Frail-Looking Chernenko on TV a 2nd Time

Still looking pale, frail and breathless, Soviet President Konstantin U. Chernenko was seen for five minutes Thursday night on the Soviet Union’s main television news program.

It was the second televised appearance this week for the 73-year-old leader after a two-month absence from public view.

He was shown Sunday casting his vote in a regional election. Thursday, he was seen accepting his credentials as a deputy to the nominal parliament of the Russian Federation.

Remarkably, he seemed to be wearing the same bright blue suit and tie on the Thursday program that he wore on Sunday when he was said to be visiting a polling station to cast his ballot.

Another Politburo member shown in both films--Viktor V. Grishin--also seemed to be wearing the same suit and tie for events presented as occurring four days apart.

Some Are Startled

The television appearances, together with front-page newspaper photographs, seem designed to convince Soviet citizens that Chernenko is able to carry out his duties. However, some viewers said they were startled at Chernenko’s obviously weakened condition.

Following doctors’ advice, Chernenko did not give a scheduled major speech last Friday, and his appearance on television Sunday constituted the first time he had been seen by the public since Dec. 27.

He clearly suffers from a lung disease, possibly emphysema, and Soviet officials have acknowledged that he has been ill in recent weeks.

Chernenko only spoke a few words Sunday during a one-minute appearance, but on the Thursday program he read a short speech and exchanged greetings briefly with several visitors. However, he was constantly short of breath, at times even gasping for air, and as usual he swallowed word endings, making it difficult to understand him.

While standing, he leaned heavily on the back of a chair and seemed unable to relax his grip to accept flowers that were handed to him. An aide took the bouquet instead.

Fumbled With Notes

His skin seemed to be blotchy and his suit coat was stretched tightly over his stomach. Chernenko fumbled with his notes and clearly showed signs of strain toward the end of the speech.

The 70-year-old Grishin, one of the Politburo’s “Old Guard,” told Chernenko that he received unanimous backing from 136,000 voters in the Kuibyshev district. Under the Soviet system, the name of only one candidate for each office is allowed on the ballot. It is normal for candidates to receive more than 99% of the vote.

Tass, the official news agency, quoted Chernenko as saying that election as a deputy was a “big honor” and he would try to be worthy of it.