Extracted text

OCR Page 1 of 34
THE SEEN NEWS SUMMARY April 5, 1974 (Thurs. nets, wires, comment) The major stories of the day: - - RN declared 5 states in southeast and midwest disaster areas, following worst night of tornadoes in 49 years. Led all nets w/ 5-6 minutes of film from worst hit areas: Xenia, Ohio; Brandenberg, Ky; Monticello, Ind. ; Huntsville, Ala. "A colossal wreck" is how UPI terms Xenia. "The most tragic day in Ky. history, 11 said Gov. Ford. 80 died there, including 40 in Brandenberg which all but disappeared. A W. Va. publisher compared the destruction to VN. There were over 100 twisters as over 330 were killed in worst storms since 1925 when 690 were killed by M-W. tornadoes. The Palm Sunday '65 disaster killed 271, not 145 as reported in Thursday's Summary. All nets noted Jt. Tax Comm. members endorsed "most" of the staff's findings and "commended RN for prompt decision" to pay. (Only Curtis formally dissented.) CBS said Comm. gave RN "a pat on the back. 11 On NBC, IRS chief Alexander said there was no assertion of civil fraud because IRS believes there's no warrant for such an assertion. (ABC noted). He cited "divergences of views" as cause for tax-due bill -- just as there are between IRS and many taxpayers. NBC/ABC noted WH said RN would be "virtually wiped out" financially by pledge to pay the tax and that RN may have to float loan to pay it, tho NBC/CBS noted how much or from where RN might get the money isn't known. CBS/ABC noted WH said RN would keep both WWH/KB. Rather noted RN won't mortgage WWH because it's willed to US but said aides were vague re: mortgage on KB. Sevareid commentary noted political ramificationsoof taxes are different from Wigate and may not be pertinent to impchmnt probe in Rodino's view, but they certainly will be to public. Reasoner rapped Long and Mills for their comments, especially Mills who's been in position to do something about the complex, inequitable tax laws which RN's returns spotlited.