News stories from Sunday February 13, 1972
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- U.S. servicemen are on alert and security has been tightened in Saigon as Tet approaches; an enemy offensive is feared. American bombing of ground installations continued. [NBC]
- A story in Time magazine called Clifford Irving a "con man", and author James Phelan says that Irving copied his book about Howard Hughes. Phelan called Irving's book a fake after examining the manuscript at the offices of McGraw-Hill. Phelan claims that sections concerning Hughes' meetings with Albert Schweitzer and Ernest Hemingway were falsified, also his trip to Ethiopia. Irving promises more surprises to come. [NBC]
- Ex-Teamsters union president James Hoffa endorsed President Nixon for re-election; Nixon assisted in Hoffa's parole from prison last year. [NBC]
- AFL-CIO leader George Meany complimented the Nixon administration and said that he is reluctant to endorse a Democrat before the national convention. Meany does not like Henry Jackson, though he agrees with Jackson's position on the Vietnam war. Pressure from Democratic candidates is expected at the upcoming AFL-CIO meeting in Miami. [NBC]
- Youths are working on presidential campaigns. College students are working for Pete McCloskey and George McGovern, but their numbers and enthusiasm are not as great as they were in 1968. Many students seem to be cynical and disillusioned, though George McGovern draws good crowds on campuses. The youth vote is still predicted to be heavy. [NBC]
- As President Nixon prepares for his China trip, he will confer with Andre Malraux about Chinese culture and conditions. [NBC]
- Preparations for Tet are taking place in Asia; Hong Kong residents are heading for mainland China for the holiday. The Chinese "Year of the Rat" is said to be unlucky for travelers. Shanghai and Peking have been sealed off in advance of President Nixon's visit. [NBC]
- The continuing coal miners strike is crippling England. [NBC]
- Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan returned to Israel from Washington and claimed to be confident of getting Phantom jets from the United States. [NBC]
- Arab workmen inadvertently damaged the Jewish Wailing Wall; an uproar ensued. [NBC]