What was going on when I was born?

When Donna Keyes's youngest child, 16-month-old Eugene, accidentally swallowed dishwashing detergent, she grabbed him and, leaving her two other children alone, dashed out into the rain to find a cab to the hospital. Mrs. Keyes, 25 years old, a single mother who lives on public assistance, did not have money to cover the cab fare. When she arrived at the hospital, she pretended that someone would be out to pay the driver, and then quickly disappeared inside, relieved that a confrontation had been avoided. Along with $194 in food stamps and a rent grant of $197, Mrs. Keyes receives a cash allowance of $246 each month to cover her family's other needs - such as transportation. But, like many others in her situation, she typically spends most of that allotment on food.

TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1985 International A U.S. Army major was fatally shot in East Germany by a Soviet guard near a Soviet military installation, American officials said. American sources said that the 37-year-old officer, Maj. Arthur D. Nicholson Jr., was shot in the chest Sunday as he was observing Soviet tank sheds. (Page A1, Column 6.) The killing of an Army major by a Soviet sentry in East Germany was ''totally unjustified,'' the United States said. (A4:1.)

Silvio O. Conte, an opponent of the MX missile, might lose an agricultural service office for his Congressional district. Stephen L. Neal, an MX supporter, got the White House to withdraw from a Republican advertising effort against House Democrats. And Representative Harold Rogers, another MX supporter, got the Reagan Administration to take note of his tobacco problem. These were the kinds of political pressures and rewards facing members of the House of Representatives as it began debate today on the Administration's request for 21 new MX missiles. With both sides wrestling for the few remaining uncommitted votes, vote counters said the outcome was likely to be very close when the full House votes on Tuesday. (Page A16.)

TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1985 The Economy Far higher levels of hazardous materials are being emitted into the nation's air than suspected, according to a Congressional survey that will be released today. The survey of large chemical companies found thousands of tons of toxic materials being released from hundreds of factories, and the study's directors said there is no uniform standard for emissions of most of the substances. Representative Henry A. Waxman, who ordered the survey as chairman of the House Subcommittee on Health and the Environment, promised legislation to create national standards. (Page A1.)

The General Electric Company expects to be indicted today on charges of defrauding the Government during work on a nuclear- warhead system, a company spokesman said. Jack Batty, a G.E. spokesman at the company's Fairfield, Conn. headquarters, said last night, ''Yes, we expect the indictment resulting from work done through our aerospace group. But while it is entirely possible that during the course of performing these multi- million dollar contracts charging errors did occur, there was no criminal wrongdoing on the part of the company or its employees.''

The first systematic survey of toxic chemicals being emitted into the nation's air has found hazardous materials at far higher levels and at many more locations than suspected, according to a Congressional survey to be released today. The survey of 80 large chemical companies found that thousands of tons of cancer-causing agents and other very hazardous materials are being released into the atmosphere from hundreds of factories. There are no uniform standards to control the emissions of most of the substances, the study's directors said, and some of the materials are subject to no regulations. ''No government agency has ever attempted to gather this information, and the information we received is not reassuring,'' said Henry A. Waxman, a Califonia Democrat who ordered the survey as chairman of the House Subcommittee on Health and the Environment. High Rates of Release ''Almost every chemical plant we received information about is releasing staggeringly high rates of hazardous chemicals, even in routine releases,'' he said.

Governor Cuomo today accused President Reagan of being ''extraordinarily insensitive'' about the Holocaust and said he had written a letter to the White House to express the view. The Nazis' killing of six million Jews was ''unique in its savagery,'' and the world should never forget it, Mr. Cuomo told reporters. In response to the Governor's comments to the reporters, a White House spokesman, Marlin Fitzwater, tonight issued this statement: ''The President is very sensitive to the colossal tragedy of the Jewish population during World War II. He has often said that the Holocaust should never be forgotten. But we also have to look to the future of peace and sharing with the German people.''

A report in the Briefing column on the Washington Talk page March 15 referred incorrectly to Clare Boothe Luce's residence. She lives in Washington.

A conflict between Secretary of State George P. Shultz and Lieut. Gen. Vernon A. Walters has raised doubts about whether the general, newly appointed as American delegate to the United Nations, will accept the post, Administration officials said today. Although Larry Speakes, the White House spokesman, said President Reagan valued General Walters's ''expertise and in-depth knowledge of foreign policy,'' Administration officials made it plain that Mr. Reagan agreed with Mr. Shultz's opposition to making him a member of the White House National Security Council. The departing United Nations delegate, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, is on the council.

A United States Army major on a reconnaissance mission in East Germany was fatally shot Sunday by a Soviet guard near a Soviet military installation, American officials said today. The 37-year-old officer, identified in Washington as Maj. Arthur D. Nicholson Jr., was shot in the chest near the East German town of Ludwigslust as he was observing Soviet tank sheds, according to various American sources. Major Nicholson was a member of the 14-member American military liaison mission, which has been stationed in the East German town of Potsdam since 1947 with a mandate to observe activities in what was once the Soviet zone of occupied Germany. Warning Ignored , Russians Say The Soviet Union asserted that the officer had been in a prohibited area and had been shot after he disregarded warnings to halt. The United States rejected the Soviet account, calling the shooting ''totally unjustified.'' Richard R. Burt, Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs, said in a statement in Washington that the major and his partner, a sergeant, had been fired on without warning and that the officer's death was tantamount to ''murder.'' (Page A4.)

United States intelligence analysts have concluded that Iraq used lethal chemical weapons in repelling Iran's latest offensive in the southern sector, Administration officials said today. Iraq was publicly condemned by the United States in March 1984 for using poison gas against Iran. But since then, there had not been any new reports until Iran accused Iraq last week of having resumed use of poison gas. Iran flew purported victims of the attacks to Austria and West Germany, where some doctors were quoted as having said that the wounded showed signs of having been under attack by mustard gas, a blistering agent that damages any tissue it touches.

''I feel a special responsibility now, having had to face my own flawedness, to invite everyone, especially young people, to join me in promising God, that with his help, we will never again risk the consequences of drinking and driving.'' - Archbishop John Roach of St. Paul-Minneapolis, after pleading guilty to drunken driving. (A14:6.)