March 29, 1973 - Unknown speaker: What makes you believe that by allowing 18 years olds to drink intoxicating beverages they can cope with this when many mature grown men and women cannot? We have a rapidly increasing number of divorces, one of the main reasons for divorce is alcoholism. Increased juvenile delinquency and adult crime are also byproducts of the alcoholic parent or parents. It?s ironic to me that we build alcoholic detoxification centers on the one hand, and on the other we are now encouraging 18 year olds to have the right to drink alcoholic intoxicating beverages. We have on our highways an ever increasing amount of traffic fatalities, are you going to provide the catalyst that will increase the carnage on our highways? Members you have in your hands by your vote the lives of individuals. Giving 18 year olds the right to drink they will infringe on our rights to use the roads and highways and make a menace to use them.
March 29, 1973 - Unknown speaker (at state legislature?): Stratems (sp?) moves that all those not voting be excused from voting. Voice vote of ayes and nays. The motion is not adopted. Call the absentees. Voice keeps repeating the name ?Baneff? (?)
March 29, 1973 - Nixon: What we need is action that will stop the rise in meat prices now. And that is why I have today ordered the Cost of Living Council to impose a ceiling on prices of beef, pork and lamb. The ceiling will remain in effect as long as it is necessary to do the job. Meat prices must not go higher.
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.
April 1, 1973 - Connie Goldman examines Minnesota's parole system by looking in detail at one of its recent decisions. The release of Bill Rankin, convicted of three felonies, aroused a storm of public protest that eventually reached the Governor's office. We hear both Rankin and the critics of his release in this program.
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 - Wounded Knee situation update. A cease fire still on, but it could go off if there will be no disarmament tomorrow. Marshal Coburn plans to come in tomorrow and sweep for weapons, do daylong search for weapons, photograph and arrest those with warrants, and interview residents of Wounded Knee. Russell Means is to call tomorrow midmorning with information about whether the meetings have started, which will determine whether to continue the cease fire. People are not willing to disarm at this time. There has been federal government misinterpretation about agreement. Kevin McKiernan reports.