– CBS World News Roundup – November 27, 1984 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
Cautiously optimistic news for this day in Medicine. Jarvik 7 artificial heart recipient William Schroeder, who only three days earlier wasn’t expected to last the weekend was awake, alert and asking for a can of beer.
The operation was a success. So successful, that the endotracheal tube which assisted Schroeder’s breathing was already removed and the patient was breathing on his own. Dr. William De Vries, the Chief Surgeon who performed who implanted the mechanical heart, asked the patient if he could get anything for Schroeder. Schroeder responded he would like a can of beer. If all continued to go well, power from the portable unit that could allow Schroeder mobility was to be tested in a few days.
Meanwhile, the rest of the world was less optimistic. However, reason took the high road, as the hijacking/hostage drama at the Addis Ababa airport in Ethiopia came to a successful end. The 5 Somalian gunmen, holding some 100 passengers on the Somali Airlines Boeing 707 decided to give up and release the hostages after a 3 day stand-off. The hostage release was the end result of a long and painstaking negotiation between the Ethiopian government, the Somali government, with the Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa acting as intermediary between the two. The hijackers surrendered and surrendered their weapons in exchange for political asylum in Ethiopia if they desire it as part of the deal.
Back home – the question of Taxes came up on Capitol Hill with Treasury Secretary Donald Regan readying to introduce a new form of taxation to keep the flow of dollars coming. The bill, being introduced this day, was aiming to cut the average tax payers bill by 8 1/2%, but it would increase the tax bill of most heavy industries. Overall, the tax rates would be lower; the highest being 35%, instead of the present 50% – but some individuals would pay more, because many tax deductions would be eliminated, but not the Home Mortage Deduction, which sources said was safe. The White house felt that, by laying out the plan publicly, the Reagan Adminstration would have a better idea what Business, Industry and Congress would accept. The President would include those points in his own plan, to be presented in January.
And that’s just a little of what went on, this November 27th in 1984, as presented by The CBS World News Roundup.
