Extracted text

OCR Page 1 of 18
NEWS SUMMARY December 24, 1971 (Thursday telecasts, wires, columns) THE PRESIDENT HAS SEHN Major News Developments: RN signs cancer bill,film on NBC and CBS including RN's comments that false hopes shouldn't be raised but there should be hope in that all that can be done is being done. RN offers Hoffa clemency led all nets. (:15 note on CBS followed by cancer bill with later lengthy report on Hoffa.) Asked whether he thought RN had politics in mind, Hoffa said he didn't know but whatever was on RN's mind he "appreciates" his release. Rogers news conference reaffirms US commitment to air support for SVN as it is essential to Vietnamization. All nets noted US bombing 73 miles from Hanoi -- nearest to capital since before '68 halt. Another CBS report on air war -- this one on Navy activity followed by the SVN-AF. Note that Bob Hope is seeking release of POWs makes all nets -- good footage of his show troupe on NBC the GIs love it. - All nets noted: FCC dropping of investigation of AT &T because they lack money and manpower; CLC granted 22% of 34% requested increase for gov't employee Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurance premiums; CLC exempted the postal service from controls and the service immediately announced 23% increase in 3rd class postal rates. INDOCHINA All nets noted with similar film Secy. Rogers' strong "blunt" (ABC) support of the continued US support in the air war. (ABC's Koppel said it was the proper time for the Secy. to hold a foreign policy review and he ticked off foreign policy achievements of the Admin. Heading the list was Vietnamization.) Rogers asserted that the NVN has stepped up its attacks in Laos and Cambodia