Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev of the Soviet Union said in a New Year’s message to President Johnson made public today that it is “entirely possible” for Russia and the United States to reach agreements and resolve urgent international problems if they take a realistic view of the world situation. Johnson said in his New Year message to Khrushchev that the time for merely talking about peace has passed and 1964 should be a year of taking further steps toward that goal. “In this spirit,” the President asserted, “I shall strive for the further improvement of relations between our two countries. In our hands have been placed the fortunes of peace and the hope of millions; it is my fervent hope that we are good stewards of that trust.”
U.S. President Lyndon Johnson pledged that the United States will continue to give practical support to South Vietnam in its fight against the Communists, the official Vietnam news agency reported today. Johnson gave the pledge in a New Year’s greeting to Major General Dương Văn Minh, military revolutionary council chairman, the agency said The President said American personnel and material would be maintained to assist South Vietnam “In achieving victory” over communist guerrillas. The President told Minh that he had been informed by Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara of the serious situation confronting the revolutionary regime.
The military junta led by Minh took power November 1 in a coup that brought down the Ngô Đình Diệm regime. Johnson said he wished the new government success on its new plans to combat communist Viet Cong guerrillas “directed and supported by the communist regime in Hanoi (capital of North Vietnam).” He said the United States government shared the view of the military revolutionary council that neutralization of South Vietnam, proposed by France as a solution to the current crisis was unacceptable. Johnson said: “As long as the communist regime in North Vietnam persists in its aggressive policy, neutralization of South Vietnam would only be another name for a communist takeover.
“Peace will return to your country just as soon as the authorities in Hanoi cease and desist from their terrorist aggression. This new year provides a fitting opportunity for me to pledge on behalf of the American government and people a renewed partnership with your government and people in your brave struggle for freedom. The United States will continue to furnish you and your people with the fullest measure of support in the bitter fight. We shall maintain in Vietnam American personnel and material as needed to assist you in achieving victory. As we enter the new year of 1964, I want to wish you, your revolution government, and your people full success in the long and arduous war which you are waging tenaciously and bravely against Viet Cong forces.”
White House informants said today in a year-end appraisal of President Johnson’s plans and policies that he is acutely concerned with the fact that Russia and the western world are squared off against each other on the edge of a nuclear precipice. Accordingly, these sources said, the President is determined to seek agreements with Russia and improved east-west relations in general to achieve new breakthroughs toward world peace. Associates familiar with his thinking related he does not believe the United States can or should drag its heels for the next 10 months until after the November, 1964, Presidential election before making positive moves to arrive at new understandings and better relations with the Soviet Union.
Johnson is known to be confident that, as a nation, the United States is fully alert to Russia’s tactics and intentions after 15 years of east-west cold war. It would be “muddleheaded” if the United States failed to take positive steps to seek a permanent peace because it fears being “taken in” by communist maneuvering, he is convinced. The White House sources, who have been discussing with President Johnson his plans and policies for the future since he took office nearly six weeks ago, reported today he is determined to maintain and increase the military power of the United States. This is because he sees preparedness and military superiority as indispensable factors in any effort to reach new accords with Russia.
Pressure grew on both Communist and Western authorities to prolong the holiday pass arrangement as scores of thousands of West Berliners crossed the wall to spend the New Year’s holiday with relatives.
The Greek government today expressed fears of a Turkish invasion of Cyprus to the ambassadors of the United States and Britain, reliable sources said. Unconfirmed reports said Greek forces also would invade the island if Turkey took such action. It was reported that American Ambassador Henry Labouisse and British Ambassador Sir Ralph Murray were summoned to the foreign ministry just after midnight to meet Prime Minister John Paraskevopoulos. He was said to have told them that the Greek government has information about Turkish military movements indicating a possible invasion. Treaties give Britain, Greece, and Turkey intervention rights in Cyprus. Greece placed its armed forces on a state of “immediate readiness,” informed sources said.
In a New Year’s speech to thousands gathered in St. Peter’s square, Pope Paul VI says that his pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the conclusion of the Vatican ecumenical council will be two events in 1964 “that may affect the fate of many souls.” His reference to the council is his strongest hint that he expects the prelates of the Roman Catholic church to conclude their debates this year.
Red China said everything was prosperous as it entered the New Year but told its people they must provide another “great leap forward” in agriculture.
Cuban Premier Fidel Castro said he wants to normalize Cuba’s relationship with the United States but warned that the next step is up to the United States.
Brazil’s President Joao Goulart indicated that he will seek closer ties with the United States to help Brazil’s shaky finances.
President Johnson announced that he will appoint Edwin M. Martin as ambassador to Argentina in a further shuffling of U.S.Latin American experts.
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland dissolved and was split into Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Nyasaland (now Malawi).
The rural municipality of Glemmen was merged into the city of Fredrikstad, Norway.
Federal aid officials surveying the results of Congress’ 1.5-billion-dollar slash in new funds find they still have enough money for an economic program nearly the size of last year’s. Officials of the Agency for International Development announce that $669,876,000 is still available from previously voted funds that were never committed or that have been recovered from unfilled projects. The total foreign aid available for 1964 is $3,669,876,000. This is down only 486 million dollars from last year’s total program, counting carryover.
Idlewild Airport in New York City officially became John F. Kennedy International Airport after midnight. Baggage tags that had carried the code “IDL” would henceforward be designated “JFK”.
The two daughters of President Johnson attended the Cotton Bowl football game today amid tight security measures and unknown to most of the 75,000 fans present. Lynda Bird, 19, and Lucy Baines, 16, were all but incognito, especially the younger girl whom reporters were never able to get to. “We brought them in quietly and we want to get them out the same way,” a Dallas police lieutenant said. He was one of hundreds of police on duty headed by Inspector Chris Kockos. There was a report that the police department received word earlier this week that a bomb would be placed in the stadium. Police took 14 hours to determine that there was no bomb.
The executive director of the Goldwater for President organization is certain Senator Barry Goldwater will announce his candidacy for the Presidency.
Governor and Mrs. Nelson Rockefeller of New York have their neighbors in to exchange New Year’s greetings and drink fruit punch. More than 1,400 line up in front of the executive mansion in the snow and freezing rain. The governor has confirmed that the Rockefellers expect a baby in June. He is continuing his campaign for the Republican nomination for President.
A New Year’s subway and bus strike is averted in New York City by an 11th hour agreement on a new contract. Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller and Mayor Robert F. Wagner immediately agree upon a legislative program to keep the 15-cent fare. The cost is estimated at from 38.6 to 42 million dollars.
Tony Parrilli, who was voted the most valuable football player of the University of Illinois in 1961, was shot to death early today in a scuffle at a New Year’s party. Mr. Parrilli, who played guard, was killed in a washroom at a bowling alley in suburban Willowbrook. The police said he had been accidently shot above the left eye by Chief of Police Robert G. Winthers when the chief tried to break up a fight involving Mr. Parrilli and an unidentified man. Also injured in the scuffle was Joe Marconi, fullback for the Chicago Bears, one of the stars of that team’s world’s championship victory over the New York Giants on Sunday. He was treated at a hospital for head wounds. The third man in the scuffle slipped away unnoticed, the police said. Mike Ditka of the Bears, the All‐National Football League right end, is a part owner of the establishment, the Willowbrook Lanes. Winthers apparently used his revolver to club Marconi in the head in an attempt to break up the scuffle; the gun went off and Parrilli was hit in the head. Winthers would eventually be found guilty of reckless endangerment and receive two years’ probation.
Snow and freezing rainstorms swept side by side into the populous northeast last night, spreading blankets of deep snow and treacherous ice. Snow piled 9 inches deep in southern Ohio, 8 inches in Buffalo, and 6 inches in Rochester, New York. It hobbled New Year’s Day traffic in Cincinnati, Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Detroit. Several inches of snow fell in New England. The weather bureau said high winds would roll up deep drifts.
A warming-up began to melt the record-breaking, knee-deep snows that bogged the south. Schools were ordered closed today and tomorrow in Meridian, Mississippi. Stranded automobiles still sat abandoned alongside snow-clogged highways from eastern Tennessee south through hard-hit Alabama and Mississippi. Three-foot drifts halted pedestrian traffic for a time in Meridian, where Tuesday’s 15-inch snow more than tripled the city’s previous record 24-hour fall.
Heavy snow warnings were up last night from western New York through northern New England. Freezing rain and glaze alerts were in effect from eastern Pennsylvania through southern New England. Forecasters predicted heavy ice accumulations with damage to trees and power lines. Workmen in South Carolina toiled to repair damage by ice and high winds that knocked 3,600 telephones out of service.
Akron got six inches of snow in six hours. A foot of snow was forecast in some sections of Ohio. Cincinnati and Louisville each had about a half foot of snow. Pittsburgh got four inches and Detroit about three. In contrast, the mercury rose to a balmy 85 for the Rose Bowl football game crowd at Pasadena, California. San Gabriel and Miramar, California, also had 85-degree temperatures.
“Top of the Pops”, British pop music television program premieres; acts performing include Dusty Springfield; The Rolling Stones; Dave Clark Five: The Hollies; Swinging Blue; and The Beatles.
30th Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, Louisiana: Alabama 12, Mississippi 7. In a defensive struggle, Alabama upset the Rebels 12—7 in the Sugar Bowl without scoring a touchdown. The teams combined for 17 fumbles, 11 by the Rebels, both all-time bowl game records. There was also a total of thirteen combined turnovers and nine punts. Alabama scored its first points on a 31-yard field goal by Tim Davis. In the second quarter, Davis kicked field goals of 46 and 22-yards to give Alabama a 9—0 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, Davis had a 48-yard field goal to extend the Alabama lead to 12—0. Early in the fourth quarter, Ole Miss scored the only touchdown of the game when Perry Lee Dunn threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Larry Smith. Alabama then held their lead and won the game 12—7. For his four field goal performance, Tim Davis was named the Sugar Bowl MVP.
30th Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida: Nebraska 13, Auburn 7. Nebraska scored early and won the Orange Bowl 13—7. In the opening possession, quarterback Dennis Claridge gave the Cornhuskers a 7—0 lead on his 68-yard run from a short-yardage formation. Dave Theisen added two field goals to give them a 13—0 lead at halftime; Auburn quarterback Jimmy Sidle ran in from thirteen yards out to make it 13—7 after three quarters. The fourth quarter was scoreless. In the closing minutes, Auburn was driving down the field for the potential win, at the Nebraska eleven. On fourth down, linebacker John Kirby batted a Tiger pass away, and the Cornhuskers gained their first victory in a major bowl game. Claridge ran for 108 yards on the day
50th Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California: Illinois 17, Washington 7. In the 1964 Rose Bowl, Illinois was led by co-captains Dick Butkus and George Donnelly, Jim Grabowski, Lynn Stewart, and Archie Sutton on their way to a 17—7 victory over the Huskies, led by Junior Coffey. The game was scoreless until the second quarter; Washington scored first, following an Illinois fumble at its own 27-yard line. Backup quarterback, Bill Siler, kept it for three yards, then passed it to Joe Mancuso for 18 yards to the Illini 6. Siler then faked a pass and pitched to halfback Dave Kopay, who scored behind the block of halfback Ron Medved, with 8:26 left in the first half. The Illini got on the scoreboard with Jim Plankenhorn’s field goal in the waning seconds of the second quarter and Washington led 7—3 at halftime. In the third quarter, after George Donnelly’s first interception of the game, Illinois took control as Jim Warren scored a touchdown for the Illini on a two-yard run. In the fourth quarter, with Illinois up by a score of 10—7, Washington was driving downfield, trying to score a go-ahead and possible game-winning touchdown, but George Donnelly intercepted the ball on the 4-yard line and ran it back to the 15. Illinois capitalized on that momentum and moved the ball 85 yards, with Jim Grabowski scoring his second touchdown of the game to put Illinois ahead 17—7. Sophomore Grabowski rushed for 125 yards and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Butkus played both ways in this contest, both at center and linebacker. He recovered a fumble, and had an interception (in addition to leading a defense that held Washington to only 59 yards rushing and 71 yards passing for the game).
28th Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas: Texas 28, Navy 6. In the second matchup in as many years between the top two college football teams in the United States, the #1 Texas Longhorns defeated the #2 Navy Midshipmen, 28-6, in the Cotton Bowl game at Dallas. Texas had already been awarded the then-mythical national college football championship because the last AP and UPI polls had been taken at the end of the 1963 regular season. Two touchdown catches by Phil Harris from Duke Carlisle and a Carlisle touchdown run gave the Longhorns a 21—0 lead at halftime. Another touchdown run by fullback Harold Philipp increased the lead to 28—0 after three quarters. The Midshipmen finally scored on a two-yard touchdown run by Staubach (who went 22 for 34 for 228 yards), which ended the scoring at 28—6.
Born:
Ken Yaremchuk, Canadian NHL centre (Chicago Black Hawks, Toronto Maple Leafs), in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Jeff Modesitt, NFL tight end (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), in Terre Haute, Indiana (d. 1990, shot outside a Waffle House in Atlanta).
DeDee Pfeiffer, American actress (“Cybill”), born in Midway City, California.
Died:
Bechara El Khoury, 73, First President of Lebanon (1943-1952).
Rika Hopper, 86, Dutch actress (“Comedia”, “Anastasia’).
History Diaries 