September 30, 1979 – CBS Radio – The World This Week – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
September 30, 1979 – A busy week. Pope John-Paul II kicked off what could best be described as a World Tour, with a visit to Phoenix Park in Dublin, beginning what would be an exhaustive and extensive visit around the world. In Dublin, the Pontiff prayed for peace in troubled Northern Ireland before a crowd of what was estimated at roughly one-third of the Irish population. It would be a familiar message throughout this tour; peace, but particularly stressed in Ireland, a land which had known centuries of war. He asked the members of the IRA, who were in attendance at the outdoor mass, to lay down their guns and work for peace. And even though many were encouraged by his words, it was still feared those words wouldn’t have a lasting effect.
The Kremlin denied it, but President Carter insisted that the Soviet Union had a combat unit stationed in Cuba. Despite secret and intensive negotiations, the public positions remained the same as they had been; The Soviet Union had troops stationed in Cuba and a repeat of the Missiles Of October from 1962 was looming on the horizon. Soviet Foreign Minister Andre Gromyko denounced and strongly denied the assertions during an emergency session at the UN. Carter shot back, saying there was undeniable proof troops were there and that Cuba was actively being a Kremlin puppet. The war of words went on, with no end in sight.
And Campaign ’80 was gearing up, with word that Ted Kennedy would be making up his mind soon whether or not to make a run for the White House. The GOP were also gearing up, with indications that former California Governor Ronald Reagan would be dipping his feet into the Presidential sweepstakes, possible before the year was out.
And that’s just a small slice of what went on in the world, this week ending September 30, 1979, as presented by CBS News and The World This Week.
