LOOKING BACK

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 50 YEARS AGO

President Nixon today branded protesters who attacked his car in California this week as “the same thugs and hoodlums who have always plagued a good people” and said the time had come to stop appeasing violent demonstrators. Mr. Nixon urged new and strong laws to give the peace forces what he called “new muscle with the criminal forces”, and also a new approach to the interpretation of existing laws. He said he would continue to appoint judges “who have an awareness of the rights of the victim as well as the rights of the accused”. “I need men in the Senate who will give these judges a vote of confidence,” he said. — November 1 1970

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 25 YEARS AGO

Warrants of arrest have been issued for former Minister of Defence Magnus Malan and retired top military officers in connection with the murder of 13 people in KwaZulu-Natal seven years ago. Last night, President Nelson Mandela and his deputy FW de Klerk met for crisis talks at Mr Mandela’s Houghton home over the warrants. The talks were also attended by the Safety and Security Minister, Sydney Mufamadi, the Mineral and Energy Affairs Minister, Pik Botha, and Constitutional Minister Roelf Meyer. It is understood that the National Party ministers were angered and concerned about the implications of the warrants. All parties agreed the matter should be handled “sensitively”. — October 29 1995