Knight and Ridder Papers Plan Merger; Joint Announcement The Knight papers are:
Date: 11 July 1974
Knight newspapers and Ridder newspapers announce on July 10 agreement in principle to merge, which if completed will involve 35 daily newspapers and will be 1 of largest newspaper mergers in Amer history; merger, through exch of stock, would be valued at nearly $175-million; grand total in circulation for both chains in '73 was 3,561,111 daily, 1,111,996 Saturday, and 3,823,847 Sunday, totaling 8,496,968; announcement was made by Lee Hills, chmn of Knight, and Bernard H Ridder Jr, pres of Ridder; new chain will be called Knight-Ridder; Knight and Ridder papers listed (M)
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Ehrlichman and 3 Others Conclude Their Defense; Nixon Statement Cross-Examination Questioned About Memo Amused by Questions A Surprise Witness Traitor' Involved
Date: 10 July 1974
By LINDA CHARLTONSpecial to The New York Times
John D Ehrlichman on July 9 completes more than 7 hrs on witness stand, repeating his denials that he knew in advance of break-in at office of Daniel Ellsberg's former psychiatrist Dr Lewis J Fielding; Ehrlichman's attys declare their case concluded although still to be heard is testimony of Sec Kissinger who is scheduled to appear for defense on July 10, and possibly that of Pres Nixon to whom interrogatories were to be submitted; attys for other defendants, Bernard L Barker, Eugenio R Martinez and G Gordon Liddy, complete their clients' cases; later same day; Peter J Maroulis, atty for Liddy, offers statement by Pres Nixon on May 22, '73 in which Nixon outlined circumstances that led him to order forming of special White House investigations unit, the plumbers; Judge Gerhard Gesell reserves decision on whether he would admit Nixon's statement as evidence; Martinez and Barker repeat their previous testimony about having believed that mission for which they were recruited was legal and authorized by White House; Ehrlichman testifies about memos and conversations that prosecution contends indicate that he had prior knowledge of break-in; 1 cluster of questions focuses on Aug 11, '71, memo from David B Young and Egil Krogh Jr on which Ehrlichman initialed his approval of 'covert operation' to be undertaken to examine Fielding's files; William M Treadwell, atty for Krogh for 3 wks last spring at time Krogh prepared affidavit concerning break-in, testifies that neither Krogh nor Young had told him they had prior knowledge of break-in; illus of Ehrlichman with family (L)
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Fulbright Asks Haig to Explain Kissinger Role in Taps
Date: 11 July 1974
Special to The New York Times
Sen J W Fulbright says he asked Pres Nixon and White House chief of staff Alexander M Haig Jr in June 25 lr to back up State Sec H A Kissinger's contention that he did not mislead Sen Foreign Relations Com last fall about his role in wiretapping of 17 Govt officials and newsmen between '69 and 71; Haig says he would testify in support of Kissinger's contention, telephone int; White House spokesman says Nixon would cooperate with com's investigation; wiretapping case revd; Fulbright says no one on com is suggesting that Kissinger was involved in anything illegal in going along with taps; Atty Gen W B Saxbe says he testified before com that Justice Dept had given com all records in its files on wiretapping; says he was unable to judge then-FBI Dir J Edgar Hoover's memos since it was possible Hoover listed Kissinger as 'initiator' of taps without Kissinger having been that directly involved (M)
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NIXON TESTIMONY IS READ AT TRIAL; He Denies Authorizing the Search for Ellsberg Data --Kissinger on Stand Nixon's Testimony Is Read at Trial; Kissinger on Stand Questions and Answers Charges Are Listed Excused by Judge
Date: 11 July 1974
By LINDA CHARLTONSpecial to The New York Times
Ehrlichman defense on July 10 concludes its case with testimony from Pres Nixon, whose sworn, written answers to 6 questions submitted by defense were read aloud to jury by Judge Gerhard Gesell; Nixon, in his replies, says that he had set up plumbers unit largely to prevent and halt leaks of vital security information, that Ehrlichman had 'general supervisory control' and that he had told Ehrlichman that unit's establishment was 'highly classified matter' not to be discussed; says that he 1st learned of break-in at office of Ellsberg's psychiatrist Dr Lewis J Fielding on March 17, '73, and that he had never authorized search of Fielding's files; Sec Kissinger makes brief appearance to deny any involvement in proposed psychological profile of Ellsberg in summer of '71; Nixon, in lr to Judge Gesell accompanying replies to interrogatories, says he had decided to respond 'as a matter of discretion and in the interest of justice'; Gesell says that submission of written interrogatories is 'not an order, merely a request' to which Nixon chose to accede; Judge Gesell's statement, which he read before questions, said that it appears that 'attendance of the President at a trial or by deposition cannot be compelled'; some legal obsevers interpret this as attempt to fit present situation into rules that allow introduction of written interrogatories at trial; illus of Kissinger leaving ct (L)
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A Sunday Paper Suspends
Date: 11 July 1974
Wilkes-Barre Publishing Co will suspend publication of Sunday issue after July 14 because of increased costs of labor and material and shortages of material (S)
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Sinatra in Row With Australians; Notes on People
Date: 11 July 1974
JOHN L. HESS
John HESS
Frank Sinatra on July 10 breaks off tour of Australia after trade unions imposed boycott on him following altercations with press; he and bodyguards reptdly roughed up 2 photographers and TV team in Melbourne and at concert told audience that press men are 'bums' and women 'hookers'; hotel workers deny Sinatra room service and transport union ordered members not to service his private jet; theater union told stagehands not to handle his 4 more scheduled concerts unless he apologized; Sinatra canceled balance of his tour and returned to US (S)
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