A typical day during the Reagan Years – beginning with Soviet officials said today Kremlin leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev’s proposal for a separate U.S.-Soviet accord on ridding Europe of mediumrange nuclear missiles was aimed at ending the arms talk deadlock in Geneva. At a news conference to discuss Gorbachev’s weekend proposal, the officials also hinted that agreement on mediumrange missiles could lead to a Superpower summit. Armed forces chief of staff Sergei F. Akhromeyev told reporters that the Soviet Union has 243 SS-20 missiles aimed at Europe that it would eliminate if the United States agrees to remove its Pershing 2 and cruise missiles.
“We expect from the United States concrete and positive proposals in 1 response to our initiative,” Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Bessmertnykh said. The Soviet Union had insisted that the questions of medium range weapons in Europe, strategic missiles and space weapons be considered as a package, and that no separate agreement on any one aspect was possible. But Gorbachev announced Saturday that the Soviets were willing to work out a separate agreement. on medium- range weapons.
And a 15-person transition team plunges into action at the White House today to smooth the shift from Wall Street hard sell to Washington savvy. Former Sen. Howard Baker, R-Tenn., named Friday as the new White House chief of staff, presides over his first staff meeting at 8 a.m. His mission: redirect the White House decision-making process; restore good relations with Congress; re energize the Reagan agenda. Achieving “complete rapport with Congress” stands as the top priority, Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., assistant GOP leader, observed Sunday. Baker can draw on a reservoir of trusted colleagues and aides who gained an encyclopedic knowledge of Congress during his days as Senate majority leader.
Finally – An earthquake jolted parts of North Island New Zealand today, sending hundreds of residents fleeing from homes, collapsing. buildings and bridges. First reports said at least five people were injured and two were missing. Unconfirmed reports from radio stations spoke of “many” casualties.
The earthquake was the strongest to hit the area in 25 years. It measured 6.4 on the Richter scale of earthquake and was centered nine miles off North Island in the Bay of Plenty. More than 100 aftershocks followed throughout the day, said New Zealand seismologists. A State Of Emergency was declared in the quake area, which is mostly rolling farmland and forest. Local authorities commandeered all available helicopters in the region to help assess damage and to ferry supplies needed for repairs.
Radio Pacific said there was damage to road and rail links, bridges and forests, and that power supplies were cut to several rural and forestry towns. State-owned Television New. Zealand week.said most homes in Whakatane were damaged and residents sought safety in open spaces to avoid being hit by fall- ting masonry. Whakatane is a community of 16,000 people about 260 miles north-northeast of the capital, Wellington.
And that’s a small slice of what happened, this 2nd day of March in 1987 as presented by The CBS World News Roundup.