September 8, 1972 - Statement by member of the Twin Cities People?s Blockade: part of national blockade effort, a nonviolent protest against Vietnam War and the war?s continuing destruction. Two arrested for blocking train track leading into Twin Cities Arsenal. This underscores Nixon administration?s intent to continue the war at the same if not greater level of destruction as the Johnson administration. Group of seven protestors vigiling on railroad tracks since Aug. 28 to highlight our responsibility to end the war in Vietnam. Arriving 15 minutes before train came US Federal Marshals removed for second time a nine foot cross and olive tree on the track, read statement ordering people off the tracks, they refused and sat down in front of oncoming train, they were removed from ordnance track, train went into arsenal. When train boxcars come out will be loaded with ammunition destined for use in what almost everyone considers an immoral and illegal war.
September 8, 1972 - Two weeks ago President Nixon announced he was against minority hiring quotas established in the ?60s. An Urban League worker who works with unions to get minorities into skilled trades says Nixon?s statement makes his job harder. He says this dilutes the whole effort, this is another way of pacifying minorities and not meaningfully integrating the construction trade. It?s a ploy by government to get the labor vote. The construction industry wants to return to business as usual, The industry wants to cut back on minorities going into construction via special programs such as LEAP. Construction unions have political and economic concerns. If minorities become mobile and more affluent and move out of the inner city, this is viewed as a threat. Older craftsman feel their jobs suddenly will be gobbled up or taken away by unskilled or unqualified blacks.
September 11, 1972 - People react to George McGovern speech, which included farm issues. They also discuss topics of the Vietnam war, criticism of President Nixon, and U.S. economy.
September 18, 1972 - Connie Goldman reviews Vance Packard's latest book "A Nation of Strangers" which discusses the increasing number of isolated and lonely individuals in a highly mobile society, and the chaos caused by big business moving employees all over the globe. In an interview, when Packard was in town recently, Goldman asked him why he didn't challenge the audience with questions about alienation instead of telling jokes and anecdotes.
September 20, 1972 - TV star, actress Marlo Thomas visits the VA Hospital and talks to patients. She?s visiting the Twin Cities to speak in support of Sen. George McGovern and to encourage people to register to vote. She says unless you get involved in politics, even in the simplest form, of voting, it will be taken over by private interests. She?ll be visiting a few campuses and doing media appearances. Thomas says some parts of this country look like East Pakistan, that we?re so involved in earning money we no longer have a conscience about what?s going on. She talks about celebrities campaigning for politicians. Thomas says this is the era of "power to the people" and that we have to get away from not being involved when we see something that?s going wrong. She says Nixon is ruining this country, and too many people are being squeezed and saying ?ouch? and no one is listening to them.
September 26, 1972 - MPR’s Paul Gruchow interviews David Roe, president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, about politics, elections, and convention.
September 27, 1972 - MPR’s Paul Gruchow reports on Minnesota AFL-CIO meeting, and if group will endorse Senator George McGovern for President of the United States. Reports includes excerpt of speech at AFL-CIO convention from Hubert H. Humphrey in support of McGovern.
September 29, 1972 - Conrad Balfour, head of special projects for the Urban Coalition, offers counseling services to help start community programs and organize grassroots efforts. Daybreak rally offered as a way to get people together to try to find solutions for the community.
September 29, 1972 - Governor talk. Don Fraiser states that McGovern leads. Poll shows Nixon was leading but the next poll show McGovern leading
September 29, 1972 - Northwest airline mechanic talks about the effect of the strike on the staff, their inter-relationships and their licenses. "If they could put a man on the moon they could certainly have a computerized pilot fly a plane from New York to Minnesota and only have one or two pilots on board to land or in case of emergency." Interview ends with a breif discussion of retirement and pension benefits.