January 14, 1968
These are the top stories for today.
Kennedy and the McCarthy Problem
Neither Bobby or Ted Kennedy has stepped forward to work on the McCarthy campaign. If Bobby endorsed McCarthy, then we would be turning his back on Johnson. If he doesn’t endorse McCarthy, then his liberal credentials are called into question. Thus far, Bobby has opted for neutrality. (New York Times)
The Coalition for a Democratic Alternative ran a full page ad in the New York Times, saying that McCarthy will enter primaries in New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Oregon, Nebraska and California. (New York Times)
Laos Reported Target of Primary Air War: U.S. Bombs Pound Ho Chi Minh Trail by George Esper
“The main thrust of the U.S. air effort in the Vietnam war has switched temporarily to Laos because of increased Communist truck traffic down the Ho Chi Minh trail, reliable sources said Saturday.” (Associated Press)
Goldwater Denies Wallace Sought VP
“Former Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater has denied that he and James Martin ever discussed the possibility of former Gov. George Wallace, as Goldwater’s running mate in 1964.” (Associated Press)
3 More Deserters in Sweden
“Three more U.S. servicemen sought refuge in Sweden from military duties Saturday saying they do not consider themselves deserters but ‘moral refugees from the United States.” (Associated Press)
Patient Threatened by Faltering Liver by Duston Harvey
“Mike Kasperak lapsed into a semi-coma Saturday in the first major setback since his historic heart transplant operation a week ago. His condition was critical.” (United Press International)
-Demo Party Wounds May Give ’68 Win to GOP Candidate by Raymond Lahr
“Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey Saturday said the next president may be a Republican unless the Democrats can heal their party wounds before the November elections.” (United Press International)
January 15, 1968
These are the top stories for today.
5,000 Women Rally in Capital Against War by Marjorie Hunter
Dagmar Wilson and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr were present at the rally. Judy Collins sang ‘This Land is Your Land’ and women dressed in black to protest the war. Jeanette Rankin, a protest leader, presented a petition to Mike Mansfield. (New York Times)
An AP wirephoto shows George Romney walking through snow while campaigning in New Hampshire.
North Vietnamese Planes Attack Laos
“Four North Vietnamese Antonov fighter-bombers attacked the town of Muong Yut in northern Laos Friday in the first known use of Hanoi’s planes against ground positions, the Royal Laotian Government announced today.” (United Press International)
‘Quake Kills 250 Sicilians: West Europe Hit By Storms by Michael Codel
“Killer earthquakes struck western Sicily and 100-mile winds battered Glasgow and Edinburgh today as foul weather laid siege from North Ireland across Europe to Syria.” (Associated Press)
Solons Convene, Eye Old Problems by John A. Goldsmith
“The 90th Congress opened its election year session today faced with the same overriding problems – Vietnam, taxes, and the plight of the cities – that it left behind in December.” (United Press International)
GI Receives ‘Pot’ In Mail
“An Army private home on leave from Vietnam received some smoking material in the mail.” (Associated Press)
Minischools Are Planned for Slums
“A plan to put ‘minischools’ for children 2 to 4 years old in every block in poverty areas has been announced by a city school official.” (Associated Press)
January 16, 1968
These are the top stories for today.
Government Refuses Comment on SBA ‘Politics’ by Joseph E. Mohbath
“The federal government refuses to say why it lent a prominent Alaska Democrat nearly all he asked for and cut in half the request of the state’s Republican governor after the Fairbanks flood damaged their neighboring motels last August.” (Associated Press)
Solons Serve Notice: Rough Election Year for Administration: Lawmakers Awaiting State of Union Talk
“The newly convened second session of the 90th Congress, embroiled in controversy from the opening gavel, has served notice on President Johnson that his policies and programs are in for a rough time this election year.” (United Press International)
Vietnamese Catch Ambushers, Kill 40 by George Esper
“Viet Cong soldiers killed 14 South Vietnamese infantrymen and wounded 32 in their third ambush of the day Monday, but the Vietnamese caught up with the guerrillas eight hours later and killed 40, South Vietnamese headquarters reported.” (Associated Press)
Actors Backing Senators Who Oppose Policy On War
“Hollywood and Broadway actors are launching a drive to raise campaign funds for six senators and congressmen whose outspoken opposition to U.S. policy in Vietnam may threaten their chances for re-election in November.” (Associated Press)
Rockefeller Pressure Grows by Joseph Alson
“The horrendous fact about the New Hampshire primary can be simply stated. Soundings taken by supporters of Gov. George Romney show him behind, as of now, by the hair-raising margin of less than 15 per cent against over 60 per cent for former Vice President Richard M. Nixon.”
January 17, 1968
These are the top stories for today.
Castroites Claiming Credit for Killings by Theodore A. Ediger
“A pro-Castro revolutionary organization said today it was responsible for the machine gun slaying of the top two U.S. military officers in Guatemala.” (Associated Press)
‘God’ Suit Thrown Out
“Circuit Court Judge Robert. Hewitt Tuesday threw out a damage suit against God as a ‘sarcastic attempt to ridicule the process of the law.” (United Press International)
Nation’s Largest Ghetto Isn’t for Negroes by Tom Tiede
“This village, dusty and dismal, is the gateway to the nation’s largest ghetto… the Navajo Indian Reservation. It’s 25,000 square miles of privation. It’s 16 million acres of despair. It’s 100,000 faces of poverty.” (The first part of a series)
East German Reds Build Prestige Tower by Hubert J. Erb
“As a prestige project, the Communist government in East Berlin is erecting a broadcast tower which will have a panoramic restaurant at the 800-foot level, overlooking West Berlin” (Associated Press)
State Speech Needs Response by Republicans by David Lawrence
“The 1968 presidential campaign begins for all practical purposes tonight when President Johnson delivers simultaneously to a nationwide television – radio audience and a joint session of both houses of Congress his address on the ‘State of the Union.’”
Women’s Fashions Turn Soft, Pretty for Spring by Gay Pauley
“Label the fashion look soft. Label it ruffled and romantic looking. Label it more fitted. Label it a leg and body display. Label is also pretty, and you’ve summed up the looks that dominate the scene in the world of women’s fashions for spring 1968.” (United Press International)
January 18, 1968
These are the top stories for today.
Professor, Foe of Draft, Given Job as Janitor by His Local Board
Dr. Noel Brann turned in his draft card. He had registered as a contentious objector 12 years ago. Now, the graduate-level assistant professor of history at the University of Maryland was told to report for civilian work as a janitor. (New York Times)
Nation’s Police Arming for Riots by David Burnham
Cops are purchasing armored cars in Los Angeles. There are also such weapons as ceramic body armor, ‘banana peel,’ which is a chemical that makes the streets so slippery that it’s difficult to walk. ‘The Curdler’ irritates humans by noise. The Chicago Police Department allocated $168,000 for three helicopters, as well as command and observation posts for riots. (New York Times)
All Federal Agencies Told to Cut Personnel: Travel Abroad Hit Also
“President Johnson today directed federal agencies to cut their civilian personnel overseas by 10 per cent. He also ordered immediate steps to reduce travel abroad by government employees.” (United Press International)
Leaders Say Case Not Made by Jack Bell
“President Johnson’s call for higher taxes along with increased spending has drawn early fire from key congressional leaders. And he apparently has made no inroads into opposition in his Vietnam policies.” (Associated Press)
Nuremburg Judge Replies to Dr. Spock by Michael A. Musmanno
“A person who is drafted by the government for military service cannot defy the summons on the basis that he disagrees with the policy of the government.” (North American Newspaper Alliance, Inc.)
U.S. Soviets Draft Nuclear Treaty
“The United States and the Soviet Union presented today a new and complete draft treaty to halt the spread of nuclear weapons.” (Associated Press)
Riot Trials Continuing in Big Cities
“The summer riots in Newark and Detroit took place nearly six months ago, but courts of both cities are still dealing with hundreds of the arrests which resulted from the outbreaks.” (Associated Press)
January 19, 1968
These are the top stories for today.
Eartha Kitt Denounces War Policy to Mrs. Johnson
Eartha Kitt made Mrs. Johnson cry when she denounced her husband’s Vietnam policy. (United Press International)
An AP wirephoto shows Eartha Kitt talking with Lady Bird before the infamous luncheon began. During the luncheon, Kitt denounced Johnson’s policies.
Co-Eds Here Tell of ‘Slush Funds’ To Help Girls Pay for Abortions by Kathleen Teltsch
Co-eds raise funds to help girls pay for abortions. Illegal operations cost between $500-1,000.
Johnson Seeking April 1 Tax Hike: Firms to Pay Earlier by Joseph R. Coyne
“The Johnson administration appears to be shooting for an April 1 effective date for its proposed 10 per cent income tax surcharge on individuals but a retroactive Jan. 1 date for corporations.” (Associated Press)
White Traders Are Robbing America’s Forgotten People by Tom Tiede
“There are over 100 white traders federally licensed to sell groceries and good inside the Navajo Indian Reservation. A few of them are sadistic. Some of them are dishonest. Many of them are thoroughly despised. They are, in general, a ruthless, money-grabbing lot who have for years overcharged and underserviced their patch-pocketed clientele.”
January 20 1968
These are the top stories for today.
Mrs. Johnson Sorry Furor Obscured Other Ideas
“They talked about flowers down the streets of America and making bigger and heavier street lights, which is all well and good – I’m not against that – but I’m quite sure it doesn’t squelch juvenile delinquency in any way… and the wars seem to be getting closer and closer together.” (Associated Press)
From The Heart Of Eartha Kitt
“To her great credit, Mrs. Johnson candidly replied: “I am sorry. I cannot understand the things that you do. I have not lived with the background that you have.” NY Times editorial states that “White people have not experienced the hurts and humiliations at the hands of whites that are the linger heritage of hundreds of millions of people of color around the world.” (New York Times)
Clark Clifford Selected as Secretary of Defense: Choice Gains Praise by Merriman Smith
“President Johnson has picked Washington lawyer Clark M. Clifford, trusted friend and confidential advisor of three Democratic presidents, to take over as secretary of defense. Robert S. McNamara leaves in a few weeks.” (United Press International)
Congressman Asks Kennedy to Seek the Presidency by Carl P. Leubsdorf
“A New York congressman who says he considers U.S. policy in Vietnam ‘a disastrous error’ which could defeat the Democrats this year has urged Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, a fellow Democrat, to seek the presidency.” (Associated Press)
Communists Hit Hospital With Rockets, Kill One by Eugene V. Risher
“A Communist force today slammed rockets into a hospital at a major military headquarters complex near Pleiku in central Vietnam, U.S. spokesmen reported.” (United Press International)
Nuclear Explosion Shakes West Coast
“The apparently unexpected force of an underground nuclear test explosion Friday his college seismographs 1,700 miles away with the intensity of an earthquake.” (Associated Press)
