sufferi ng to many, especially since there was a shortage of fuels and other forms of energy . Particul arly heavy were the bli zzards in Ohio, where 27 counties were declared disaster areas. Tornadoes in Florida, floods in California and earthquakes and hurricanes in localized regions of the earth made their impact on all because of the effec tive coverage of these and other events by major television networks. On the politi cal scene there were many new faces , but the same old problems increased in complexity . For many years, three of the most powerful and influential men in Washington were from Arkansas - Senators John L. McC lell an and J. William Fulbr ight and Congressman Wi lbur Mills. With the death of Senator McClel lan in December , only a week after he had announced that he would not run for re-election during the summer of 1978, the last of this powerful delegation had left Washington, Senator Fulbright being defeated by Dale Bumpers in 1974 and Congressman M ills choosing not to run for re-elect ion after the personal problems he had encountered. THE WORLD anxiously watched and listened as President Anwar Sadat of Egypt [right], and his host, Israel's Prime Mintster Menahem Begin [left], held peace conferences in Jerusalem. THE PROTRACTED debates slackened and the era of supersonic travel between New York and Europe was inaugurated with the landing of French and English Concord jets November 22 at JFK Airport in New York. Photographs by W IDE WORLD PHOTOS, INC. r-----6 tribute----------------, "Our slender life runs rippling by, and gli des Into the silent hollow of the past; What is there that abides To make the next age better for the last?" - James Russell Lowell "Commemoration Ode" While earlier in the year China laid to rest its beloved politica l leader, Mao Tse-tung, several men , outstanding in the hearts of Ameri cans, were also cl aimed by death. On the political scene it was Hubert Humphrey, the Happy Warrior, who after being honored at hi s farewell from Congress, was taken by cancer. Arkansas gri eved the death of its 81-year-old senator, John McClell an , The sc ience world experienced the loss of Wernher van Braun , whose work in Ameri ca's space program extended exploration to the moon. Robert Lowell , considered by many to be the forembst Ameri can poet , died at 60. Profound shocks were felt in the losses of several of Ameri ca's enterta inment pioneers, which seemed to mark the end of an era. The most jo l t ing death to masses, who grieved in camps outside of Graceland Mansion in Memphi s, was that of Elv is Pres ley. The bi llion-do ll ar memorabilia industry, spurred by the demise of the relat ively young " rock and roll " legend, caused Newsweek to attest : " The king is dead , but only in the flesh." A favorite star of the previous generat ion, Bing Crosby, who traditionalized "White Christmas, " died after entertaining America with 70 movies and over 800 records. Groucho Marx, the Brother w ith the cigar and quick puns, died at 86. Christmas Day brought the death of a. contemporary of Marx, Charlie Chaplin. After gaining wea lth and fame as the Little Tramp, he li ved to be knighted by Queen Elizabeth. World Scene • 45
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