Politics 1-3 Commentary 4-7 Duly Noted 8

RIPON CONTENTS Politics 1-3 Commentary 4-7 Duly Noted 8

AUGUST 15, 1974 Vol. X, No. 16 50 CENTS

Trubey, a young Republican speech pro fessor, is apparently using the campaign POLITICS: REPORTS as exposure for a possible future race. He has no experience, no organiza NEW MEXICO ginallY from among Spanish-surnamed tion, no issues. no money, and no voters since their party has won the chance. Other statewide GOP candidates are The New Mexico gubernatorial elec predominate proportion of that vote giving no better chance of upsetting tion will be an unusual contrast of since 1932. Republicans have never Democratic incumbents than they have styles and ideologies. A moderate con mounted a serious challenge in His had in the past 40 years of Democratic servative, affable, aggressive Republi panic areas of the state. control. And with little state party can - Joe Skeen - will face a suave, Neither candidate lacks for ade dedicated, low-key, liberal Democrat quate financing: Skeen has support s~pport for local candidates, Repub licans have little likelihood of im - Jerry Apodaca. from oil, agricultural and business in proving their share of lesser offices terests. Apodaca receives support from Skeen, who handles his own po - now only have about 25 percent. • litical reins, runs a highly personal, labor, professional, and mail solicita loosely-kni.t campaign. The result is a tions. Apodaca accuses Skeen of "spe sloppy and frantic organization search cial interests" representation because ing for a constructive direction. Skeen, of a Skeen stint as a legislative lobby FORD- KENNED·Y however, is his own strongest asset. ist. In return, vague allegations of His free-wheeling approach to voters Mafia money are leveled against Apo is impressive; his political ambition is daca by Skeen supporters. Both men have served as state party chairmen and Behind the impeachment headlines unyielding. of July, there was a lot of presidential In contrast, Apodaca has a detached, both claim Senate experience (Skeen, 1960-70; Apodaca, 1966-present). analysis. One curious aspect of the reserved style. He does- not project analysis was the concurrence of articles. Skeen looks strong personally and well in public appearances, appearing analyzing the presidential fitness of disinterested. He concentrates on one ideologically but very weak structural to-one campaigning, backed up by his ly. Apodaca has the organization but finely-tuned organization. Composed of lacks a strong public image. A series both former McGovemites and old of scheduled television could be cru pros, that organization is gearing to cial to both candidates. deliver traditional New Mexico mar In the races to the Potomac' from gins for the Democrats. Early rumors the Rio Grande this year, both in of severe party splits caused by a cumbents are heavily favored. In the rough and crowded primary seem to northern congressional district, U.S. have been spiked by recent "arrange Rep. Manuel Lujan (R) will face ments" by Apodaca. The new Demo Lt. Gov. Robert Mondragon (D). The cratic state chairman, for example, is lieutenant governor, whose principal a highly-regarded member of the old campaign tactic has been the singing guard. of Spanish ballads with his own guitar Apodaca is bidding to become the accompaniment, has been unusually first Spanish-American governor of quiet. Lujan's low-key style and un New Mexico in 54 years; over 40 per political ways will probably prevail cent of the state's population is over Mondragon'S singing. Spanish-surnamed. A subtle undercur In the state's southern district, U.S. rent of racism will cut Democratic Rep. Harold "Mud" Runnels, named margins in the Anglo, conservative one of the nation's ten dumbest con eastern counties of the state. The Dem gressmen by New Times magazine, ocrats, however, will gain only mar- has only token GOP opposition. Don Gerald Ford Vice President Gerald Ford and Sen. question straightforwardly at the time that some consensus on who does have Edward M. Kennedy. Though Ken with any chance of being believed." first class brains seems needed. In ar nedy moved ahead of Ford in recent In an analysis of Kennedy's presi ticles in Harpel's and the' Atlantic, Gallup polls, Ford was the clear win dential prospects, Knight Newspapers' three respected Washington reporters ner in the magazine and newspaper Loye Miller, Jr., observed, "He talks propose that Ford may have more stories which appeared. like he's running for President in 1976. presidential qualities than was general Kennedy's pres:dential aspirations He acts like he's running for President. ly assumed by the late Lyndon Johnson. were badly damaged by two articles. He insists that he has not finally de Writing in the August Atlantic, col Robert Sherrill's New York Times cided whether he will run for Presi umnists Rowland Evans and Robert Magazines' story, "Chappaquiddick dent." Miller points out that Chap Novak conclude, "For now at least, Plus Five," devastated even Kennedy paquiddick has not yet had an impact candor and decency are elevated above admirers, according to the W ashingtol1 in the polls, but deeply concerns Dem cleverness and glibness. What might Post's David Broder. He quoted for ocratic leaders. "Informal samplings have seemed weaknesses two years ago mer Democratic National Chairman of . . , party chief tans show that a are political strengths today. 'Jerry Lawrence O'Brien as telling friends heavy percentage of them concede that doesn't really have a first-class mind,' that Sherrill's recitation of the repeat Kennedy can walk away with the par commented one of his former House ed inconsistencies in the Chappaquid ty's 1976 nomination if he wants it, colleagues. 'But then, neither did dick episode "shook me - it had a but that an increasing number are un Eisenhower.' .. helluva impact." happy at the prospect, for fear of fu In his HaI'per's article. "In Praise Compared to the Sherrill piece, ture Chappaquiddick fallout." of Honest Ignorance," Knight News Vivian Cadden's account in the August papers' Saul Friedman recounts the As WaIter Pincus commented in a McCaU's is more ~efinitive about what story of how one condescending mem June issue of The Nell' Republic, actually happened at. Chappaquaddick. ber of the Harvard Young Republi "Now the news media will almost cer Cadden recounts not only the incon can Club asked Ford to comment on tainly resurrect the entire event: the sistencies in Kennedy'S statements, Alexander Solzhenitsyn. Ford admitted car's route will be traced, the 'boiler but also draws her unabashed conclu he had not read Solzhenitsyn. There room girls' tracked down and reinter sion: "Five years after Chappaquiddick wasn't "a snicker in the room," wrote viewed, Edgartown Police Chief [Jim] there are no longer any doubts about Friedman. "In a small and subtle way, Arena and District Attorney Dinis will the basic facts of the tragedy. Most Ford had displayed the honest igno be back and in the news, the Kopechne people believe, as Judge-(James) Boyle rance of the average man and made parents will be questioned over and did, that the senator and Mary Jo no attempt to hide it with the poli over again. The aggressiveness of the (Kopechne) were on their way to the tician's makeup kit." press will be stimulated in part by its beach, and many persons close to Ken desire to appear impartial, to show In contrast to articles in the Wail nedy no longer even try to deny it. the same, sometimes irresponsible dog Street Journal by Fred Zimmerman and The question is if, and when, and gedness that went into attacks on Pres the Washil1gton Post by David Broder, under what circumstances the senator ident Nixon and former Vice President Friedman treats Ford's staff sympa himself may wish to acknowledge it. thetically. Robert Hartmann, the for Agnew." Whether or not he seeks the Presi mer Los Angeles Times reporter who dency in 1976, a public and a press The impact of the Chappaquiddick serves as Ford's chief of staff, is credit that have always doubted the 'wrong stories is likely to be so great that ed by Friedman for much of the turn' would welcome his candor if Robert Sherrill may be Edward Ken Vice President's independence from even at this late date he affirms that, nedy'S version of Richard Nixon's Rob the White House. Elsewhere, Hart yes, it was after midnight and he and ert Woodward and Carl Bernstein. mann's treatment has 'been less kind. Mary Jo were headed for the beach; The articles about Gerald Ford did The WaU Street Journal's Zimmer that their going there was entirely in not expose the spice in his life. They man observes that, "Many in Washing nocent, but that the appearance of im instead suggested that the very lack ton express the view that Mr. Hart morality was so inevitable that, in his of spice was what the nation needed. mann is less than qualified for the grief and remorse after the accident The complaint that Ford lacks a "first crucial job he holds. This view may itself, he despaired of answering that class brain" has been made so often stem, to some extent, from Mr. Hart-

Is a Republic:an research emd SUBSCRIPTION RATES are $15 a year, $7.50 for students, serv THE RIPON SOCIETY, INC • policy organization whose Icemen, and for Peace Corps, Vista and other volunteem. Overseas membem are young business. academic anoj)rofesslonal men and air mall, $3 extra. Advertising rates on request. Please allow women. It has national headquartem In District of Columbia. five weeks for address changes. chaptem In fifteen c:lties. National Assoc:late members throughout the fifty states. emd several affiliated grqups of subchapter status. Editorl Dick Behn The SOc:lety Is supported by chapter dues. fndlvlducil contribu tions emd revenues from its public:atfons and contract work. Editoricd Boardl Is pu!>lished semi-monthI~ by the Robert D. Behn, crcdrman Tanya Mellch THE RIPON FORUM Rlpc;)n Soc:lety, Inc., 509 C Street N.E., Robert H. Donaldson Robert G. Stewart Washington, D.C. 20002. Second class postage rates paid at Wash James Manahan Ralph Thayer ington -D.C. emd other malling houses. Contents are copyrighted @ 1974 by the RlPQn SOciety, Inc. Correspondence addressea. to the Contributing EditOrsl ClIHord Brown, Glenn Gerstell, wnUam A. Editor Is welcomed. Koelsch, Daniel J. Swillinger, Josiah Lee Auspilz, Richard W. Rahn, In publlshlna this magazine the RI~n Soc:lety seeks to provide John A. Rehluss, Thomas A. Sargent, Richard Cleveland, Mark a forum for fresh ideas, well-researched proposcils and for a spirit l'razier, Peler Berg, Martin Sours. and William K. Woods. of c:rltic:lsm. fnnovatfon. and Independent tIifnldng within the He public:an Party. Articles do not n8c:essarlly represent the opinion Tec:lmical EditorJ Evelyn LaBan of the National Governing Board or the EditOrial Board of the Arb Leslie Morrtll and AnnIe Greene Ripon Soc:lety, unless they are ezplic:ltly so labelled.

2 mann's tough approach to politics, stance, before Mr. Ford's pleasant but years in Congress, his simplistic Amer which haS made him a number of inept press secretary lands the vice icanism, have given him a reverence enemies over the years." president in some sort of embarrassing for the institutions of government and According to Evans and Novak, "As flap. And the chief of staff is so abra the delicate balances among them. He a former newspaperma.ti, Hartmann sive that colleagues find it takes con is a highly partisan, yet 4Jhoroughly knows he is not the man to run a bur siderable skill just to get along with professional politician, and a conserva geoning vice presidential staff. His po hun.· " tive in the best senSe of the word. lital judgment is shrewd, but his abil a political descendant of the Midwest A curious parallel emerged in some ity to manage the daily routine of a ern founders of the Republican Par observations about Kennedy and Ford. Vice President travding 76,000 miles ty . . .. Because he is a more genuine Though partisans, both try to avoid to 29 states in his first six months in and principled conservative than Rich the extremes of partisanship. Ford has office is questionable." ard Nixon, Ford is much more rigid, avoided the role of the President's More importantly, however, Broder even stubborn." chief defender and Miller suggests and Zimmerman both report questions The spate of Kennedy-Ford articles that Kennedy will take a back seat in of about the competence of Ford's have impeachment implications. Gerald any impeachment trial. Moreover, both staff. Writes Broder, "It is predom Ford is ready - though he tries hard have seemed to move toward the po inantly middle-aged, Midwestern, con not to act it - to become President. litical center in the past year, both servative in its politics, and savvy in Wrote Broder about Ford's staff, have strong respects for Congress and the ways of Capitol Hill. It is even "Ford has surrounded himself chiefly congressional ,traditions, and both try less flashy in its collective personality with men and women he has known not to alienate the press or politicians. than the man its serves. The Ford well for years, and has gone out of staff is also, in the view of some of Writes Pincus on Kennedy: "He is his way to convey the desire that they the Vice President's friends, seriously willing to compromise. He sees a limit behave as they always have - and underequipped in the range of ex to legislative solutions but looks to not take on the airs of a White House pertise, viewpoints, and ideas needed laws as a means of lessening the weight staff-in-waiting." by a man who is a heartbeat - or an of problems on people's lives. He be But Friedman makes a different ob impeachment - away from the White lieves you must do something for the servation: "And on the Vice President's House." many before you can do more for the plane, the growing contingerit of re According to Zimmerman, "Mr. underprivileged .minorities. He has a porters and cameramen chat constant Ford's main problem with his staff, healthy respect for congressional com ly with Ford's staff about the fu if he ever reaches the White House, mittee chairmen, perhaps more than ture. The vice president's people no is much mOre likdy to be mediocrity they deserve. He tries to avoid making longer speculate in hushed tones than lawlessness. Reporters figure it enemies." about the big 'if.' They talk openly may be just a matter of time, for in- Writes Friedman on Ford: "His of 'when:" •

POLITICS: PEOPLE • A new degree of urgency entered Massachusetts Gov. Francis Sargent's renomination campaign recently • Herrick Roth, fonner Colorado AFL-CIO lead when he ordered all members of his staff to immediate er, won the top line designation for the Democratic ly reregister as Republicans and enlist their friends to nomination to oppose Sen. Peter Dominick (R), but do the same. Since many of the Republican governor's he was given a surprisingly close race at the Colorado top aides are Democrats, the move was seen as a be Democratic aSsembly by fonner McGovern campaign lated recognition that Carroll Sheehan, Sargent's op manager Gary Hart. Both Hart and fonner Arapahoe ponent in the September GOP primary, may upset the County D.A. Martin Miller will be on the September liberal governor. Meanwhile, Josiah Spaulding, a GOP primary ballot. Miller hopes to win the Democratic hopeful for attorney general, was endorsed in his pri nomination as a moderate in comparison to Roth and mary race for attorney general against former Sargent Hart. Two other candidates did not get the required aide William Cowin by John J. McCarthy. McCarthy, 20 percent of the assembly vote. All three Democratic a staunch conservative, had received White House help gubernatorial candidates will be on the September bal in his 1970 campaign to oppose Sen. Edward Kennedy. lot, but two of the candidates are mad at the third, Spaulding, a staunch progressive, defeated McCarthy Mark Hogan, who released the results of a poll showing in that primary. it may not make any difference who gets the Demo cratic nomination.. The polls showed Gov. John Van derhoof beating the Democrats by margins ranging from 59-36 percent to 65-23 percent. Ironically, Hogan, who was low man at the Democratic assembly was high man Contributor Notes in the polls. State Rep. Dick Lamm (D) who received J. Brian Smith ("Legislating by Press Release") top-line designation at the convention, trailed Vander is a press aide to U.S. Rep. John Rhodes (R-Ariz.). hoof 65-26 percent. In another vote at the July 20 Robert H. Donaldson ("What the World Needs state assembly, the high vote for state treasurer was Now") is Ripon vice president for research and a accumulated by Sam Brown, one of the key organizers member of the FORUM Editorial Board. Dick in the anti-Vietnam War movement. Remember Viet Behn ("Law and Order") is better deleted. nam? 3 arena. The President's determinationto dia to bureaucratic warfare between the exploit this relative strength has been St~te Department and the Pentagon, COMMENTARY: evidenced not only by the increasing With the President allegedly siding frequency of his foreign travel, but with the military in its refusal to give DETENTE also by his unseemly harping in up the U.S. strategic advantage. In Moscow on his "personal relationship" fact, however, ,the relative role of bu with Leonid Brezhnev and his overly reaucratic politics in shaping the out complaceryt and platitudinous report to come is greatly over-stated. Kissinger's the nation upon his return from the post-summit complaint that both sides What summit. would have to convin2e their military But the President's opponents also establishments of the benefits of re read the polls" and the tecent spate traint was far more applicable to the The of attacks on Kissinger and the sharp Kremlin ~ to the Pentagon. ening criticism of detente seem to be When the U.S. proposed a MIRV motivated - in some quarters at least limitation which would leave the S0- - by the desire to finish off Nixon. World viets with more (and heavier) launch The focus by both .sides upon the ers but the U.S. with more warheads President's personal fortunes has bad Soviet leadership decided to in: ly obscured the underlying substan th~ Needs sist on its own' demands for "real tive issues. As for Sen. Jackson.. his parity" - which the Pentagon in recent behavior has brought into se turn interpreted as leaving the Rus rious question his sense of propriety sians with an advantage in "throw Now and responsibility. jackson's pre-sum mit accusations that Kissinger had wei?~t." While U.S. defense planners envIsion an unacceptable IlItllre "worst by Robert H Donaldson signed secret SALT protocols with the case" in whiohthe Soviets quickly de Russians were fabricated in a patent Leaving the Moscow summit last ploy the maximum number of MIRVs attempt to create alarm and thus tie month, Henry ,Kissinger issued a call on their new and heavier missiles S0- ·the President's hands in the negotia for a broad national debate on the viet planners confront an tions of new arms control accords. unacc~able fundamentals of detente - a debate present situation in which the U.S. - jackson's subsequent handling of his which would transcend the narrow is several years ahead in MIRV deploy trip to Peking seemed designed to in sues of numbers of missiles and war ment - has a lead' in warheads of troduce unnecessary complications in heads and instead focus on the larger about 3-1. Moreover, the "worst case" purposes of u.s. nuclear power in an both Sino-American and Sino-Soviet relations. f~r. ~ussian planners includes the pos~ era of relaxed international tensions. slbIllty of a coordinated Sino-Ameri In the meantime, in the absence of The secretary's proposal is well can ,threat - a nightmare which must taken, especially in the present con serious national discussion of Ameri ca:s role in the world, the public com strengthen Soviet determination not to text of spreading disillusionment with settle for "second-best." This "China the fruits of U.S.-Soviet relations - ffiltment to responsible international ism is fast eroding. A recent Potomac factor" is likely to loom ever larger a phenomenon which is itself partly as Peking's. strength grows; China's Ass~iates survey revealed that the pro attributable to President Nixon's la absence from· the SALT negotiations portion of the public expressing in mentable practice of oversimplifying may indeed ultimately doom the pros ternationalist views has fallen from 65 and overselling detente. Unfortunate pects for U.S.-Soviet limitations or to 41 percent in ten years, while the ly, however the opportunity for a rea cutbacks. soned and dispassionate debate may percentage of isolationists has risen Though some strategists express the be lost .for ·three reasons: 1) Wash from 9 to 21 percent in only two fe~r tha~ a Soviet strategic advantage ington's total absorption in impeach years. ment politics; 2) the weakening of "The object of detente is to lessen ml~~t ~Ive Moscow a "first-strike cap abIlity, the real significance of the Kissinger's own position as a result the danger of nuclear war. The dual numbers game is more political than of the wiretapping imbroglio; and 3) means to this end have been the fash growing stridenq with which the main ioning of a new set of rules of self military. As his post-summit news con opponent of the Administration's pol restraint in the conduct of our rela ference made clear, Defense Secretary James Schlesinger does not fear the icy, Sen. Henry Jackson (D-Wasb.), tions with tihe Soviets and Chinese U.S. will lose its "overkill" capaci is fashioning his arguments to pro and the search for agreements on con: ty, but that it will lose its international mote his own presidential ambitions. trolling the spiraling arms race. It is Nixon is well aware that his hand in arms control that the most nota political influence and perhaps ulti mately its nerve in the face of per ling of foreign affairs is his remain ble disappointment of the Moscow ing asset with the American public. summit occurred. ceived Soviet strategic superiority. A Gallup Poll taken prior to the Mos The failure to reach agreement ~t It is on precisely this point - the cow trip gave him a 54 percent ap the summit on limiting the deploy political uses and perceptions of nu proval rating in this sphere, ~ontrast ment of multiple warheads (MIRVs) clear weapons - that Kissinger has ed to only 18 percent in the domestic has been widely attributed by the me- called for national debate. For in a 4 context of continuing distrust, the dis House Republican Policy Committee position of each side's military estab Chairman Barber B. Conable, Jr. (R lishment to plan on the basis of "worst COMMENTARY: N.Y.) - have interpreted impeach case" analysis renders agreement on ment question as the judicial vote it "essenti:r1 equivalency" unlikely and IMPEACHMENT should be, not the partisan rallying opens the prospect of a continuing ac cry that some Republicans wish they tion-reaction cycle. Failing an arms would make it. It is regretable that control breakthrough in the next year Minority Whip Leslie Arends (R~IlI.) or two, Kissinger fears a world in has not taken a similar stand. which the opportunities for nuclear What Americans - and Republi warfare exist which were unimagina cans - should expect from their rep ble l' years ago. resentatives is a vote on the facts. Re Equally terrifying is the specter of publicans should not - as a· con nuclear weapons proliferation - re Law servative group of House Republi cently raiSed anew by the India nu cans known as the "Good Guys" or clear explosion. Yet there is no in "Chicken Shack Gang" did in late July dication that the two superpowers dis - deride Minority Leader Rhodes for cussed this awesome question at the And not assuming a more forward stance in summit. By settling for an under defending the President. Republican ground test ban treaty which exempts National Chairman George Bush has both explosions under 1'0 kilotons similarly adopted a policy of non and "peaceful nuclear explosions," the interference in the impeachment proc U.S. and ,the U.S.S.R. may have missed Order ess, recognizing that comments on what a greater arms control opportunity. is now a judicial matter will politicize Whereas a comprehensive test ban an issue which should not be parti treaty might have given impetus to byDickBehn san. It is too bad Democratic National the control of proliferation, the partial Chairman Robert Strauss has not also ban not only' left open to doubt the kept his mouth closed. superpowers' sincerity, but also under The impeachment process is many Com men t s from White House minded their previous refusal to distin things, but it' is not a test of parti spokesmen hav~ frequently tended to guish between explosions for "peace san loyalty. Whether President Nixon poison the debate. Such comments are ful" or military purposes. While the should or should not be impeached is lamentable because they further tend partial test' ban did contain some use a matter to be decided by interpreting to inject non-judicial judgements into ful precedents on inspection, this treaty his actions in the light of the Con the proceedings. - like ,the agreement limiting each stitution. Some conservatives - like former side to one ABM site and the proposed The FORUM has deliberately not OEO Director Howard Phillips - extension of the interim limitation on taken an editorial stand on the im have adopted a pro-impeachment pos the size of strategic forces - does not peachment - to urge Congress to de ition on the grounds that President represent a significant advance in the cide one way or another. We have be Nixon isn't really one of ",them" any process of arms control. lieved that it is inappropriate to tell more. That attitude is as deplorable The balance sheet of Soviet-Ameri~ representatives and senators how to as voting against impeachment mer can relations in recent years contains vote. Their votes should be deter ely because the President is a Repub both positive and negative entries. Su mined by ·their examination of the lican. perpower competition continues amicl&t evidence, not the winds of political a number of complex and unsolved tempests. If a stand is taken to impeach the problems. The process of exploring We expect more of Congress, es President, it ought to be for the sort avenues of agreement will be lengthy pecially Republican members of Con of rationale offered by U.S. Rep. Wil and occasionally frustrating: detente is gress, than mere kneejerk partisan liam Cohen (R-Maine): "I am proud not yet irreversible nor is a generation ship or kneejerk revulsion. Republi of the traditions of the Republican Par of peace assured. But ,the stakes are cans have long prided themselves on ty. It does not stand for bugging or so high that the effort must be con their dedication to law and order. The burglary or' the obstruction of justice. tinued. Neither the Administration nor implications of this dedication ought No individual can stand above the its critics should. allow current do to be weigh heavily on Republicans law. Our loyalty must be to the Con mestic preocupations or the hope of as they cast their votes. stitution, and not anyone man." narrow gains to deflect the country The House Republican leadership This fall, American voters ought from the needed foreign policy debate. deserves 'praise and admiration for to scrutinize the stands of their rep For only a patient and fully infortned their statesmanlike positions on im resentatives on impeachment. But the public - confident in its purpose and peachment. For these leaders - House key to such scrutiny is the motive for united in its commitment - can en Minority Leader John Rhodes (R the representative's decision. Represen sure that America's leaders will be Ariz.), House Republican Conference tatives should vote their consciences, able to maintain the course. • Chairman John Anderson (R-Ill.), and not the'ir parties. •

5 tions which has so diminished the rely on a multitude of congressional effectiveness of Congress cannot be services designed to generate favorable COMMEITARY: remedied procedurally. What is need press, all of them divorced from reali ed for Congress to snap out of the ty. A freshman member of the House COIGIESS propaganda syndrome is a dramatic in need of some public notice can be change of attitude on the part of its named "assistant to the leader" for members, -as well as the press and the a week or two. In a press release is Ameri~ people. For all three groups sued by his office or the congressional are to blame for the massive distortion committee of his party .(or both), he LepslatiDIl of priorities that has been allowed to is praised by the floor leader as "one occur. of the bright young stars in the Con The finger of blame should first be gress" who has "earned the respect By directed towards the congressman who of his colleagues on both sides of the lacks either the "smarts" to recognize aisle." In truth, it is a standard line the danger of overemphasis on public routinely used to describe everyone so Press relations or the guts to stand up and honored. If the member is in particu do something about it. In fairness, not lar trouble, he can be named "Out all members fit these categories. John standing Member of the Month" for Rhodes, the recently elected House Re .his "proven I~dership" on such-and Belease publican leader, survived quite nice such an issue. ly during his first twenty years in the But these are the minor, harmless by J Brian Smith House without a press secretary. How things that can be easily overlooked. ever, the absence of reelection diffi 'What is difficult to overloOk is the In 1974, the most important docu culties may be one reason why he was way that the legislative process has ments issued by members of Congress content to concentrate on legislative been twisted to accommOdate the need will not be pieces of legislation but responsibilities. Other members for for publicity. It is a distortion of the press releases that describe that legis whom the threat of defeat is an ever system which clearly inhibits Congress' lation. This fundamental distortion of haunting reality, cannot afford to be ability to accomplish things for the priorities must be corrected if Congress so casual about attracting attention American people. is to ever regain its v-iability as a co to themselves. One youngish member Such is the case with the staple of ordinate branch of government. once directed me to issue a press re congressional busipess - legislation. Public relations in Washington have lease proclaiming that he had "solved" In the 92nd Congress, 20,458 bills sadly become the key ingredient to the energy crisis, the basis being a were introduced in the House, 7,999 political success when it should only very intricate mathematical equation of them identical to the last word. A be one of many important ingredients. that only he could understand but far greater percentage were different Members of Congress are caught up which would (and did) make for in only minor details. This duplica in a relentless propaganda syndrome great headlines in the hometown news tion chokes the leg1sla~ive process. It which in many cases precludes their paper. is a result of members' reintroducing effective involvement in the legis The "great commanding theatre of legislation to which they are particu lative process. It frequently matters this Nation," which Thomas Jefferson larly attracted, under their own names, not whether a congressman is success called the Congress, has degenerated even though that legislation has been ful in terms of program. What does over the years into a rat-race for pub developed by one of their colleagues. matter is whether he is perceived to licity. Most members are keenly aware The legislation then becomes the prop be effective by the voters back home. of the need to establish an image, and erty of the member who has most re "Credo quod babes, et babes," Eras the skilled press secretary can fuel that cently introduced it. He gets credit mus once told Thomas More. Believe image almost at will. Joe Biden, for for it in the press, not because he had that you have it, and you have it. example, who is the youngest member anything to do with its inception, but The Ameri~ people are well aware of the Senate, gets considerable mile because his press release refers to him that something is dreadfully awry on age as a candid straightshooter. "I as the author. Capitol Hill, as evidenced most re may be -the youngest one-term senator Another example of how the sys cently by Lou Harris' discovery that in history," he states time and again tem is geared to generate congres garbage collectors are held in far before launching into something con sional "PR" is the procedure where greater esteem than members of Con troversial. Point to a flaw in his analy by government grants and contracts gress. There are several institutional sis and candid Joe will admit it, a are awarded. Millions of dollars are corrections that Congress can make technique which disarms even the so awarded daily to industries, organ to boost its credibility with the pub fiercest antagonist. And if you forget izations, and community civic groups. lic (budget reform, committee restruc for a moment that you are up against This money represents the "bread and ture, etc.) that enjoy better-than-even the candid gentleman from Delaware, butter" of congressional PRo for the chances of adoption in light of our he will be sure to remind you. agencies maintain the standard prac post-Watergate desire to '~shape up." Once he has etched out for himself tice of releasing this information But the over-reliance on public rela- a comfortable image, the member can through the office of the congressman

6 I

whose district is affected. The congress press are wiIIing accomplices to any can be accomplished is a difficult prop man in turn issues a press release to congressman intent on obtaining cover osition .to calculate. Changes of atti the media in his state announcing the age. Th·is is true for a number of rea tude; which is what we are talking money. His name appears in print as sons, not the least of which is lazi about, must by necessity come from the source of economic good news, ness. It is easier for a reporter who within. There can be no "Political and he can campaign in the fall on covers the Washington scene simply to Attitude Reform Act of 1974," though the amount of federal money he was file the press release of the congress the craving for publicity by some mem able to procure for his area. In truth, man he is responsible for covering bers of Congress may prompt its in his office is frequently nothing more (with a few minor alterations) than troduction. than an information service. it is for him to go out and produce The people must lead the change an original piece of journalism which As if this were not enough of a of attitude necessary for Congress to farce, it was recently revealed that the requires time, energy, and access. Be be relevant again. They have a long Nixon White House worked with the sides, how can the home paper possi way to -go. Louis Harris told Sen. Nixon campaign committee to gear bly know whether the 350-word dis Edmund Muskie's Subcommittee on the delivery of government grants and patch it receives on the Telex from Intergovernmental Relations that no contracts to those areas of electoral im Washington is composed by their bu more than 59 percent of the American portance to the President's 1972 reelec reau reporter or by some congressional people can name one senator from tion. Only later have the newspapers press secretary? The answer is that they their state, only 39 percent can name reported that this effort was known cannot and probably don't even think both senators, and 46 percent - less in CREEP circles as "Project Respon to ask. The result is what every press than one-half - know who their con siveness," a bit of irony which no secretary on Capitol HiII smugly knows gressman is. The people must also - that around 50 percent of the news doubt would cause the founding fa learn to ask relevant questions, such stories printed about a congressman thers to flip in their graves. as, "Tell us, what actuaIly happened Congressmen are not the creators of in local newspapers is taken verbatim to that mass transit biII that you in this farce. In many ways, they are the from his press release. troduced amidst a splash of rhetoric victims, for generating consistently fa Why should a reporter do his own and press coverage?" Americans sim vorable press is no easy task. Most reporting and risk the disfavor of the ply must condition themselves to 'focus members would probably welcome a congressman he must cover daily? more on what is said than on the chan&e that would permit them to con Washington, after all, is the choicest sound stage from which the statements centrate their energies on strictly legis of national assignments, and there are are delivered. lative matters and would find it easier countless journalistic hopefuls back Congress will have advanced light to excel in .that capacity. But they are home who crave placement there. If years toward its goal of becoming a trapped by a system in which they a congressman decides to cut off a bu viable institution if the congressman's reau reporter, that reporter is going to are judged on their level of visibility press coverage comes to reflect his ac~ back home. Certainly, most would like have difficulty satisfying the daily de tual activity rather than his manufac to "play it straight" with the voters mands of the paper he serves. In a tured motion. If a congressman is hard - to act like statesmen instead of ad word, his stay in Washington is like working and generally effective, that men - but there is a saying on Capi ly to be short. fact should be advertised. But public tol Hill that every member lives by: Like the congressman, the press can relations should always remain wedded "The founding fathers never had to not be entirely blamed for the publici to the truth. That is generally not the run for reelection." ty put-on. So we are left with the case today. As a result, most members So we look elsewhere to place the people. It is to them that we direct the of Congress are more concerned with blame, and we arrive at the press. Ad final finger of blame. It is with them style than substance. They have be vocacy journalism, bias, and all of that ultimate responsibility is supposed come more adept at acting than legis those things that media-haters dredge to rest in this country. The congress lating. man initiates what is essentialIy a dis up to make their case have nothing to The Congress of the United States tortion of reality; the press by and do with this. The press shares the is presently lamenting its drastic loss large reports the distorted version; and blame for the publicity put-on because of federal influence and is wondering the people buy it. If they are content they frequently parrot what congress what can be done to reestablish itself with image-building, then why should men have told them. I am not re as a coequal branch of government. they be given reality, either by con ferring to the heavy-hitters in the na The. outcome of this important re gressmen or the press? They are, in tional press corps, those individuals flection will depend largely on whether the final analysis, responsible for the whose business it is to report as news or not we recognize what is really lack of congressional relevance because what ·their experience and intelligence wrong with us - that we have lost they do not demand anything better. tells them it it. No one is going to touch with reality. • tell a David Broder what is news and Their apathy perpetuates the propa what is not news. ganda syndrome. IN MEMORIAM The answer, of 'course, is for all of However, the press is not unlike LARRY FINKELSTEIN other professions in at least one re us - the congressmen, the press, and spect: the true professionals are in the the people - to snap out of the prop JANUARY 20, 1947 til JULY 30, 1974 minority. Too often, members of the aganda syndrome. As to how this

7 • "Upstate Voters Hold Key to WUson's Reelection Hopes," by Vic Ostrowidzki. Albany Times-Union, July 21, 1974. "Gov. Malcolm Wilson would carry eastern and OO'LY NOTED: POLITICS central New York if the elections were held today, a secret poll commissioned by the area's party leaders in dicates. Wilson would have a harder time beating U.S. Rep. Hugh Carey of Brooklyn than Howard Samuels. the Democratic Party'S designated candidate, the poll • "Snyder Admits 'Bribe' Offer a Hoax to Aid La.xaJ.t showed." The Becker Associates poll showed Wilson de Ima.ge," by UP!. Las Vegas Bevlew-Jo11l"Da.l, July 18, 1974. feating Carey upstate, 57-45 percent, while he topped Earlier this year, columnist Jack Anderson reported that Samuels, 65-37 percent. The poll showed, however, that that Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder had offered ,former Ne Nassau County Executive Ralph Caso, the GOP candi vada Gov. Paul Laxalt (R) a $500,000 bribe: Laxalt, now da~e for lieutenant governor, is barely known upstate. a Republican Senate candidate had reportedly refused the , offer. Snyder has now told the Nevada Gaming Control • "Driggs In Early Primary Biltz; Others In GOP Board that no one ever asked him to approach Laxalt Scrape for Cash," by John Kolbe. Phoenix Gazette, July about the bribe "Mr. Snyder furthet'testlfl.ed that he has 8, 1974. Former Phoenix Mayor John Driggs appears to on a number of occasions, including his conversation with be moving out front in the Arizona GOP gubernatorial Jack Anderson, embellished this incident in order to race. Driggs' name recognition combined with advantages dramatize the honesty of Gov. Laxalt," according to the in campaign funds have given him the clear lead. Other chairman of the gambling board. Laxalt had not report candidates are having a much more difiicult time raising ed the incident because he thought Snyder was joking. money.

• ''Republican BIght Prepa.rlug for a Comeback," by • ''Brown Leads Flournoy - At Least for Now, Ex Doug'las E. Kneeland. New York TImes, July 23, 1974. perts Agree," by Kenneth Reich. Los Angeles TImes, July "The Republican right is preparing for a comeback. View 22, 1974. Although California Secretary of State Jerry ing Watergate and related problems of the Administra Brown is ahead pf his running Republican gubernatorial tion as the work of clumsy and misguided interlopers counterpart, Controller Houston Flournoy, both Demo that may almost shatter the party, conservatives meet crats and Republicans tend to agree with Flournoy that ing [at the Young Americans for Freedom conference in the GOP could upset Brown. "There are several scenarios San Francisco] indicated that they were looking forward for a Flournoy victory, but most of them involve the Re eagerly to picking up the pieces in 1976." According publican candidates somehow locking Brown into a series to Kneeland, the YAF delegates believe Watergate has of significant debates, clearly displaying a superior knowl proved that conservatives were wrong to back "centrist" edge of state,government and coming across a more ma Richard Nixon in 1968 and "right" to back conservative ture political figure," writes Reich. The Brown lead in Barry Goldwater in 1964. Ronald Reagan was clearly the part can be attributed to the unexpected political ma YAF favorite for 1976 in keeping with American Conser turity of the Democratic candidate and the failure of the vative Union president M. Stanton Evans' observation Flournoy campaign to ignite either internally or exter that, "If one wants a conservative government, then the nally. "It is now widely believed that if Brown is to be thing to do is nominate conservatives and elect conserva beaten, Flournoy must develop an imaginative campaign tives." that will solve the difficult problem of boosting the low Republican turnout of the primary while appealing enough • ''Baclal Attitudes Affect Campaign," by Howell to Democrats to offset the huge Democratic registration Raines. Atlanta. JolU'llll1l and Constitution, July 21, 1974. edge in the state." Republicans hope, however that "Save for the occasional maverick, the out-and-out race Brown will begin to grate on the voters the way he does baiter is a vanishing breed in Georgia politics. Nonethe on the nerves of many Democratic party professionals less, statistical studies consistently show there is a strong, Flournoy, they hope, will wear better with the Californi~ submerged white racism in Georgia to which the skilled electorate. politician can appeal in subtle ways," writes Raines. He cites a recent Georgia poll which revealed 'a' very strong undercurrent of racism among white voters which ex Jaws of Victory plains the continuing appeal of Lt. Gov. Lester Maddox In !~ws of Victory, .the ~pon Society book on (D). "However, the same survey which yielded these fig political gamesmanship, Clifford Brown describes ures set Maddox' committed vote at a:bout 40 percent. progressive Republicans in the following manner: Thus, many of the people who harbor some anti-black sentiment - perhaps on the crime issue or housing or What do all these people have in common? education - are still in the vote pool available to Mad They don't need the government to hold dox' opponents [in the Democratic gubernatorial prima their trousers up. They are committed to ac ry.]" Raine$ points out that the sophisticated appeals complishment and excellence. They like to to the marginally racist vote center on crime and capital punishment this year rather than busing. Former Sen. see society performing in an honest and effi David Gambrell has attempted to steal these marginal cient manner. Most important, they are the voters away from Wallace while other Democratic con kind of people who innovate, improve, and tenders have simply muted any comments that might be exercise their freedom in a constructive way. construed as pro-black. "Bert Lance and George Busbee two leading Democratic contenders for the black vote: These are ~e workers, managers, capitalists, have stopped well short of actually doing or saying any and profeSSionals in the best sense of tIiese thing which could be tabbed as an outright appeal to worcfs. the black voter . . . The arithmetic of coalition politics Jaws of Victory should be at the front of every in Georgia dictates this course. Both white and black strategists agree that it is the proper course to take in book store. If it is not, there is a coverup under a state where black voters are a signirficant force but way. Investigate. Or better yet, order your own still far outnumbered by whites." Gambrell and Lance copy for $10.95 from The Ripon Society 509 C are Maddox' closest competition for the Democratic nom Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002. ' ination in the August 13 primary. PORUM Published semi-monthly by the Ripon Society, 509 C Street N:E., Washing ton, D.C. 20002. Second class postage paid at Boston, Massachusetts.