In South Vietnam, Major General Dương Văn Minh, chairman of the Military Revolutionary Council, issues decrees that centralize government and military power in himself and two other officers, Major General Trần Văn Đôn and Major General Lê Văn Kim.
American radio equipment worth $1 million probably will go to waste as a result of Cambodia’s renunciation of further U.S. aid
President Makarios accepted a proposal for the sending of a U.N. observer to strife-torn Cyprus amid signs Turkish Cypriots may be setting up their own government.
Pope Paul VI concluded his historic pilgrimage to the bitterly divided birthplace of Christianity after issuing a joint communique with the Eastern Orthodox Church leader urging unity.
Weary but beaming, Pope Paul VI returned home from the Holy Land tonight to the cheers of a tumultuous, jubilant throng of one million Romans. Torches lighted his way in a 2-hour-and-45-minute procession to the Vatican — a 12-mile trip which had been expected to take only 45 minutes — and bells in Rome’s hundreds of churches rang out. Many in the joyous crowds broke through police lines to run after the pontiff’s limousine with shouts of “Viva il papa.”
To the torch-bearing crowds who cheered him in St. Peter’s square, the pope gave his blessings and said: “I did not want to bother anybody. I wanted to come back to Rome in a quiet way.” He had forgotten to use the formal “we” and said “I”— and the crowd roared approval. “My trip,” he told the faithful, “may have a huge historical significance. It may mark the beginning of great benefits for the church and mankind.”
Pope Paul and Patriarch Athenagoras call for more harmonious relations between their churches and mutual understanding among all Christians. They urge members of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches to continue the march toward Christian unity.
Considerable doubt was reported in West Berlin that a scheme could be worked out soon for the reopening of the communist Berlin Wall. East German Communists demand that West Berlin Mayor Willy Brandt take part directly in any future talks on the reopening of the communist dividing wall, an authoritative source discloses. The West Berlin government and the western allies have stipulated that future talks must be held on the same level as those that reunited Berlin families over the Christmas season. They warn Brandt he must not jeopardize the western stand against recognition of the communist regime.
The Johnson administration warns President Sukarno that the Malaysian crisis presents a major obstacle to better Indonesian-American relations. The message, carried to Sukarno by Ambassador Howard P. Jones, suggests members of the new federation of Malaysia get together to discuss their problems in a peaceful manner.
British vehicle manufacturer Leyland Motors signed a contract with the Communist government of Fidel Castro for the sale of buses to the Cuban government, challenging the United States blockade of Cuba. Under the deal, negotiated with the Cuban state trading organization Transimport, 400 Leyland-MCW Olympic buses and spare parts would be delivered to Cuba within 12 months at a cost of £3.7 million (US$11,000,000) and Cuba had a five-year option to buy 1,000 more vehicles at a similar price.
Sir Kenneth Maddocks was replaced as Governor of Fiji by Sir Derek Jakeway.
Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona opened his campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination in Grand Rapids, Michigan tonight with a promise to oppose President Johnson and the Democratic party with all his strength and not to attack other Republicans. Goldwater addressed 900 enthusiastic Michigan Republicans at a $100-a-plate fundraising dinner in the Civic Auditorium. The Democratic party is wrong and Johnson is its leader, bound by its commitments, Goldwater said. “New Deal or New Frontier,” he said, “they are just the same old deals on or under the same old table.”
Having declared his candidacy last Friday to give the people a choice, not an echo, he thus defined the basic choice here tonight: “We must make up our minds now whether we will live on our own feet, standing up and proud, or whether we will bend down to the yoke of purely political programs and become a herd instead of a nation.” Although refusing to attack other Republicans, he denounced Republican “me-tooism” and warned that Democrats can be defeated “only by the genuine article — by conservative programs and conservative candidates.” To the contention of Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York, Governor George Romney of Michigan, and others that their party must not be too negative about Democratic policies and programs, Goldwater replied: “Our nation was born in protest. The Republican party originated in protest… all the great reforms of history have originated in protest. Protest is the mother of liberty. It is not negative. It is a great creative force.”
The United States Supreme Court agreed today to decide whether Virginia’s Prince Edward County must reopen its public schools, which have been closed since 1959 to avoid racial integration. Since 1959 white pupils in the county have attended private schools established with state financial aid after the public schools were closed. Black children had no schools until last fall, when a private school was established for them with resources obtained from private sources. The issue of desegregated schools in Prince Edward County has been in the courts since 1951. The Prince Edward case was one of the four decided in Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954, when the Supreme Court ordered public school desegregated. Today, in an unsigned order, the court noted that the 1954 mandate has never been implemented in the county, and that to avoid integrating schools the board of supervisors decided not to levy school taxes.
Black leaders hinted today that they may bolt the Democratic party in this year’s general election unless they get faster action on civil rights legislation. The threat came from Roy Wilkins, executive secretary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, in his report to the annual meeting of the organization.
“Although President Lyndon B. Johnson has given the civil rights bill top priority, there is every indication that the House Rules Committee, under Chairman Howard Smith of Virginia, may not finish action on this bill seven full months after the President submitted it,” Wilkins said. “The latest report is that Rep. Smith may insist that since, technically, no hearings have been held on the amended bill, his committee will have to hold lengthy hearings. If Rep. Smith holds the bill unduly long, it may be that Negro citizens of the country will be forced to re-examine their reasons for supporting the party of which Rep. Smith is an ornament.”
“Since Negro voters are not able to reach and reason with Mr. Smith. at ballot box time, they may decide to put the matter on a party basis. If this were done on any scale, some governorships and some congressional seats might change party labels.” Wilkins reported that during 1963 the N.A.A.C.P. played a role in the registration of 82,733 new voters in southern states, plus 108,000 in Virginia alone who were “persuaded to pay their poll tax as a preliminary to registration.” Wilkins said the highlight of 1963 was the civil rights march on Washington, when “more than 200,000 persons, one-fifth of them white, converged on the Lincoln Memorial in the nation’s capital.”
President Johnson spends most of his first day back in the White House with advisers and members of the cabinet, putting finishing touches to the State of the Union message he will deliver to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. The President will confer today with congressional leaders, union officials, and businessmen. The message is expected to be about 3,000 words.
The Johnson administration plans some juggling with the space budget, dividing the total requested between the current fiscal year and the next to help keep down the national budget.
Eighteen F-104C Starfighter planes of the tactical air force fly nonstop from California to Spain in 10 hours 20 minutes, refueling six times en route, in a demonstration of the nation’s capabilities to react quickly in any international crisis. The refueling routine involves 108 linkups and the transfer of thousands of gallons of fuel at heights above 30,000 feet, all without incident.
The U.S. Air Force renews a warning to its personnel to be on guard against communist spies. The directive is issued by General Curtis E. LeMay, chief of staff, who says the air force is a “primary target of intelligence operations of communist countries.”
The long-awaited report by a U.S. committee on smoking and its relationship to cancer and other diseases will be released Saturday.
Rolling Stones’ 1st tour of England as headline act: The Ronettes and The Swinging Blue Jeans open for them.
Charlie Finley signs a 2-year pact to move the A’s, pending American League approval, from Kansas City to Louisville, Kentucky.
The Chicago White Sox introduce powder-blue road uniforms.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 769.51 (+1.83).
Born:
Anthony Scaramucci, American financier and White House Communications Director (2017-), in Long Island, New York.
Charles Haley, NFL linebacker and defensive end (Pro Football Hall of Fame, inducted 2015; World Champions-Super Bowl 23, 24-49ers, 1988, 1989; 27,28, 30-Cowboys, 1992, 1993, 1995; Pro Bowl, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995; San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys), in Gladys, Virginia.
Pearl Washington, NBA point guard (New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat), in Brooklyn, New York, New York.
Guy Gosselin, NHL defenseman (Olympics, Team USA, 1988, 1992; Winnipeg Jets), in Rochester, Minnesota.
Henry Maske, German professional boxer and IBF world light heavyweight champion from 1993 to 1996, as well as Olympic gold medalist middleweight champion in 1988; in Treuenbrietzen, East Germany.
Jacqueline Moore, American professional wrestler, 14-time USWA women’s champion and member of WWE Hall of Fame; in Dallas, Texas.
Mark O’Toole, English musician (Frankie Goes to Hollywood – “Relax”), in Liverpool, England.
Colin Cowherd, American sports radio broadcaster; in Bay Center, Washington.
Died:
Joe Pullum, 58, American blues singer and songwriter.
History Diaries 