TIME: Almanac 1995

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ TIME: Almanac 1995 / TIME Almanac 1995.iso / time / 062794 / 0627991.000 < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1995-02-24 | 21.5 KB | 509 lines

<text id=94TT0831> <title> Jun. 27, 1994: Chronicles:The Week:June 12-18 </title> <history> TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1994 Jun. 27, 1994 An American Tragedy </history> <article> <source>Time Magazine</source> <hdr> CHRONICLES, Page 19 THE WEEK: JUNE 12-18 </hdr> <body> NATION The Simpson Tragedy After leaving a note proclaiming his innocence and leading police on an extraordinary freeway chase televised live across the nation, football superstar and television sportscaster O.J. Simpson surrendered to authorities at his mansion in Los Angeles. Capping five days of intensive investigation and media scrutiny, police arrested Simpson on charges of murdering his former wife and her friend outside her home. Health-Care Maneuvers House Democrats united to fend off what they claimed (and some Republicans virtually conceded) to be Republican obstructionism on health care. The House Ways and Means Committee sided with other congressional committees and voted in favor of mandating employers to finance health insurance, with breaks for small businesses. But leaders of the Senate Finance Committee told President Clinton they did not have the votes on their panel for such a provision, which the President favors. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton raised the possibility of negotiating away abortion coverage, if necessary, to pass a compromise bill. Exxon Valdez Verdict In a decision that could dig deep into the Exxon Corp.'s pockets, an Alaska federal jury concluded that the oil giant was reckless in permitting a captain with a history of drinking to command the Exxon Valdez, the oil tanker that ran aground five years ago in Prince William Sound and caused the nation's worst oil spill. The verdict against Exxon and Captain Joseph Hazelwood enables local residents to seek $1.5 billion in compensation and $15 billion in punitive damages. Welfare Reform President Clinton redeemed one of his big 1992 campaign pledges by formally unveiling his $9.3 billion welfare-reform plan. Its central features would expand job training for recipients and require those born after 1971 to join a work program after two years or risk losing benefits. Chances of passage this year: virtually nil in a Congress already clogged with health reform. Bill and Hillary Testify In an unprecedented 2 1/2-hour session at the White House, the President and the First Lady were interrogated separately under oath by Whitewater special counsel Robert Fiske about the suicide of deputy White House counsel Vincent Foster and a series of Administration discussions regarding the investigation of the S&L at the center of the Whitewater affair. The Senate later voted to hold hearings next month on the same matters--the least controversial aspects of the Whitewater case--while Republicans continued to press for a wider inquiry. An Emperor Comes Calling Sidestepping the political and economic frictions that have abraded U.S.-Japanese relations of late, President Clinton welcomed Emperor Akihito and his wife Empress Michiko to the White House--and to his Administration's first state dinner--for a day of ceremony focused on goodwill and cooperation. Grass-Roots Free Speech The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed its commitment to free speech by unanimously striking down a Ladue, Missouri, beautification ordinance that prohibited residents from posting political and other signs on their property. Virginia's Senate Slugfest Dissatisfied with the choices of their parties (Iran-contra figure Oliver North for the Republicans and incumbent Senator Charles Robb for the Democrats), two men are mounting challenges in Virginia's Senate race. Former state attorney general J. Marshall Coleman, a Republican, is already running as an independent, and former Democratic Governor L. Douglas Wilder is expected to announce his formal candidacy soon. Virginians are now assured one of the most contentious, unpredictable campaigns in the nation. Preparing for Dole in '96? Neither he nor the country may be ready for it yet, but Senate minority leader Bob Dole acknowledged that he has begun maneuvering for the 1996 presidential election just in case. Dole has instructed advisers to line up some key G.O.P. political strategists and fund raisers in his corner before other Republican hopefuls grab them. African-American Summit Emerging from three days of closed-door meetings organized by the N.A.A.C.P. in Baltimore, African-American leaders agreed to reconvene in August to focus on economic development, youth and community empowerment, and moral and spiritual renewal. The N.A.A.C.P. drew attention and criticism for inviting controversial Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Waco Sentencing The eight Branch Davidians convicted for their roles in the deadly shoot-out that precipitated the Waco standoff were sentenced by a federal judge to stiff prison terms ranging up to 40 years. WORLD Reducing the Korean Conflict Responding to a proposal by North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, his South Korean counterpart, President Kim Young Sam, agreed to a summit meeting in order to resolve tensions over the North's suspected nuclear weapons program. If it comes off, the meeting would be the first of its kind since Korea split in two in 1945. The agreement came at the end of talks between Kim Il Sung and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter; thanks to Carter's diplomacy, the North had already agreed not to expel international nuclear inspectors. But the Clinton Administration denied Carter's suggestion that the U.S. was ready to drop its call for U.N. sanctions against North Korea. Shaky Truce in Bosnia For the most part, the month-long cease-fire agreed to on June 15 by Bosnia's warring parties held. Among several flare-ups along the front: the area around Bihac, where Bosnian government forces fought a group of Muslim rebels who have declared an independent fiefdom. Meanwhile, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman visited Sarajevo to discuss a newly formed Bosnian federation of Muslims and Croats. Haitians Interviewed on Ship The first Haitian boat people were processed aboard a U.S. Navy ship in Kingston, Jamaica, to see if they qualified for asylum in the U.S. Six of 35 petitioners, who were picked up from three small boats, made the cut; the rest will be sent back. Vatican, Israel Make Nice Building on an agreement made last December to recognize each other, Israel and the Vatican established full diplomatic relations and agreed to exchange ambassadors and open embassies. Israel Frees Palestinians Israel let 1,100 Palestinians out of jail in accord with the agreement on Palestinian self-rule signed in May. But an additional 650 who were scheduled for release were kept in detention because they refused to sign statements renouncing violence. Rebels Advance in Rwanda Fighting between Hutu-led government forces and Tutsi rebels in Rwanda continued as a truce reached early in the week was immediately violated by both sides. Tutsi rebels, avenging the massacre of tens of thousands of Tutsi civilians by Hutu militias, captured the interim capital of Gitarama after an all-night battle. Yeltsin's Hard Line on Crime Sparking strong opposition from the Russian parliament and press, President Boris Yeltsin announced harsh new measures to fight the country's violent-crime wave. Yeltsin decreed that police may detain suspects up to 30 days without judicial authorization, examine confidential records, make searches without warrants and use surveillance as evidence. BUSINESS Health-Care Merger Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and Travelers Insurance Co. Inc. have announced merger plans that would create one of the nation's largest health-care firms. He's Back... Brandon Tartikoff, TV-programming whiz kid, is back. New World Communications Group Inc., which recently aligned itself with the Fox network, has named him head of TV production. Under terms of the deal, New World will purchase Tartikoff's company, Moving Target Productions, for $9 million. The new hire, who led NBC to six straight years as ratings champ, will bring instant credibility to the Fox-New World venture. SCIENCE A Sanguine Discovery After more than three decades of research, scientists announced that they have identified a key hormone that helps blood clotting. Doctors hailed the find as a potentially crucial tool in improving the treatment of cancer and bone-marrow-transplant patients. Back to the Wild The California gray whale, whose population has risen from 10,000 in the late 1930s to 21,000 today, was removed from the endangered-species list, though it remains illegal to kill, injure or harass a gray whale without a scientific-research permit. The Clinton Administration also said that 30 gray wolves will be reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho, where they once thrived. They will not, however, be protected to the same extent as the whales: ranchers can take action against a wolf if they find one attacking livestock on their land. THE ARTS & MEDIA On with the Show Perestroika, Part 2 of Angels in America, won this year's Tony Award for Best Play, making playwright Tony Kushner a winner for an unprecedented second consecutive year. Stephen Sondheim's Passion was deemed Best Musical. The other awards were dominated by revivals. Despite winning only one award (for Best Costume Design), Disney's stage version of Beauty and the Beast racked up $1.3 million in sales the day after the ceremony--a Broadway record. SPORTS What Curse? Euphoria engulfed the hometown fans as the New York Rangers captured the Stanley Cup for the first time in 54 drought-ridden years. After losing Games 5 and 6 to the Vancouver Canucks, the Rangers came back to win the seventh game of the series 3-2. Faithful fans were ecstatic as team captain Mark Messier paraded the trophy around the arena, allowing them to touch the coveted cup. By Leslie Dickstein, Christopher John Farley, Lina Lofaro, Lawrence Mondi, Michael Quinn, Jeffery C. Rubin, Alain L. Sanders and Sidney Urquhart HEALTH REPORT THE GOOD NEWS -- Contrary to recent anecdotal evidence, women with silicone or saline breast implants do not have a greater risk of developing connective-tissue diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, a new study shows. -- Breakthroughs offer hope for more effective treatment for two illnesses. A genetic test can now identify those at high risk for cancer of the esophagus, and researchers have isolated the gene that causes a potentially fatal disorder known as polycystic kidney disease. -- Women who have breast-cancer surgery during the second half of their menstrual cycle are less likely to have a relapse than those who have surgery earlier. THE BAD NEWS -- In about 40% of people with active tuberculosis, the disease results from new infections rather than reactivated ones, according to two studies. Doctors previously believed that up to 90% of patients with active TB had contracted the disease-causing bacterium years earlier. The findings have prompted researchers to emphasize the need for better detection and treatment. -- A survey of nearly 140,000 death certificates in 24 states found that women who are regularly exposed to electric or magnetic fields on the job (electrical engineers and telephone workers, for example) have a higher incidence of breast cancer than other women. Sources--GOOD: New England Journal of Medicine; University of Washington Medical Center; Reuter; Cell; A.P.; Lancet. BAD--New England Journal of Medicine; Journal of the National Cancer Institute; A.P. ERUDITE HURDLE OF THE WEEK Prickly Senator Daniel Moynihan has made it very clear he's the man the President has to please on health-care and welfare reform. INSIDE WASHINGTON Clinton Administration Shake-Up in the Works? Senior Administration sources are speculating that WARREN CHRISTOPHER, who has come under fire as Secretary of State, will be renamed a senior adviser to the President by the end of the year, and Lloyd Bentsen will take over at State. Then, goes this scenario, White House chief of staff Mack McLarty will assume Bentsen's Treasury Secretary post, and deputy chief of staff Harold Ickes will fill McLarty's job. Christopher is said to be so insecure that his staff is keeping a distance between Bentsen and him. INFORMED SOURCES Fear of Falling Oil Prices Washington--France and other U.S. Gulf War allies are eager to win contracts to help rebuild Iraq and want the U.N. to lift sanctions against Baghdad so it can resume exporting oil. But PRESIDENT CLINTON opposes the move--and not just because Iraq remains a threat. If Iraq starts exporting oil, Administration energy experts warn, the price for crude could fall by nearly half, to $11 per bbl. That would spell trouble for volatile and financially strapped oil exporters such as Russia and Saudi Arabia--and for 60 oil-patch lawmakers, who begged Clinton for new tax breaks in a White House meeting last week. Don't Call Us, We Won't Call You Washington--Early last week, with the crisis in North Korea escalating, President Clinton tried to call Chinese President JIANG ZEMIN to persuade the Chinese to put pressure on Pyongyang. The Chinese, however, wouldn't take the call. The Chinese Foreign Ministry explained in a cable that Beijing did not wish to conduct diplomacy by telephone. Baffled, the White House went back to diplomatic channels. Let's Get Presidential Washington--Fearing that news of Whitewater and sexual-harassment charges could erode public confidence in PRESIDENT CLINTON'S character, advisers are urging him to watch his temper and avoid swearing. "It's not easy," says one high Administration official. "The President uses the F word a lot." WINNERS & LOSERS WINNERS RYNE SANDBERG: Cubbies' infielder goes gracefully, choosing pride over $16 million BRANDON TARTIKOFF: TV genius returns. Can he do for New World what he did for Alf? CAPRICORN ONE: Rentals of '70s sci-fi movie (starring O.J.) sure to increase LOSERS VANCOUVER, B.C.: Pristine city revealed as home of rampaging hockey louts DICK SNYDER: Tyrannical but talented Simon & Schuster CEO booted by Viacom JOAN RIVERS: Her B'way and home-shopping shows are both spiked PAYBACK TIME Indicted ex-Ways and Means chairman Dan Rostenkowski is a connoisseur of spirits, tobacco and Brobdingnagian steaks. Now those who may have profited from his appetites are returning the favor, as this selective list of contributors to his defense fund shows: <list> $5,000* -- Chicago Beverage (beer distributor) -- Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (trade association) -- E. & J. Gallo Winery -- Johnson Bros. Liquor Co. (St. Paul, Minnesota, beverage distributor) -- Philip Morris Co. -- UST Public Affairs, Inc. (tobacco/spirits lobbyist) -- Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (trade organization for wine and liquor distributors) </list> <list> $1,000 -- Eber Bros. Wine and Liquor Corp. (Rochester, New York, liquor distributor) -- Myron & Phil's Steak & Lobster House (Chicago restaurant) </list> *maximum allowable donation TOONED OUT Last week newspapers pulled Doonesbury comic strips that suggested the Catholic Church once sanctioned same-sex weddings--not the first time this has happened to cartoonist Garry Trudeau. Indeed censorship of the comics has a long and proud tradition: 1949: The Seattle Times drops Li'l Abner strips in which the hillbilly hero believes he's eaten one of his parents. Says the Times: "Distasteful." 1954: Pogo is pulled from the Orlando Sentinel thanks to a new character, the wolfish Simple J. Malarkey, who bears an unflattering resemblance to Senator Joseph McCarthy. 1965: The Hartford Courant drops two weeks of Little Orphan Annie after the pupil-less heroine is railroaded into an insane asylum. Says the publisher: "It would disturb people with relations in mental institutions." 1968: North Carolina's Greensboro News cancels Dick Tracy after the jut-jawed cop dispatches a miscreant with the observation, "Violence is golden when it is used to put down evil." 1970: Lieutenant Flap, a black soldier with an outsize Afro, joins Beetle Bailey. Three Southern newspapers refuse to run any Flap strips. 1993: For Better or for Worse runs into trouble with strips about a gay teenager. "It's not offensive at all," admits a publisher, "but it was condoning homosexuality almost to the point of advocacy." VOX POP Percentage of people who say the government is spending too much "on assistance to the poor"...23% Percentage of people who say the government is spending too much money "on welfare"...53% From a telephone poll of 600 adult Americans taken for TIME/CNN on May 18-19 by Yankelovich Partners Inc. Sampling error is plus or minus 4%, Not Sures omitted NUMBER OF THE WEEK $2,291,000 The median total compensation (salary + bonus + long-term incentive grants) earned last year by the CEOs of a representative cross section of Standard & Poor's 500 companies. (Source: Towers Perrin) DISPATCHES The Amos 'n' Sirajul Flap By Michael Quinn/New York City Famine, flood and that George Harrison album. for years, this was all most Americans knew of Bangladesh--and Mukit Hossain has devoted his life to erasing that image. "We are a sophisticated, intelligent, highly evolved culture," proclaims Hossain, former head of the Federation of Bangladesh Associations of North America. But despite his efforts, non-Bangladeshi Americans have had a fresh stereotype to associate with Hossain's homeland ever since late-night king David Letterman's roving camera strayed into K&L's Rock America souvenir store, hard by his Times Square studio, and discovered Mujibur and Sirajul, painfully good-natured immigrant salesmen whom Letterman's Late Show has transformed into the nation's newest pair of unlikely semistars. Now in the midst of a televised cross-country tour, the duo are clear successors to veteran Letterman foil Larry ("Bud") Melman--with one important difference. Melman was a character played by actor Calvert DeForest. Mujibur Rahman, 34, and Sirajul Islam, 39 ("the boys," as Letterman calls them), are real New Yorkers--and a real problem for their fellow emigres, who have no illusions about what America is laughing at. "Ninety per cent of the people of Bangladeshi origin living in New York can't speak the English of the average American," observes travel agent Mohammed Hossain (no relation to Mukit). "Letterman seems to be enjoying their failure." And yes, standing by the Mississippi last week, the pair triggered the brittle Letterman chuckle by staring blankly at a reference to the Stanley Cup and discovering new consonants in words like Illinois. Ironically, Mujibur and Sirajul are unknown to many stateside Bangladeshis, who work immigrants' hours and lack both the time and the English to enjoy Letterman's Late Show. But word is spreading. At a Manhattan restaurant popular with Bangladeshi taxi drivers, opinions are as hot as the five-alarm curry. "These two people are stupid!" snaps one hacker. "They joined another stupid person, David Letterman, who does not have any respect for other cultures!" Among better-educated Bangladeshis, the unease is scarcely less intense. The Bangladesh Association of New England meets next month to draft a letter of complaint to the Late Show--the first such formal protest. bane president Shahjahan Mahmood recalls how a graduation party for the son of a friend was consumed by talk of Mujibur and Sirajul. Nancy Hossain, wife of Mukit (and a graduate of Letterman's alma mater, Ball State), has also noticed the pair's increasing prominence in Bangladeshi dinner chat: At one gathering "someone said, `Hey, maybe these simple men really are the face of Bangladesh.' He was shouted down." In fact, Mujibur and Sirajul are not simple men. They met at the University of Dhaka, where Mujibur studied law and Sirajul specialized in Bangladeshi literature. But these are not the men on display on the Late Show--or at K&L's Rock America, where tourists regularly drop in to have their photos taken with the only Bangladeshis they think they know. </body> </article> </text>