Week of December 23, 1980

Hashemi Rafsanjant, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament says that his country will

not moderate terms for freeing the 52 hostages and said they could be put on

trial as spies, as a last resort. Iran has demanded a $24-bilion deposit as the

latest price for release of the hostages. Carter negotiators invite the Algerian

intermediaries to Washington for another try at negotiating an end to the yearlong

ordeal.

More than a dozen of the 52 American hostages speak by

way of television to families and friends. One said - “I am all

right. I do expect to come hone. When, I don’t know.” The

clips were shown on all three networks plus CNN.

Christmas - President Carter says that as America celebrates

Christmas this year, it is “a nation at peace, where brotherly

love prevails.”

President Carter says that while he is reassured by eyewitness accounts that all

52 Americans held hostage in Iran are alive and well, he still believes it “insulting”

that they continue to be held prisoner.

President Carter breaks his collarbone while skiing at Camp David. The

President was skiing down a trail when his ski hit a rock and he fell on his left

elbow and shoulder.

President-elect Ronald Reagan sharply criticizes Iran again

and repeats his description of Iran’s proposal for the release of

America’s 52 hostages as a ransom demand by kidnapers.

A rush-hour train jammed with 800 passengers crashes into a

steel bumper guard at the ferry terminal at Staten Island, injuring

76- 8 of which were hospitalized.

The Census Bureau makes it official - the population of the United States is

226,504,825.

Consumer prices last month push the annual inflation rate to 12.5% as prices

climbed another 1%.

Week of December 23, 1980

Nancy Reagan denies that she has laid down an edict that President-elect

Ronald Reagan’s press secretary has to be “reasonably god looking.” But the

Washington Post reported otherwise.

President-elect Ronald Reagan and Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev have

exchanged New Year’s greetings.

President Carter plans to ask Congress for a controversial 10-cent-a-gallon tax

on gasoline in his final budget, which calls for $740 billion in spending and a $40

billion deficit.

Sports -

Larry Bird scores 28 and grabs 28 rebounds as the Boston Celtics beat the New

York Knicks 117-108.

CBS Sports does a halftime feature on the legal dispute over the attempted move

of the Oakland Raiders to Los Angeles, where they would play at the LA

Coliseum.

Entertainment news -

Passing - Sam Levene (75) - character actor who

created the role of Nathan Detroit in “Guys and Dolls.”

Music news -

Passing - Tim Hardin - singer/songwriter best known

for “If I Were A Carpenter.” He was 39.

Music news in 1980 - The buzz went from disco to

country. The real trend though, seems to be the aging

of the rock audience. Also, compared to 1979 when the

Bee Gees and Donna Summer dominated the charts -

no one act really hit the wall. The top pop music artists for 1980 - Kenny Rogers,

Pink Floyd and Diana Ross.

John Lennon update - Already, two new John Lennon

books are out. Now in stores - “Strawberry Fields

Forever: John Lennon Remembered” as co-authored

by Barbara Graustark. Manor books has “John Lennon:

Death of a Dream” by George Carpozi Jr. The book

most in demand in Lennon’s 1965 “In His Own Write.”

Another popular book is “A Twist of Lennon” by Cynthia

Lennon. Some 24 books are already in print on either

the Beatles or Lennon and eight more are in the works.

Week of December 23, 1980

Television news -

Sunday nights will never be the same - After 27 years, “Disney’s Wonderful

World” is leaving the air. Disney says they will have another show on the air

soon, but not necessarily NBC.

Television New Year’s Eve (Wednesday)

CBS - Special-the Orphan Train, CBS’ Happy New Year America

NBC - Real People, Diff’rent Strokes, Facts of Life, King Orange Jamboree

Parade, Tonight Show, Tomorrow

ABC - Eight is Enough, Taxi, Vegas, Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve

PBS - The 1980 Skating Spectacular

Soap - Jessica and Valdez are on a Caribbean island.

CBS’ Happy New Year America - Paul Anka hosts from

Las Vegas; Bobby Vinton from New York, Catherine Bach

from Times Square. Also features Mickey Gilley at his

Pasadena, TX nightspot - Gilley’s.

King Orange Jamboree - Joe Garagiola and Erin Gray co-

host.

Tonight Show - The dancing Sahara Girls and Charles

Nelson Reilly join Johnny Carson.

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve - Greg Evigan and

Charlene Tilton host with musical guests Ambrosia, Barry

Manila, Charlie Daniels, Billy and Syreeta.

At the movies -

Popeye - Robin Williams

Stir Crazy

First Family

Any Which Way You Can

Change of Seasons

Private Benjamin

Flash Gordon

Seems Like Old Times