Digitization made possible by the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, approved by voters in 2008.
March 29, 1973 - Nixon says he has submitted to Congress for the next fiscal year the largest budget in our history: $268 billion. The amount he has requested for domestic programs is twice as big as the amount he asked for four years ago, Some in Congress believe the budget in this area should be even higher, If he approves proposed budget increases this would mean a fifteen percent interest in taxes or an increase in prices for every American. That is why he will veto the bill which would break the federal budget he?s submitted. He says this is not a battle between Congress and the president, this is your battle, money, prices and taxes he?s trying to save. If you are willing to pay the higher taxes and prices that will result if spending is increased over his budget you should ask your members of Congress to override his veto. But if you want to stop the rise in prices and taxes he has a suggestion. When he was in Congress he always seemed to hear from those who wanted government to spend more, and seldom heard from the people who had to pay the bill, the taxpayers. If your Congressman or Senator has the courage to vote against more government spending so that you won?t have to pay higher prices or taxes let him know that you support him.
March 29, 1973 - Nixon talks about the defense budget as it relates to upcoming negotiations with the Soviet Union on nuclear arms limitations and reduction of forces in Europe. He says the defense budget is the lowest percentage of the gross national product its been in twenty years. Without military strength that commands respect we wouldn?t have made as much progress in the past year toward lasting peace. . If prior to these upcoming negotiations the U.S. unilaterally reduces its defense budget, or forces in Europe, any chance for successful negotiations for mutual reduction of forces or limitation of arms will be destroyed. There is one unbreakable rule of international diplomacy: you can?t get something in a negotiation unless you have something to give, If we cut our defenses before negotiations begin any incentive for other nations to cut theirs will go right out the window. DMA import part of AAPP grant]
March 29, 1973 - "Give and Take" feature from the National Press Club. Today's topic is the Watergate case, with Charles Colsen , former White House aide and Clark Mollenhoff of the Des Moines Register. Mullenhoff: To say the least the president and his top aides have been shortsighted in adopting policies to hide mismanagement and corruption. In the case of Watergate it won?t work; Judge Sirica and Ervin already have the case-breaking information. The sooner the president sees the only course is a full housecleaning the better and he can?t hide from the press. Colson is asked about and talks about his relationship to the Watergate. Says he?s testified three times, has answered question under oath, says it once more, had no involvement and no knowledge of the Watergate direct or indirect. Answers question about Hunt and being asked to investigate potential candidates for president, specifically Senator Kennedy, says the answer is no. Q. Which White House aide will Pres. Nixon elect to be scapegoat in Watergate scandal? Colson is asked for an answer: says there is a point to be made here. He can understand the fascination over Watergate, is like reading a dime novel thriller. He knows all the assistants to the president, they are all dedicated, hardworking Americans who deeply believe in what they?re doing. They?ve only been implicated by anything other than third hand hearsay, and until one is it?s shame to impugn a lot of decent people working for their country.
March 29, 1973 - One of the first witnesses on the second day of Senate Communication subcommittee hearings on federal funding for public broadcasting was William Harley, president of the National Association of Educational broadcasters. Chairman Pastori asked him what essentially is the trouble in public broadcasting, Harley answers: The dream of the Carnegie Commission has not been fulfilled as anticipated, In order to be independent from possible political pressure there would have to be established an independent corporation to funnel the funds to the stations, and keep the funds from being subject to annual appropriation. We have not been able to do that and are now having some repercussions. We could not establish a true heat shield to protect this enterprise from the possiblity of pressures. It?s new, it?s struggling to get started, of course there will be problems and difficulties, differences in philosophies. What?s going on is a conflict over whether to be centrally controlled or if control rests with the stations. There?s been lip service to localism. There have been moves in recent months which suggest an assertion of authority by the corporation board of exerting even greater central control. He?s confident difficulties can be worked out. He hopes to announce and agreement between corporation board and licensees. This can be resolved within the industry without resorting to legislation.Ralph Rogers, chairman of the Coordinating Committee Governing Board of the public television licensees testified on control and scheduling of the television interconnection. He says licensees want to get programs over interconnection without restraint or censorship. However the corporation charged under the law that programs of controversial nature must be objective and balanced. Problem resolved by creating a monitoring committee, of both CPB and licensees. Reporter unknown.
March 30, 1973 - Reporter does comparison shopping of salvage food stores to area supermarkets and finds little overall savings. Heller?s Railway Salvage Supermarket manager Stu Yellen explains how the salvage food system works, pricing strategies, and that profits are not outrageous, but are similar to wholesale/retail ratios. Customers talk about prices. Reporter compares prices for ketchup, ground beef, and other products.
April 2, 1973 - Dr. David Fogel has moved from Minnesota to Illinois corrections. He says it?s not possible to separate politics and corrections. His Illinois appointment doesn?t require Senate approval; he says he'll have influence on how corrections will be administered there. THe Senate questions at his hearing didn?t apply to corrections, for example, his connection with Joan Baez in the past. He says the committee had been stacked on the Republican side. A number of Minnesota people were named as having supplied negative information. The reporter asks about the vendettas against him; he says when people can?t accept an idea they go after the man. Minnesota is a pocket civilization; he went to Illinois because he saw a greater challenge and need.
April 3, 1973 - Cable TV is an exciting and new opportunity with the potential for educational opportunities. State Senator Borden says the state has to provide regulation. Other states have seen corruption without cable regulation; local governments don?t have expertise to deal with these companies. There needs to be public hearings on who will get the franchises, a need to ensure competitive bids, and establishment of minimum standards. Cable companies say the industry is already regulated enough by the FTC. When color TV first came in there were no standards which resulted in three different systems; a state agency could set minimum standards for inter-connectivity, public access and program origination. The bill would ask the industry to pay for its own regulation, as is done in other areas of state government. There?s potential for cable snooping, and although two-way communication will be some time in coming there?s a need to respect people?s right to privacy. The bill prohibits censorship, which might provide an avenue for adult content which would be subject to pornography laws. A growing concern is concentration of the growing communications media industry in a few hands. A cable commission would need to judge each case.
April 6, 1973 - Rising meat prices have prompted a meat boycott movement headquartered in California, Fight Inflation Together. A local meat cutter?s union spokesman claims the boycott is being observed mostly in affluent neighborhoods. Families in those areas think it?s stylish to go along with the boycott. The state chapter chairman says the boycott is not intended to hit the farmers. She doesn?t think that?s where the price rise is. The group may ask homemakers to support two meatless days each week.
April 6, 1973 - The Coleman bill on health maintenance organizations (HMOs) would allow both for-profit and non-profit HMO?s in Minnesota. Right now only non-profit HMO?s are permitted. The bill would give HMO?s a legal basis to operate and provide state regulation, both of which don?t exist now. It would also provide money for planning and research to start new HMO?s. The interviewee discussed what makes an HMO a non-profit. He says the bill would allow health consumer to choose which provides better service at a cheaper price. The state Board of Health would monitor quality control and there would be a strong reporting system with strict regulations. Group Health, the largest and oldest HMO in Minnesota wants to limit the bill strictly to non-profits; newer HMOs support the bill because it allows more flexibility.
April 6, 1973 - MPR’s Connie Goldman talks with Steven Rumph, Canadian harpsichordist, who is touring in the Twin Cities. As part of his visit, Rumph stops by a Robbinsdale school to give lecture-demonstration on virginal and harpsichord to 5 and 6-year-olds.