A typical day in 1970 it seemed - this July 6th. In Egypt it was revealed Soviet advisers were playing target practice with SAM-2 and SAM-3 missiles directed at Israel and Israeli jets, purportedly downing 6. And in Southeast Asia the Siege of Phenom- Penh was keeping things lively in Cambodia while reports of fighting in Vietnam were considered "light and scattered" on this day. Secretary of State Rogers was paying a visit to Saigon and getting an earful and a shopping list from other Southeast Asian leaders trying to enlist U.S. Aid.
Italy was patiently waiting for their 32nd government since the end of World War 2 to start. And Northern Ireland was accusing the British Army looting and vandalism in their search for weapons in Belfast homes. A civil war between Protestants and Catholics was predicted by many in the area for the summer and there was no end to skirmishes, riots, teargas, firebombs and curfews to go around. Summer would indeed be a hot one.
President Nixon arrived back in Washington from a 12 day sojourn in San Clemente and a series started on this day (from Huntley and Brinkely) focusing on the average Mexican-American living in San Antonio Texas and daily battles of discrimination, racism and rampant unemployment - and that had nothing to do with anybody illegal, it had to do with surnames. Gotta love Texas.
And as further evidence this July 6th in 1970 was just as skewed as ever, The Universalist Unitarian Church, while holding their annual convention, passed a resolution that concluded the Vietnam War should be taken over by Private concerns and that an army of mercenaries should replace our combat forces. Of course, it was also suggested the U.S. Government just pay for the thing and otherwise stay out of it. Sounds like Iraq and Haliburton and Blackwater.
Maybe they knew something we didn't.
And so that one went - via the Huntley-Brinkely Report for July 6, 1970 (and oh yeah, we were still smoking like crazy back then too).
