June 26, 1978 – Loopholes And Dodges And Breathing-Optional.
Jimmy Carter and Frisbee – curiously, a lot like Congress.
A strangely “deja-vu” kind of day, this June 26th in 1978.
Starting off with reports on the just-concluded News Conference of President Carter, where the centerpiece was on Tax Reform, although not necessarily what Congress was planning.
First, Carter blasted Congress for trying to arrange huge Tax windfalls for Millionaires while leaving nothing but “two bits” for the average American. He went on the blast the Steiger Amendment, which was a Republican plan to reduce taxes on Capital Gains profits. Carter also indicated his Health Care Reform plan was mostly likely years off, owing to the current climate of inflation. So much for Tax reform, so much for Health reform. All sounds familiar.
In other news – two Soviet citizens who were arrested in the U.S. on spying charges were to be released into Soviet custody, as a sort of “tit-for-tat” gesture for a similar arrangement for a U.S. Businessman held in Moscow on similar charges. One hand secretly washing the other.
In other parts of the world – Pro-Soviet Militiamen announced the President of South Yemen had been executed. This, after a day where the President resigned, staged a counter-coup, failed and wound up dead as the result. I’m sure it sounded good over drinks.
And the Middle East was back in the news, with reports that the Israeli Cabinet had rejected an Egyptian Peace Proposal that hadn’t even been submitted yet. It seems Diplomacy and Clairvoyance were walking hand in hand that day.
Back on Capitol Hill – There was a call for Congressional action over the problem of Asbestos in Classroom construction. Seems Asbestos was the main ingredient in sound-proofing on ceilings back in the 1950′s and early 60′s. And over the years the Asbestos-based material was drying out and particles, known to cause Cancer and respiratory problems, were being regularly breathed in by students. The big consideration was the cost for upgrading. Although the Health and Safety sector said there could be no price tag on long-term consequences.
And that’s how the world turned, this June 26th 1978, as reported on The World Tonight with Douglas Edwards and CBS News.
