at home. These are matters

upon which every President answers daily to his conscience and quadrennially,

to his judge -the American people.”

President Nixon threatens to renew the bombing of North Vietnam if the enemy

takes advantage of the American troop withdrawal from South Vietnam to make

new military gains.

South Vietnam and the United States jointly

propose at the Vietnam peace talks an immediate

and unconditional release of all prisoners of war on

both sides, but were flatly turned down by the

North Vietnamese.

The East Germans in an attack on West Berlin’s

ties to West Germany, reject a plea of West Berlin

Mayor Klaus Schuetz to open the Berlin Wall

during Christmas for family reunions. The rejection

meant that West Berliners again would be barred

from passing through the wall to visit their East

Berlin relatives as they have been barred for the

last four Christmases. About 500,000 West

Berliners have close relations in East Berlin.

Cambodian forces beat off heavy enemy assaults

in hand-to-hand combat 38 northeast of Phnom

Penh. But field reports said a large number of

Week of December 8, 1970

North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops remained in the area.

The Defense Department issues a call for 17,000 army draftees in January - the

highest monthly quota since last April.

Ralph Nader accuses business of spending hundreds of millions to deceive the

public and proposes that firms be required to scientifically back up advertising

claims for products ranging from dog food to diet cookies.

Hubert Humphrey says that if a year from now one democratic presidential

aspirant appears unbeatable for the nomination, the other hopefuls should forgo

any challenge to him in the 1972 state primaries.

Leroy Bates - a black civics teacher in Ft. Lauderdale, is suspended because he

refused to pledge allegiance to the American Flag because “there isn’t liberty and

justice for all.” “As far as I can see, these are not even goals people are

subscribing to.” He says he doesn’t consider himself anti-American. “Since I was

in the ninth grade, I’ve seen very little justice, very little equality.’

An all-points bulletin is issued for

attorney in the Tate La-Bianca

murder trial. His absence forced the

trial into a day-to-day adjournment

to give another attorney time to

prepare to defend Hughes’ client,

Leslie Van Houten. (He would be

found murdered).

Evel Knievel, who broke his back

trying to jump a motorcycle over 13

cars four months ago, will attempt

the same stunt. It’ll be filmed as part of the pre-production shooting in a movie of

Knievel’s life. George Hamilton will portray Knievel. Evel’s record jump is 18 cars

made on an American Eagle last April at Kent, Washington. He has attempted

about 200 multi-car jumps and has missed 11 times - resulting in crushing

injuries.

The Army has ordered ‘rapid and positive actions” to improve the lives of

soldiers, including beer at super, and end to most reveille formations and the

elimination of evening bed checks. The Army’s action follows the lead of the

navy, which last month, ruled beer permissible in shore installations. The aim is

Week of December 8, 1970

to lure more young men to sign up for military careers and ultimately depend on

an all-volunteer force, rather than the draft.

Cassius Clay defeats Ringo Bonavena

at a bout in Madison Square Garden,

setting up a Clay showdown with Joe

Frasier.

Music news -

This Wednesday on ABC-TV - Dean

Martin, Peggy Lee, David Frost and the

Everly Brothers join Petula Clark in a TV

Special: Petula. Don’t miss it!

Elton John, The Who, Steppenwolf,

Chicago. Ten Years After, Stephen Stills.

B.B. King, Curtis Mayfield and Iron Butterfly will featured in a Metromedia Special

“Big Record” later this month. In New York - over WNEW-TV.

WOW! - Next Saturday on American

Bandstand - The Brady Kids (Brady Bunch)

sing Jingle Bells and Silent Night.

Miles Davis is voted Jazzman of the year in the

by Down Beat magazine. For the first time, a

rock-pop group was a double winner: Blood,

Sweat & Tears was voted the best combo in its

genre and producer of the year’s best pop

album. Other winners - Quincy Jones - best

arranger; Leon Thomas and Ella Fitzgerald,

best male and female singers. In a new

category - pop musician of the year - Frank

Zappa edged out by the late Jimi Hendrix by

five votes.

Get “Susan

Sings Songs

From Sesame

Street” On

Scepter

Records.

Week of December 8, 1970

Television news -

Jodie Foster (8) is signed to costar with Paul Sand in a TV pilot called S.A.M. for

ABC-TV.

WABC-TV is finally giving WCBS-TV and WNBC-TV a run

for the news money in NY. WABC used to be a distant

third, but now, it’s competing, and sometimes beating its

competitors with “Eyewitness News” - the brainchild of

Albert Primo. “Our concept has jelled. We’re committed to

it. Our way is the way to do news in the 70’s. It’s nice to

know the others are starting to think as we do.”

Headmaster, Movie, Merv Griffin

NBC - High Chaparral, Name of the Game, Bracken’s

World, Johnny Carson

ABC - Brady Bunch, Nanny and the Professor, Partridge

Family, that Girl, Love American Style, Tom Jones, Dick

Cavett

Brady Bunch - Bobby develops a fear of heights after he

falls out of his tree house.

Partridge Family - In this episode, the family sings their big

hit “I Think I Love You” as Keith commits them to sing at a

women’s lib rally.

Tom Jones - Caterina Valente, George Kirby, Ace

Trucking Company.

Merv Griffin - Ruth Gordon, Alex Dreier, Chuck Connors

and Dinah Shore.

Johnny Carson - Rodney Dangerfield, Karen Wyman.

Dick Cavett - Jennifer Jones, story Theater, Sunday’s

Child.

UNI Records Ad For New Artist Elton John…

“The Sound That Never Occurred Before.”

Week of December 8, 1970

See Elvis Presley - “That’s The Way It Is” As He Sings Songs Such as

“Suspicious Minds,” “The Next Stop Is Love,” and “Heartbreak Hotel.”

Week of December 8, 1970