Week of March 15, 1985

Secretary of Labor Raymond J. Donovan , whose tenure

had been troubled by unproven allegations of wrongdoing

as a former New Jersey contractor, resigns from the

Cabinet.

The Senate votes to release $1.5 billion for production of

21 additional MX missiles. President Reagan was all smiles

at the vote, saying it would prove America’s military resolve

to the Soviet Union.

In a surprise move, President Reagan picks William Brock III, a Cabinet member

who claims good relations with organized labor, to replace Raymond Donovan as

secretary of labor.

Two French diplomats and a French Embassy employee are kidnapped in Beirut

and the pro-Iranian Islamic Jihad group claimed responsibility, saying the

abductions were aimed at stopping an arms deal between France and Saudi

Arabia.

Surrounded by green-clad Girl Scouts and pink magnolia blossoms, President

Reagan, who is of Irish decent, dons a shamrock to mark St. Patrick’s Day.

The economy grows at a sluggish rate of 2.1% so far this year, down sharply

from the pace set in 1984. Inflation heats up to 5.4%.

Ohio Gov. Richard Celeste orders 70 Ohio savings and loan

institutions insured by a private company to close for three

days after depositors made runs on several of the s&l’s.

South Africa - Police open fire on a crowd of more than 3,000

blacks, killing 17 and wounding at least 19 as they marched

from their black township to a nearby town for a memorial

service for three blacks killed in rioting 10 days ago.

President Reagan declares that it is “high time” for a U.S-Soviet summit meeting

and pledged not to deploy new U.S. strategic weapons incoming months in a way

that might jeopardize chances for success at the arms control talks in Geneva.

President Reagan, who has worn a hearing aid in his right ear for the past 18

months, now is using a similar device in his left ear, “to achieve balance.’

Week of March 15, 1985

Sports -

Three-time Cy Young Award-winner Tom Seaver of the White Sox will mark his

15 th opening-day start - setting another record.

Former New York Yankee first baseman Joe Pepitone is

arrested in Brooklyn and charged with possession of heroin

and cocaine worth $70,000 and a loaded .22-caliber

Derringer.

Martina Navratilova breaks Chris Evert Lloyd’s serve and

wins a $150,000 Virginia Slims tournament at Dallas.

Going out in style - Larry Holmes stops David Bey in 10

rounds. It will be Holmes’ last professional fight. Holmes is

undefeated in 47 fights at the age of 35.

Technology - IBM says that it plans to halt production of its PCjr home

computer indefinitely because supplies will be ample to meet weakened

demand> Last week, Apple announced that it would halt production of its

personal computers for one week to bring inventories in line with sluggish

demand.

Big week for media deals -

1) The American Broadcasting Company and Capital Cities

Communications announce an agreement under which Capital

Cities will acquire ABC in a deal valued at more than $3.5 billion.

ABC has been rumored as a possible takeover target for

months. Capitol Cities owns 7 TV stations, 12 radio stations and

50 cable television systems in 16 states. In addition, it also owns

the Fairchild Publications business newspaper group. It was

founded 30 years ago by a group of investors which included

commentator Lowell Thomas and CIA director William Casey.

2) Rupert Murdock buys 50% of 20 th -Century Fox for $50 million.

3) A group of investors say that it will seek control of Storer Communications

Corp. in order to liquidate the Miami-based cable-television operator of its 7

owned and operated TV stations. The group believes the liquidation value of

Storer to be substantially above the market value. The stations are WJBK-

Detroit, WJKW-Cleveland, WITI-Milwaukee, WAGA-Atlanta, WTVG-Toledo,

WSBK-Boston & KCST-San Diego.

Week of March 15, 1985

Music - There’s a sort of heavy metal backlash. MTV cut back on heavy-metal

video clips by as much as 75% a few weeks ago, and some FM album rock

stations are getting rid of heavy metal. They’re chucking artists such as

Motorhead and Twisted City.

Radio - Scott Shannon has started something incredible. There’s now a morning

“Zoo” labeled show in just about every major market and it’s spreading.

Entertainment -

Passing - Sir Michael Redgrave , the British film and stage

actor and patriarch of the Regrave acting dynasty. He was 77

and suffered from Parkinson’s disease for 12 years.

Look for “Just Say No,” a music video made by the federal

government deglamorizing drug abuse. The video will be

distributed to schools and broadcasters and will be shown on

MTV. It focuses on peer influence and is aimed at inner city

youths.

Television news - Steve Bochco, who co-created “Hill Street

Blues says he is leaving the series soon because “I was invited to leave.” The

program has helped NBC build ratings in its 4 ½ seasons, plus has earned 25

Emmy awards.

Hollywood writer’s strike ends - Movie and television writers vote to end their 2-

week-old strike, but a Writer’s Guild president said the new contract was a

“defeat” on a key issue: videocassette revenue-sharing.

On “Saturday Night Live” this week - George Carlin hosts

with musical guest Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

Wednesday night television -

CBS - Snoopy’s Getting Married Charlie Brown, The

Romance of Betty Boop, Movie

NBC - Highway to Heaven Facts of Life, Sara, St. Elsewhere,

Tonight Show

ABC - The Fall Guy, Dynasty, Hotel, Nightline

PBS - Rodgers and Hammerstein: The Sound of American

Music

HBO - All The Rivers Run (Australian adventure miniseries)

USA - Radio 1990, Make It Microwave

Week of March 15, 1985

Saturday night television -

CBS - Otherworld, Airwolf, Cover-up

NBC - Diff’rent Strokes, Candid Kids, Gimme a Break, It’s Your Move, NBC

White Paper, Saturday Night Live

ABC - T.J. Hooker, Love Boat, Finder of Lost Lives

MTV - Fleetwood Mac concert

USA - Night Flight

WTBS - Night Tracks

Saturday Night Live - George Carlin hosts with musical guests Frankie Goes To

Hollywood.