A significant day in history, but somewhat overshadowed by other events on December 1, 1981. First was news of a Yugoslavian airliner, crashing on landing approach in Corsica, killing all on board. At the time of the first broadcast (CBS Hourly News from 5:00 am EST) there were no confirmed reports, only the jet had gone missing. By the second broadcast, the details were becoming clearer.
In other news, the report of arms talks between the U.S. and the Soviet Union were beginning in Geneva. Just getting rolling with no significant developments. On the domestic front - the Economy was still front-and-center, with Pres. Reagan assuring an audience that there would be no cut in Veterans benefits. There was the upcoming vote on a huge new Defense Spending bill in Congress, which was expected to pass easily. J. Paul Getty was at the center of a controversy over taking care of a stroke-bound son, which he was refusing to do. And an Immigration bill in Texas preventing educational access to children of illegal aliens was being reviewed by the Supreme Court after being struck down in Texas State Legislature.
The significant, and probably most obscured news was a report from Warsaw of students at a Firefighting Academy going on strike and the initial pacification of the protesters by Military police.
Dress rehearsal for fast moving events in the coming days.
But for now that was the day unfolding, the morning of December 1, 1981 as viewed by CBS Radio's Hourly News for 5:00 am and 6:00 am.
So even though you may think nothing goes on during some days, there are those little buried seemingly insignificant events that suddenly blow up days later - and they all get started somewhere.
