Week of January 1, 1986

(New Year’s Eve) Singer Rick Nelson (45) is

killed with six others in the crash of a plane

carrying his band to a New Year’s Eve concert in

Dallas. The pilot and co-pilot of the DC-3

survived. The plane, on fire, landed in woods just

short of an airport runway near De Kalb, Tex.

Nelson and his band had appeared in

Guntersville, Alabama and were headed for

Dallas to play at the new Park Suite Hotel.

Among those killed - his fiancé - Helen Blair

(27) and band members Rick Intveld, Andy

Chapin, Bobby Neal and Patrick Woodward. Also

dead - soundman Clark Russell.

Historic - New Year’s peace exchanges on

television as President Reagan and Mikhail S. Gorbachev use the medium go

give each country a peace appeal. Seen on American TV - Gorbachev’s

message expressed hope for a reduction of mistrust between the two countries.

On Soviet television - President Reagan, in a five minute address, emphasized

that “there is much work to be done” before the two nations can enjoy genuine

peace. The messages were broadcast at the same time.

The United States urges some nations of Western Europe to stop selling Libya

machinery and spare parts for its oil industry, in retaliation of its sponsorship of

the terrorists who attacked the Rome and Vienna airports a few days ago.

President Reagan scorned a threat by Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi, saying he

does not responding to anyone who approves of terrorist attacks on children. The

President was asked about Kadafi’s warning that any retaliation by Israel and the

United states for the airport bombings in Rome and Vienna would lead to a “tit for

tat’ cycle of violence and include Libyans harassing “American citizens in their

own streets.” “I don’t answer fellows who think it’s all right to shoot11-year-old

girls,” said the President, a reference to Natasha Simpson - an American girl

killed in the Rome attack on Dec. 27.

White House spokesman Larry Speakes says the

Reagan Administration has “firm evidence” that Libya

harbors training camps for terrorists and has provided

sanctuary for Palestinian terrorist Abu Nidal.

Week of January 1, 1986

The Navy with the routine deployment of a carrier battle group into the

Mediterranean Sea has forces in place to launch a retaliatory strike against

Libya. President Reagan says it was business as usual -"I’m not aware that

we’re doing anything out of the ordinary at all” he told reporters.

The Los Angeles school board orders all-year school and wants it implemented

within 5 years. There’s just two-many students to go a regular year.

Chilean air force officers recover the bodies of eight American globetrotters and

two Chilean crewmen killed when their chartered plane crashed into an Antarctic

glacier and were flying them back to Chile.

Postmaster General Paul Carbin a career postal service worker

who rose to the top job a year ago, is ousted and replaced by

former American Airlines Chairman Albert Casey. The action

reflected displeasure over slow and costly shifts to automated

mail handling and a controversial ZIP plus 4 coding system

among other woes.

Agriculture Secretary John Block who presided over the most

difficult times for American farmers since the depression, announces his

resignation hailing “better times ahead for farmers.”

Rioting inmates who seized control of the West Virginia Penitentiary release six

hostages under an agreement that will allow them to air their grievances on

television and called for a face-to-face meeting with the governor.

A record number of women and blacks say they support President Reagan,

according to a poll which finds that 68% of Americans approve of his

performance.

Sports - John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors win their opening matches in the

$500,000 AT&T Challenge tournament at Atlanta. Second-seeded McEnroe

defeated Kevin Curren and fourth-seeded Connors beat Yannick

Noah.

Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers is simply on fire. In a game

against the Flyers, he scored a hat trick - his 36 th hat trick of his

seven-year career. Most of the season, Gretzky has been content

Week of January 1, 1986

setting up his teammates for goals. He is on a record-breaking assist pace, with

70 in 37 games.

Bowl games -

Rose Bowl - UCLA 45 Iowa - 28

Sugar Bowl - Tennessee - 35 Miami - 7

Cotton - Texas A&M - 36 Auburn- 16

Orange Bowl - Oklahoma - 25 Penn State - 10

Entertainment news -

Rick Nelson is eulogized as a humorous and sensitive

artist. About 250 family members and friends packed the

Forest Lawn Memorial park in the Hollywood Hills

daughter Tracy Nelson (22) characterized her dad as a

“quiet and honorable man…” Among those attending -

Col. Tom Parker, Skip Young who played Rick’s best

friend Wally on the family sitcom and actor Don DeFore.

Brother David recalled that when he and Rick were

youngsters, their dad would play hide and seek with them

at bedtime, then kneel between their beds while they all

sang the Lord’s Prayer.

Music news -

A judge rejects singer David Crosby’s request to return

to a drug rehabilitation center he waked away from last

Feb. 24 and orders him back to jail.

Christopher Cross, the Oscar and Grammy award-

winning pop-rock singer-songwriter wants to be a

competitive race driver. The desire to drive struck him several years ago and he’s

hooked.

Columbia Records says that Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” has

surpassed 10 million sales. The label’s other big album of the year was Wham!’s

“Make It Big” at about 3.5 million.

Warner Brothers had a good year - Madonna’s “Like A Virgin” has topped 6

million. Dire Straits is nearing 4 million and Talking Heads had its first platinum

album with “Little Creatures.” Prince’s “Around the World In a Day” album has

sold nearly 3 million, but still sold less than a third of his previous album, “Purple

Rain.” The label also had a platinum EP from David Lee Roth and gold records

from newcomers A-Ha.

Week of January 1, 1986

Television news -

Showtime airs “Garry Shandling’s 25 th Anniversary Special. Guests include

Johnny Carson, Doug McClure and Donny Osmond.

Aggressive Sam Donaldson , defending his

interviewing techniques tells TV Guide:

“Presidents like reporters who get in there and

play. This President - he was an actor - he likes

people with the knack. I’m not advocating

rudeness or impertinence for impertinence’s

sake, but I’ far more worried about the reporters

who are either too afraid or to disinclined to ask

questions and to fight for answers than I am

about the reporters who may be overzealous.”

Wednesday night television -

CBS - Mary, Happy New Year, Charley Brown, Movie,

NBC - Orange Bowl, Tonight Show

ABC - The Sugar Bowl, Nightline

PBS - From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration, Mark Russell

HBO - Movie-“2010,” Everly Brothers Reunion Concert.

A&E - Icebound in the Antarctic