Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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University of South Carolinp Columbin,'S. C. 9201 Wednesday, January 26, 1972 Angry to abaI BY WILLIAM STARR United Press International Famed Soviet poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, wearied by political questions, has opened his tour of American colleges with an angry attack on American journalists and an announcement that he plans to abandon poetry for prose. The tall, gaunt Yevtushenko appeared at the University of South 'Carolina with poet James Dickey Tuesday night to launch the five-week tour which includes a poetry reading in New York's Madison Square Garden Friday night. More than 4,000 students turned out for the free poetry reading and almost half as many jammed their way into a reception for Yev tushenko later, shouting, pushing and crowding their way for a closer look at the 38-year-old poet in a scene more appropriate to teenage adulation of rock stars. Ducking into a small room for a break in autograph-singing on his latest book of poetry, Yevtushenko consented to a brief private in terview, his first since a stormy session with a television reporter in Washington. "You say I said American people are ignorant. That is not right." he said speaking in thickly All troops to with President Richard M. Nixon made public last night a peace plan for Vietnam that, as he called it, would be "a peace that can last.'' Nixo The prop44sal, which called for the withdrawal of all U.S. and allied troops from South Vietnam within six months for the exchange of all prisoners of war, will be presented at the Paris Peace Talks. Included in the proposal is a complete cease fire and a new election in South Vietnam to be held under the 'supervision of an international election committee. Nixon said that South Vietnam President Nguyen Van Thieu and Vice President __Tran Van Huong have agreed fo resign and that the chair man of the South Vietnamese Senate would administer the government until the election. The President stated that the proposal was given to the North Vietnamese in secret Runoffs between Timothy campus junior class senato Russell House. Yevtus adon p( accented English and occasionally using an interpreter who voiced his disbleasure. - "What I said was American -television people are ignorant. I said some TV journalists are very ignorant, not the American people. I love them." Yevtnshenko was unhappy over an interview on NBC television's "Today" program with Barbara Walters, an interview which he felt was solely concerned with questions on political and artistic repression in the Soviet Union. "Television sells toothpaste, underwear, briefs, but not poetry," said the chain-smoking poet with a laugh. Dressed in blue jeans with a light blue sport coat, turtleneck sweater and a white knit hat which bobbed above the crowds of autograph seekers, Yevtushenko discussed his popularity with American youths. "Your people enjoy Russian literature, especially 19th century literature," he explained. "Young people are spiritually educated to Russian literature ar)d are anxious to find out more about us and the way we live. That is why they come to see me, to hear a Russian and see him directly. How can this be bad?" iraw talks in Paris three months ago and was ignored. "Nothing is served by silence when it misleads the American people to criticize its own n proposes government," Nixon said. He said that this public an nouncement would hopefully "break the deadlock in the negotiations." 'peace National security advisor Henry Kissinger has met with Hanoi leaders 12 times since Aug. 4, Nixon said. The President cited the secret talks as "more flexible and private. Seeking p_ace, we could not let anything go by for settlement," Nixon stated. "Any avenue, public or private, to get peace" is 'of value. Blake and Mike West for off r will be Jan. 28. first floor henko )etry "I love people and I think that is really why they love me," he added. The poet indicated the current tour may signal the end of his poetry writing--at least tem porarily. "I was born a wanderer and I am still a wanderer. It is my mood now to write prose," he said. "To write prose is to change the life and I want to change things to keep me alive." "Poetry really is for gold miners, 'but prose is for coal miners," Yevtushenko explained, gesturing with his long arms. "I want to write for coal miners now." Yevtushenko hinted that his appearance may herald a new agreement for cultural exchange between the Soviet Union and the United States, but he refused to be drawn into a discussion of why his government, which has in the past barred scientist and Nobel prize winners froni attending meetings outside the country, permitted him to come to the U. S. "I have traveled in 48 nations and have enjoyed it," he said, making no further comment on Soviet policies. Con't on pg. 5 The private talks, according to Nixon, have been un successful to date. Most of the U.S. proposals have been "flatly rejected," he said. He stated as an example an offer made May 31, 1971, which asked for the release of all POWs and a cease fire in ex change for total withdrawal of all U.S. and allied forces. The proposal was rejected and a nine point plan was offered by the North Vietnamese that 0 last' included the U. S. overthrow of the South Vietnamese government. Nixon said the record to date has been accelerated troop movement by the North Vietnamese as an answer to US proposals. Referring to the ignored U.S. proposal, Nixon said, "It can no longer be ignored. If the enemy wants peace it will have to recognize the difference between settlement and 'urrender." Standing ovation given Russian poet By BOB CRAFT He said that Yevtushenko was "a Staff Writer fine athlete" and an "almost Yevgeny Yevtushenko appeared fanatical sportsman." in Carolina Coliseum Monday ik s ta Ye.tuIh-nko night to begin his five week"Nwofthsuliynat American tour.mopeeothStlnrgead Yevtushenko mounted the stagehaSoityuh"lie"bhn in the Coliseum to a standing ~ ovation from the large crowd. " aet owt h James Dickey, USC's poet-in- pltcladtecrn cn n residence, gave an introduction tohedis,Dckyad."ea. Yevtushenko when he said heanetonryssivtyoiw would not be long because he had adtligi iei s"h ad often been "victimized" by long "n o ieyufo ao introductions. Sbra egn etsek. Dickey said that Yevtushenko Dikywlebaktthtbe had been born in Zemo, Siberia onwhrYethnkwastig theTrnibeia rilwy oue saintht Yetuhek was."a onea ictreof odMcKeinstlte"ad of "almost ~~~~~~~Dce adta Yevtushenko. h aeokwsi ro n ert thepherefortuhe ofathisreistaken