On this day

April 14, 1978

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

Historical Context for April 14, 1978

In 1978, the world population was approximately 4,292,097,502 people^[†]

Notable Births

1978Roland Lessing, Estonian biathlete^[†]

Roland Lessing is a former Estonian biathlete. His first World Cup podium was in Pokljuka Pursuit on 20 December 2009.

Notable Deaths

1978Joe Gordon, American baseball player and manager (born 1915)^[†]

Joseph Lowell Gordon, nicknamed "Flash", in reference to the comic-book character Flash Gordon, was an American second baseman, coach and manager in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians from 1938 to 1950. He was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.

1978F. R. Leavis, English educator and critic (born 1895)^[†]

Frank Raymond "F. R." Leavis was an English literary critic of the early-to-mid-twentieth century. He taught for much of his career at Downing College, Cambridge, and later at the University of York.

Historical Events

1978Tbilisi demonstrations: Thousands of Georgians demonstrate against Soviet attempts to change the constitutional status of the Georgian language.^[†]

On 14 April 1978, demonstrations in Tbilisi, capital of the Georgian SSR, took place in response to an attempt by the Soviet government to change the constitutional status of languages in Georgia. After a new Soviet Constitution was adopted in October 1977, the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR considered a draft constitution in which, in contrast to the Constitution of 1936, Georgian was no longer declared to be the sole state language. A series of indoor and outdoor actions of protest ensued and implied with near-certainty there would be a clash between several thousands of demonstrators and the Soviet government, but Georgian Communist Party chief Eduard Shevardnadze negotiated with the central authorities in Moscow and managed to obtain permission to retain the previous status of the Georgian language.

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Headlines from April 14, 1978

JAPAN'S STEEL FOUND HURTING U.S. MAKERS

By Clyde H. Farnsworth; Special to The New York Times

Internatl Trade Comm finds that imports of Japanese carbon steel are injuring US steel producers; Treas will now raise duties on carbon steel plate 4-18%; complaint was brought by Gilmore Steel and was directed at 5 Japanese mfrs, Kawasaki, Kobe, Nippon Kokan, Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal (S)

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Americans’ Support for Israel Declines, a Poll Finds

By Unknown Author

NY Times/CBS poll shows respondents oppose treaties by 5 to 3 margin; margin has remained constant for 6 mos; after interviewers point out that 1st treaty had been amended, 51% say they approve treaties (S)

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A Theater Marathon on Far West Side

By Mel Gussow

Ensemble Studio Theater is producing pkg of 19 plays, consisting of 1-act plays, revue sketches and excerpts from full-length plays in progress; event is called Marathon '78; plays noted (M)

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Koch Acts to Speed Judge Selection And Open It to Scrutiny by Public

By Glenn Fowler

Mayor Koch sets up system designed to speed selection of judges for ct and to open selection process to public scrutiny; system detailed (M)

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NEVI YORK DIRECTOR OF F.B.I. IS REMOVED ON BREAK-lN CHARGES

By Selwyn Raab

LaPrade is removed as head of bur's NY office; Robert E Kent is named acting head (S)

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Cotta Dance! where to See It

By Jennifer Dunning

NATIONAL Dance Week may begin in 10 days, but why wait to celebrate? This weekend, in fact, may be the best time to take a terpsichorean tour of the city. There's something tor everyone, whether it's Brazilian samba or the pyrotechnics of a eouple of Russian ballet superstars, the most rigorous of avant‐garde conundrums or the expressive amplitude of the spiritual descendants of such modern dance pioneers as Mary Wigman and Isadora Duncan.

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SENATE LEADERSHiP MOVING TO COUNTER CANAL PACT THREAT

By Adam Clymer; Special to The New York Times

Sen Majority Leader Robert C Byrd says Dem leaders will propose reservation to 2d treaty restating US policy of nonintervention in Panama; says move is intended to counter angry reaction in Panama to DeConcini reservation in 1st treaty; move may be supported by Sen Minority Leader Howard H Baker Jr (M)

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Allied Chemical Profits Up

By Unknown Author

Earnings of the Allied Chemical Corporation more than doubled in the first quarter from the year‐earlier level. A strong performance bv oil and gas operations offset poor results in chemicals. Page D4.

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S.E.C. Says Amin Got Gift Cadillac

By Judith Miller; Special to The New York Times

SEC repts Pres Amin was presented with Cadillac Eldorado convertible by Page Airways; SEC complaint comes in wake of article in NY Times Magazine on Apr 9 on business connections between Uganda and US (S)

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U.S. REJECTS 14 BIDS IN ATLANTIC OIL SALE AS NOT HIGH ENOUGH

By Unknown Author

Sec Andrus accepts high bids totaling $100.7 million for 43 tracts off Ga and Fla coasts; rejects 14 high bids totaling $8.95 million because bids are less than dept's evaluation of tracts' potential; says FTC recommendations were considered, but did not provide basis to reject any bid; James F Flug of Energy Action says acceptance of 43 leases does not insure public fair value for their resources; threatens suit; Exxon, largest bidder in auction, is also awarded greatest number of tracts (M)

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Webster, Noah (1758‐1843)A Clearly Defined Reputation

By Israel Shenker

Article on Noah Webster on 150th anniv of his Amer Dictionary of English Language; dictionary, and reasons for its compilation, discussed; Webster illus (M)

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An Overdue Spring Day Arrives and Gets Its Due

By Carey Winfrey

There can be no denying it now. Never mind what chill winds lie ahead, the sights and sounds of spring have the feel of heretostay.

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