WLS Channel 7 - Eyewitness News - "Sadat Assassination Coverage" (1981)

Here's coverage of the assassination of Egyptian president Anwar el-Sadat from Eyewitness News on WLS Channel 7. Featuring anchors Fahey Flynn and Joel Daly, and former 1980 presidential candidate John Anderson.

After his "how do you do" opening, Fahey spoke of how in some parts of the world, Sadat was a man of peace, but in other parts, he was seen as a traitor. Fahey quotes Libyan dictator Muammar Khadafy who proclaimed, "We challenge whoever takes the path of Sadat and whoever prays under the Israeli flag in Jerusalem. Death will be the end of whoever attempts treason after today," and mentions how Libyans were dancing in the streets over Sadat's assassination and Palestinians in Lebanon fired machine guns in the air in celebration. It is noted that vice president Hosni Mubarak is on track to succeed Sadat. (which he eventually did, and ruled Egypt from 1981 until 2011 when he was ousted during the Arab Spring)

Joel mentions how the day of Sadat's death "was one of the most important of his life," and goes on about how eight years prior, Sadat was the architect of what would come to be called the "Yom Kippur War." On the day he was killed, Cairo was celebrating when Egypt flew into the Suez Canal and crushed Israeli troops; French-built Mirage jets were flying overhead and U.S.-built M60 tanks were on the ground. In this context, the sound of guns firing seemed to be part of the celebrations, before anyone noticed. The attack was carried out to be gunmen dressed in Army fatigues, and in the carnage, some of the gunmen were killed. A former Sadat aide who was part of the Yom Kippur War planning, but turned on him after he became peacemaker, was among those claiming responsibility.

Fahey then goes on about reaction to his death, including 4,000 U.S. Marines on ships in the Mediterranean being told to increase security precautions; President Reagan summoning top advisers to the White House (and tape of his comments regarding Sadat's death, which he characterized as "an act of infamy," is shown); in Israel, Prime Minister Menachem Begin explaining how the Israeli people share in the mourning; Joel reports on a Chicago City Council session where Mayor Jane Byrne announced Sadat's murder, and urging the Council to rise for a moment of silence. He notes that only six months before, Mrs. Sadat was a guest of the city, and attended an "Egypt Today" exhibit at the Field Museum.

Next, Joel introduces John Anderson, who had met with Sadat the year before; he comments on the fragile Middle Eastern situation, bringing up the sale of AWACS, and how Sadat was a committed "anti-Soviet." His piece also features a comment made on June 9th by Illinois Senator (and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee) Charles Percy, who called Sadat a "friend of Israel." Anderson notes how in the Middle East, even incremental changes lead to massive instability, and how countries like Syria and Iraq feel the time is right to try to bring Egypt back into "their" fold against Israel; and that the assassination will have a direct effect on Israel's policies of defense. The taped analysis ends with a note that Mubarak may not be as tolerant towards Israel as his predecessor, and that other countries like Saudi Arabia may be more inclined to appease and "buy off" radical Arab states. He speaks with Joel and Fahey about the Middle East's chaos and how it is highlighted by the Sadat murder; and the implications of Khadafy's threats, calling him "the most irrational" of the Middle East leaders. Fahey then signals a commercial break by previewing a bio of Sadat (the break is cut out).

Joel introduces a piece of Sadat's life and times - "soldier, statesman, peasant, aristocrat, populist, dictator." It was noted that there was little in his early life that suggested he would lead the country. He had been in a military academy in which future Egyptian president (and Sadat's predecessor) Gamal Abdel Nasser, also served. Sadat was part of the coup that overthrew King Farouk, and served first as Nasser's spokesman, then as Vice President, before succeeding Nasser upon the latter's death in 1970. While Egypt didn't win the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Sadat's tactics ended up winning him respect from both his allies and his enemies. Only four years later, Sadat spoke before the Israeli Knesset, in the beginning of the Egyptian-Israeli accords which culminated at Camp David. Joel mentioned that when Sadat signed the accords, he may well have also signed his death warrant. He then went on to the various dualities of Sadat's personality - effortlessly going from one atmosphere to the next, but also arrogant and despotic. Joel ends the piece by noting that Sadat had told Carter that he planned to step down the next year, his quest for peace done, but his death "could undo it all again."

This aired on local Chicago TV on Tuesday, October 6th 1981.

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