Wheezing, Tired Chernenko Appears on TV for 6 Minutes

President Konstantin U. Chernenko, wheezing and holding onto a chair for support, was shown on Soviet television today, officially acknowledging a new mandate to govern and speaking to election officials.

The six-minute appearance was the Soviet leader’s second public appearance in five days, after an absence of two months due to illness.

Chernenko, 73, appeared wan and tired and held onto a chair for support as an election official handed him documents affirming his unanimous election to the Russian Federation Supreme Soviet.

Wheezing and with obvious difficulty in breathing, Chernenko thanked the officials, who included Moscow party chief Viktor Grishin, and accepted a bouquet of flowers.

Chernenko was then shown seated at a small conference table, talking about the election with Grishin and other officials. He read a brief speech in which he thanked the voters for their support.

Chernenko ended a two-month absence from public view Sunday during a shaky television appearance that did little to assure the public he was in good health. It was widely believed that the appearance, to cast a ballot during local elections, was staged in a hospital room.