Extracted text

OCR Page 1 of 47
NEWS SUMMARY January 4, 1973 (Wed. nets and whes,dent HAS SEEN The major stories of the day: - For the second night in a row, what seems to be a rebellion on Hill over VN was featured on all nets. The ritual and banter of the Hill return didn't conceal the rebellion over war and loss of power to WH, said Rather in lead. And Chancellor led by saying leaders are the same, but "new and different" is the apparent Hill seriousness on cutting off VN funds. In ABC lead, Smith said Dems showed "a wholly new mood of challenge and defiance. 11 Mudd said Hill was determined to act as a Congress, not a doormat to the WH and, said Roger, Dem leaders promised to no longer allow Exec. to push them around. All nets noted "overwhelming" Senate Dem approval of Mansfield's denunciation of war as a "bloody travesty. 11 (CBS used that quote.) R.Z on film on all nets pointing to sensitive stage in talks as he, according to Chancellor, warned Hill to keep hands off VN situation. ABC/NBC noted this was "familiar" response and CBS immediately jumped from R.Z clip to Mansfield who said there's no need to remind them of responsibilities or facts of life Besides emphasizing Dem hardline, NBC's Duke said Admin is "also in trouble" w/Senate GOP which backed a "vaguely worded approval" of RN policy by 16-10. And Jackson, "generally a backer" of RN on VN (CBS), was on NBC criticizing R.N for failing to communicate to Hill on bombings "a serious mistake, 11 said Scoop. All noted HAK to meet w/GOP MCs pre-Paris return but only NBC noted R.N will meet w/leaders as, said Chancellor, the WH is moving in various ways to head off the criticism. NBC/CBS note of the longest talks yet in Paris -- 7 1/2 hours -- w/ both technical and regular Thurs. sessions on tap today. Valeriani said R.Z backed away from Sat's WH implication that bombing halt was due to "signal" from Hanoi and he thus strengthened speculation that raids were stopped instead because of Hill's return. Valeriani said WH sounded "especially wary" on the talks CBS note of RN-HAK strategy session and Le Duc Tho return to Paris via PRC and USSR. NBC noted both sides say no separate deals have been made and hard bargaining is ahead.