Memories, Courtesy of US News

California Bob reports:

I traded a bunch of junk to a junk man for a copy of US News & World Report, dated September 6 1971 -- before it became "Hot Naked Chicks & World Report."

Redolent with memories.  Main stories:

Nixon's 90-day freeze on wages and prices heading into third week.

Interview with Wilbur Mills, head of Ways and Means committee -- before the whole Fanne Fox jumping into the tidal basin incident, and Mills giving press conferences from Fanne Fox's dressing room at the Boston strip bar.

Unfavorable balance of payments forces Nixon to repeal gold-exchange standard (whereby foreign nations could trade their US dollars for gold).  Americans still forbidden to own gold coins or bullion.

Agreement reached with Soviets to allowed western vehicles unimpeded/unharassed access to West Berlin.

South Vietnam's president Thieu accused of rigging election.  The 220,000 US troops in VN are put on alert, told to keep off streets to avoid provoking anti-US demonstrations.

Big fluff story on Nixon's palatial homes -- "$340,000 estate" in San Clemente, and "$250,000 retreat" in Key Biscayne.

Court ordered busing faces protests (I thought Carter started that).

Voting age lowered from 21 to 18 -- widespread fear that this age group will take over local governments.  LOL.  Noted that students are more subject to demagogic appeal (true), and have "advocated changes in zoning restrictions allowing communal living of boys and girls in the same residence; relaxation of drug laws relating to marijuana, and more bicycle paths." 

Predicted that small private colleges will disappear as being economically unfeasible.

George Meany head of AFL-CIO, Frank Fitzsimmons head of Teamsters, Leonard Woodcock head of UAW, big article on the three.  Are these organizations even around anymore? 

Public service ad from Hammermill Paper urging people to write their legislators about crime -- "people can't use their own streets for fear of attack or robbery."

AT&T ad describing their new armored pay phone: "why the street corner pay phone is no longer in danger of becoming extinct."  "Vandals caused repair bills of $12 million on pay phones last year.  One solution is to remove phones.  But we're determined to improve service in spite of vandalism..."  Phone has "recessed dial molded from virtually unbreakable plastic."

Volvo ad espousing tough design of wheels, springs, shocks, engines -- fewer repairs.  (Repairing a car!  How quaint!  Now if we get a flat tire, we just buy a new car, and Toyota delivers it to the roadside.)

Lots of ads for liquor and cigarettes (Cutty Sark, Old Forester, Makers Mark, Salem, Benson & Hedges, showing dads in ties smoking in the hospital, looking at newborns, which they obviously had no hand in delivering.)

Mortgage rates at 7.75%.  Dollar worth 330 Japanese yen.  Ad for VW beetle says it cost around $2000.  US News $4.87 for 34 issues, or 14 cents an issue -- "a substantial saving."