THE RIPON NEWSLETTER OF FOR THE RIPON SOCIETY NOVEMBER, 1965 VOL. 1, No.7 The Political Scene: '65 FROM THE The comeback road for the Re TO THE RIGHT .... All the rhetoric of the National fJU.blican Party has been clearly DEFEAT 'Revi~ and ~~ associateNEW YORK popular vote, the Conservative hero polled only 13.4% REPUBLICAN In gaining 46% of the vote of the vote-no better than the vote won by right-wing TRIUMPH against two opponents, Repub- Democrat Lawrence Gerosa in 1961 (13.3% against lican John V. Lindsay outdistanced even the most op Democrat Wagner (51.2%) and Republican Lefkowitz timistic polls as he was elected Mayor of New York City. (34.6%). Gerosa was colorless and unpublicized; but He overcame a 7 to 2 Democratic registration edge. for all his histrionics and television exposure Buckley Sen. Goldwater had polled only 28% of the City vote in could not improve on the earlier performance. 1964. Lindsay attracted approximately 1/3 of the Jewish vote, 1/4 of the Puerto Rican vote. 1/3 of the Irish Cath STATEWIDE In the only New York statewide olic vote and an astouding 400/0 of the Negro vote. Dem STRENGTH e!ection, former moderate Re~- ocratic Boss Adam Clayton. Powell could not deliver lican Senator Kenneth Keating Harlem support for his candidate, Abraham Beame. In was elected· to the State Court of Appeals by nearly two areas of Central Harlem where Democrats usually gain million votes. Most significantly, Keating carried New an 8 to 1 margin, Lindsay cut the losses to less tluin 2-1. York City by 81,000 votes on the Republican ticket IIlone. In East Harlem which is 95% Puerto Rican, the Repub His unsuccessful opponent had both the Democratic and lican ran fairly even with his opponent. In Morningside Liberal endorsements. The N ew York World Telegram Heights which is 80% Negro, Lindsay led Beame by viewed Keating's victory - as it did Lindsay's - 2000 votes. In the Negro ghetto in the Bedford Stuy "significant vindication of their integrity in refusing to vesant area of Brooklyn he ran about 40%. sing along with Barry last year:' APPEAL TO Most importanttr, Lin ds a y And it is significant too that in this reapportionment THE FUTURE p'roved to .be the kind of Repub- yeat, Republicans were able to regain control of the lican candidate that young people New York State Senate which they had lost in 1964- can get excited about. His victory was built upon a net Governor Rockefeller scored a victory when proposition work of storefront headquarters, staffed in large part by 1 - calling for a bond issue for the pure waters program enthusiastic young men and women. Columnist James - was passed. Wechsler saw Lindsay's appeal to youth as outshining even that of Sen. Robert Kennedy: As the State's Democratic Senator, Robert F. Ken NEW JERSEY nedy's role in the campaign was consistent with STINGING The New Jersey Republican political protocol. Yet even he engaged in excesses Party received a disastrous set of simulated enthusiasm that diminished his own DEFEAT back at the close of an election stature especially among dedicated young voters and campaign that had begun with some promise. In a enhanced' the impact of Lindsay's extraordinary landslide victory which insured his party the longest personal triumph. gubernatorial tenure in New Jersey in this century, Governor Richard Hughes ran so strongly that Demoaats The miracle began when Scranton and Senator won control of both Houses of the state legislature for Hugh Scott convinced Specter, an enrolled Demoaat, he the first time since 1914 .• in each case by a two-thirds should carry the Republican banner as a reform candidate margin. against the machine, represented by Demoaat Crumlish. The normally Republican counties of Bergen and 'the old Democratic reform effort "is just about dead in Cape May supported Hughes by disconcerting margins, Philadelphia" according to Dem. Senator Joseph Clark. ana in voting for seats in the Assembly and the Senate Republicans are filling the void. Bergen County replaced all but one of the Republican REBUKE The machine tried to campaign representatives with Demoaats. Republiuns had con on the records of the Kenneay and trolled the Senate 14 to 6; under the temporary re FOR Johnson admmistrations. Vice appointionment the number of seats was increased and JOHNSON President Hubert Humphrey, not the Democrats now control 19-9. A 32 to 28 GOP edge a bit embarrassed in his new role in the Assembly became a 41 to 19 Demoaatic edge. of defending entrenched old-time Democrat politicians, The reasons for the sharp Republican decline are un furthered the machine's goal by personally appearing for doubtedly complex. There bas been bitter and enduring Crumlish. Governor Scranton and Senator Scott also factional split within Republican ranks in recent years; staked their reputations on the Philadelphia race by en there was certainly some residue of President johnson's couraging him to run, lending effective staff members to massive victory in 1964; and a temporary reapportion aid the Spector campaign and speaking on his behalf, as ment of the legislature gave more weight to urtian than did N. Y. Senator Jacob Jamts. to rural areas in accordance with court demands for a In Chester, Penslyvania, scene of racial turbulence more realistic distribution of representation. But over last year, two liberal City Councilmen were elected by shadowing these factors, perhaps, was the disappointing 2-1 margins. One of them was a Negro and hoth were gubernatorial campaign of Republican State Senator Republicans. Wayne Dumont. A RIGHT·WING Dumont had much to recom- VIRGINA TACTIC mend him as he sought the New Jersey governorship. But he al AN OLD Results in Virginia were dis- lowed his ability, his record, and his programs to be COALITION appointing as Republicans failed blurred by an emotional campaign in which he sought to win the governorship and to make gains in the legis the dismissal of a Rutgers University professor who had lature despite a strong campaign. Linwood Holton was expressed sympathy for the Communist cause in Viet an able moderate GOP candidate, but could not win Nam. It was an issue which Dumont borrowed, along support of either labor leaders or civil rights groups, with key personnel, from the right wing Republican desl'ite his opponent's segregationist background. Vir whom he had defeated in the primary. The issue had prua liberals joined the conservative Byrd machine in an originally been developed by staff members associated lIDpregnable Democratic front which dominated the with the militant conservative wing of the Young Re middle of the road. To make things more difficult John publicans and the Young Americans for Freedom. If Birch Society member William Story ran a third party Dumont wanted to win the election he turned the wrong campaign against the Republican nominee which diIutea way. Holton's strength. The voters thought the issue inappropriate in a gu Nevertheless the Republican candidates won 37% bernatorial campaign; they valued the political indepen of the vote, to 48% for Democratic Godwin and 14% for dence of the state university and were willing to show Story. (The Nazi party headed by George Lincoln Rock their support of American foreign policy in ways which well polled an appalling 7000 votes.) Holton did well in did not jeopardize that ideal. some Democratic strongholds but, hampered by the When polls began to show how badly Dumont conservative vendetta, could not buck a tradition which campaign has misread the state, moderate Republicans has now elected 21 consecutive Democratic Governors. had the option of running independent campaigns to save New Jersey Republican legislative seats. Instead LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY they followed the Dumont lead with scarcely a protest. REBUILDING Republican success in Louis PHILADELPHIA NEGRO ville. In Kentucky, Republicans made important gains at the local REPUBLICAN In the Philadelphia District SUPPORT levels, primarily by consolidating REFORM Attorney's race, Arlen Specter, a their appeal to Negro voters. Republicans won taces for 34 year old Jewish Assistant District Attorney with a County Judge and Mayor in Louisville - and pulled reputation for vigorous and fair prosecutions, won by key county offices and aldermen with them. The GOP 36,000 votes, the first time in 12 years a municipal can had ended 28 years of Democratic rule in Louisville in didate has won on the GOP ticket. A year ago Barry 1961; in 1962 Senator Thruston Morton had gained 45% Goldwater lost the City of Brotherly Love by 441,000 of theNegro vote there. Nixon had carried 44% in 1960 votes. Philadelphia has twice as many enrolled Demo and Eisenhower 55% in 1962. This Republican total fell crats as Republicans, a fact which led Gov. William to an astounding 4% of Negroes in 1964 - but the Scranton to credit the victory to "a miracle of hard figure bounced back to 52% in Tuesday'S election. Re work." Jubi19nt Scranton surmised, "the old adage that publicans also scored upset victories in Lexington, while Republicans cannot win in the cities is now out the in Jefferson County they added four state legislative window." seats.
2 cannot be avoided. A new breed of Republicans has CONNECTICUT won in the cities. They have shattered the conventional MORE The moderate state Republican wisdom of obsolescent .partisanship. They have shown MAVORS Pa.r.:tY in .Conn~cut. scored vi.c- Republicans the expand10g opportunity and possibility torles which will be tmportant 10 in the population lieart1and of America. Inevitable as its continuing batte with disaffected right wing groups. these events and directions may seem to some they have Republicans scored upset victories in key mayoralty just begun to be perceived by Republicans nationally. races, notably in Waterbury and New Britain. In these But as men like John Lindsay and Arlen Specter cities Democratic machines folded before serious Repub lead the recovery of their cities, their example can do lican challenges to their long-standing control. much to spur the recovery of the national Republican Party. In time, other dynamic young leaders will join The View From Here their ranks - representatives of what the Republican CAPTURING For a year, stunned by the re Party of tomorrow must be. Responding to such leader pudiation of Goldwater conserva ship, Republicans everywhere can join in making the THE tism, the Republican Party has Grand Old Party the exciting party of the future. FUTURE drifted dirernonless. The Repub ican National Chairman has ON THE Speaking in California recently meticulously avoided questions of ideological direction, Barry Goldwater eulmitted that concentrating his energies instead on holding together FEAR RIGHT is was probably a mistake not to the Republican minority. The Republican Congressional have included a plank on extrem leaderShip, conservative by instinct and overwhelmed by ism in the 1964 Republican Platform. Thus another the magnitude of the 1964 Democratic victory, has voice was added to the chorus of Republican leaders been unable to generate an excitement or purpose that finally waking to the fact that the John Birch Society would attract new Republicans. Then, at a moment is an element to be reckoned with in the GOP. Gold when the Republican Party was in grave danger of los water merely said he regretted that so much talent and ing its relevance to an ever more urban America, mod energy was being diverted from regular party activities. erate and liberal Republicans have provided a stunning This was not a strong condemnation of the group, but breakthrough in the citadel of cfecapng Democratic it marked a significant reversal of the Senator's earlier strength. At a time when the AmerIcan electorate is stand. undergoing a "silent revolution" at its base, when a More direct statements than Goldwater's were new generation, demandin~ a new purpose and style in issued in October by Thruston Morton, Everett Dirksen, its politics, is rapidly commg to power, moderate and and Gerald Ford, and these awakenings were themselves liberal Republicans have provided a leadership that cuts antedated by pleas from Governors Nelson Rockefeller, across the partisan divisions of distant decades - a George Romney, Mark Hatfield, Dan Evans, Congress leadership with a genera~onal a.p]?ea1 that may well man Stanley Tupper and a host of other moderates who capture the future of Amencan politics. have seen the Bltch threat for a long time. Goldwater's THE OLD The election of 1965 has im- recent statement might have saved many votes and FADES OUT porta.nt implications for the. I?em- some GOP candidates in 1964 but at that time the Ari ocratic party. In traditional zonan was avoiding the issue with his insistence that centers of Democratic strength, the majority party was all the Birchers he knew were "just folks". put in the position of defending the tired programs of There is evidence to document recent Birch attempts the past. The national Democratic leadership was to take over lower level Republican Party machinery in identified with the discredited and uninspired record of Southern California, New Jersey, Michigan, Marrland, urban machine politics. President Johnson rationalized and Texas. The Los Angeles Times reports sigmficant his endorsement with the comment that he always pre Birch influence in the GOP in at least 6 of 11 southern fers a Democrat to a Republican. Vice President Hum states. The Society has been so bold as to offer a prim phrey moved perfunctorily from campaign to campaign, ary candidate against conservative Senator Karl Mundt the dispensor of official Democratic blessings. Senator in South Dakota and is known to have similar designs Robert Kennedy was personally involved in the un on the candidacy of Clifford Case in New Jersey. While successful Beame campaign. It is clear that party loyalty, no one expects the group to win, a short safari through national prestige, ana familiar personalities are lorces the mud and muck of a Birch Society campaign can which can be overcome by the promise of bold and do great harm to a Republican candidate and his Party. creative government. In 1965 it was the Republicans Moreover, what is worse than the Birch bite is the who embodied this promise in New York and Phila Birch embrace. The image of the GOP has suffered delphia. And as a result, as columnist and scholar Max enormously as the Society has associated itself with the Lerner has written, the 1965 election "marks the possible Party many capable men who have no stomach for the breakup of the coalition - Catholics, Jews, Negroes, ating its terminology. Birch Society infiltration of Re trade unions - which has given the Democrats the publican councils has driven from active roles in the edge in almost every big city since the New Deal." Pary many capable men who have no stomach for the Republicans must continue to capitalize on this oppor constant abuse in which the Birch Society specializes. tunity and this challenge. As the Birchers have moved closer to the heart of the THE ADVENT The personal triumph of John GOP the American voter has moved farther away. This Lindsay has overshadowed re- kind of hard political reality seems now to have im OF THE markable Republican gains else- pressed Party readers and brought forth the denuncia NEW where. In some war.s the Repub- tions of the last month. lican strategy in Philadelphia was It is important to keep in mind, however, that the even more daring in conception and brilliant 10 execu Republican Party is not the sole objective of such ex tion than New York. But the overriding conclusion tremist groups. To the idea of taking over the Republi-
3 can Party, Robert Welch, the Sodety's founder and Laughlin Waters, an announced candidate whc;> is unquestioned leader, responded: "We never commit former U. S. Attorney, State Assemblyman and State petty larceny." Welch's humor reflects a bit of truth. GOP Chairman. Unknown in both his home area in The major premise of the Birch Socie~ is that Com the South and in the North, Waters may heed advice munists infest every nook of American life. To combat from many observers and run instead for State Attorney this supposed danger the Birch Society advocates the General. same latitude of infiltration. It is from this posture that Goodwin Knight, former Governor with much suc Robert Welch implores his forces to in1iltrate local cessful experience in Golden State campaigns. A hand PTA's, put stickers on imported Polish hams, and be ful of old faithfuls support him but it is not likely come active in Jl
4 basis.- The· proposal, often referred to as the "Heller sponsoring a nationwide series of motion picture prmli Plan," was the Subject of a widely-read paper issued last eres late this year. Observers anticipate this popular summer by the Republican Governors' Association and double-bill: Spy hero James Bond in "ThunderbalI" - the' Ripon Society'. The Javits-Morse proposal would with a fifteen minute filmed introduction by President place 1 % of rapidly increasing federal tax revenues in Johnson. Wow! a tax-sharing trust fund. This $2.5 billion yearly "div idend" would be allocated to the states according to OTHER NOTES • Wkat about "the ~elief that population, the needs of the states and the tax effort there eXISts a huge, s,lent vote which the state itself makes to meet its own problems. which had not voted previously Congressman William Brock (R-Tenn.) introduced but which, under the right conditions, would emerge 1M similar legislation this past summer for education pro a new balance of power in Presidenti4l election?" It grams only. was "proved false" says the Republican National Com mittee in an impressive and detailed 75 page breakdown SPEAKING George Bush, unsuccessful Re of the results of the 1964 election issues ,n October. The publican Senate candidate in report also demonstrates that President Johnson would OUT IN Texas last year, has lashed out have won a landslide victory even if Senator Goldwater TEXAS against right wing extremists and had held the GOP vote in line. has asked- for "a ~ttern of re • Former Republican Congressman Don C. Bruce sponsible Republican leadership in the future," The has resigned as Chairman of the American Conservative conservative oilman, son of former Senator Prescott Bush Union. Bruce asserted that the heavy demands of the of Connecticut, said several months ago that he was job were responsible for his withdrawal, but the Balti wrong not to speak out sooner against groups such more Sun reported that the real reason was a disagree as the John Birch Societ)'. "I didn't say anything be ment among the group's leaders stemming from Bruce's cause I was afraid of 10slOg votes. I am now ashamed attendance at a Chicago conservative meeting where a for not speaking out •. ," Bush also attacked "smutty, White Citizen's Council was represented. poorly written and vindictively written paperback books that can only backfire against the Republican Party," • Big business is becoming Democratic according He asked that the GOP broaden its base, clean out to a Fortune magazine study of the prestigious Business narrow and irresponsible members, and improve its civil Council. Sixty-three contributors who gave $20,000 to rights posture. "The purpose of politics is to eut people the Democrats and $165,110 to the GOP in 1960 gave in office," he said, "not to provide for philosophical $135,450 to the Democrats and only $87,100 to Repub debating societies," licans in 1964. AND IN "I said that a year ago," • When the Republican State Legislators Associa OREGON smiled Oregon'.s Governor Mark tion was formed, the Democrats decided that they must Hatfield relerrmg to recent at have one too. Now that venture has scraped against tacks by GOP leaders on the John BirCh Society. The the rocks of political in-fighting, with a splinter group Party spurned his keynote plea to reject such extemists called the National Association of Democratic Legislat at the 1964 convention. Now Hatfield hopes that ors breaking away from the main body and electing within another year his most recent recommendation its own chairman. "Embarrassing and ridiculous" was will be accepted: "If I were national chairman, I would the comment of one Democratic State Senator, but the tell segregationists running under the Republican label new chairman of the rump group announced pointedly they are not Republicans," he says. Hatfield is ex that he was "pleased to be elected unanimously." pected to seek the Senate seat now held by Mrs. Maurine • The rash of books by former aides to the late Neuberger Solomon, who plans not to run for re-election President Kennedy have had their ex~ed impact: 74% in 1966. Democratic Congresswoman Edith Green is a of the people polled in a recent article in the Saturdal likely Hatfield opponent. Evening Post ilisagreed with the pr0s:.s~tion that Presi- dent Johnson is doing a better job JFK. OPPORTUNITY Squabbling within Minnesota's Democratic - Farmer - Labor Party • In a show of generosity towlWd the Democratic IN promises big openin~ for the en PlWty exceeded onll. by his vendetta a$ainst John Lindsay MINNESOTA ergetic state Republican Party in in New York, William F. Buckley IS reported to have 1966. Demoralized by a recent contributed $50 to the successful campaign of Democrat controversy over the advisability of allowing incumbent Donald J. Irwin against former moderate Republican Gov. Rolvaag to seek another term, the DFL faces a Congressman Abner Sibal in Connecticut. Buckley has renewed Republican organization which recendy sub often admitted his preference for liberal Democrats over stantiated its moderate credentials by obtaining a court Liberal Republicans. order prohibiting the use of the party label by a right • Robert Taft, Jr., narrowly defeated in his U.S. wing splinter group. Former Gov. Elmer Andersen Senate race last year, desJ?ite running over a million (now chairman of the Council of Republican Organiza votes ahead of the Republican national ticket in Ohio, tions), Congressman Clark MacGregor and retired Gen. will reportedly run for Congress in the Cincinnatti Dis Lauris Norstad are among the possible G.O.P. candi trict next year. This could lead to another Senate race dates for the Governorship or the Senate seat now held in 1968 or 1970 - and possibly a presidential bid in by Walter Mondale. 1972. Or so runs the long range strategy. LBJ PLUS Who would deny the accuracy • A host of autumn surveys shows that President 007 EQUALS of that formula? Certa~y not Johnson is maintaining an unusually high level of sup the beleagured Democratic Na port. The most significant statistic - one which sur $ $ $ tional Committee which hopes to prises and discourages many Republicans - is that his cut away at a reported $2 million campaign debt by support is highest (70%) in the 21 to 29 age group. 5 party for control of the~. Things ~ what th~ Around the Country are, such a batde is both legitimate and unportant,' IN THE The Republican condition in he says. California may be improved con Some groups are active, Perry goes on, and some GOLDEN siderably if two new wou,ps can are "paper tigers." What about the Ripun Society? It STATE be effective. The Califorrua Re- is "the most vigorous • • • of the moderate Republican publican League, formed after groups." And Ripon is listed, along with Republicans the disaster of November 1964, now has over 50 chap MORE • Ripon Executive Boa r d ters in operation. It has denounced the John BirCh LOCAL member and Harvard Law student Society, sup-ported and endorsed vigorous enforcement Ted Curtis received attention this of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights NEWS summer as a possible Congres- Act of 1965, and attacked "the utter lack of a con sional candidate in Maine's Sec structive program in any field" under the Democratic ond District. "While the immediate reaction is to administration of Governor Brown in California. poo-poo Curtis solely because of his age," wrote P'>: The Ripon Society of Southern California has litical columnist Donald C. Hansen in the Portland begun operations. Based in Los Angeles, the group Sunday Telegram, "closer scrutiny reveals that he might is offerin~ all Republicans receptive to new ideas the fill the bill . • • Curtis would at least illustrate that the OpportuDlty to use its research talents and legal exper GOP can attract the young, the articulate and the tise as it seeks to bring new vitality to the California energetic ..•" Ted doUbts that he will run .but hopes GOP. Contact Edward J. McAniff, 433 South Spring that he can be of assistance to a strong moderate can St., Los Angeles, California. didate in opposing the incumbent Democrat. • Nat Emmons was recently appointed ResellTch AND • Over the last few months Director of the Ripon Society, Boston Chapter. Nat ELSEWHERE a group known as the National replaces John Price who has entered law p!actice in Council of Republican Work New York. Stuart PlITsons has been appointeel Program shops has been implementing a program to stir new Chairman of the Ripon Society for the coming yellT. activity and interest in the GOP at the local level. The • In the Septeinber-October FORUM we reported president of the Council, Bennett A. Webster, Jr. of that Robert Patncelli of Harvard Law School, a mem Des Moines, Iowa, has recently received an encouraging ber of the Ripon Society, had been selected as a White endorsement for his plan from National Chairman Ray House Fellow. To thiS good news we joyfully add Bliss, and with this send-off the workshop idea has that Richard deNeufville of M.I.T., also a Ri~n mem come into its own as a recognized adjunct of Repub ber has received that high honor. It is pleastng to all lican rebuilding efforts. The goal of the group 15 to Ripon members that two of our num&er should be attract as many people as possible to the Republican among the fifteen outstanding young men who were Party through sponsorship of interesting diScussion selected from 3000 applicants to participate in this meetings in locaf homes. • The Republican Governors' Association has an program. . Ed· D! n' EI . • Thomas E. Petr" itor 0t IUPO section nounced the appointment of Miss Sally Saltonstall, '64, is now law clerk for Judge ames R. Doyle in niece of Massachusetts Senator Leverett Saltonstall, the Federal Court for the Western District Of Wis as research coordinator for their Washington office. consin. Tim is t!eparing a Ripon resellTch paper deal Massachusetts Republicans remember the talent and ing with the civtl rights of the mentally ill. energy that Miss saltonstall put into the New Hampshire • On October 20th the Ripon Society hosted a primary campaign of Henry Cabot Lodge ana the meeting for prospective memberS. A Group of over Massachusetts Senate campaign of George Lodge in seventr heard a Ripon panel discuss the political situa 1962. We congratulate the Governors and their new tions 10 New York, New Jersey, Virgirua and on the research coodinator on the appc>intment. West Coast. • The Oregon Council for Constructive Repub • Peter Wallison has been appointed publisher of licanism continues to contribute to responsible GOP the Forum. Any requests for subscriptions, or contri government by sponsoring a "Conference on Urban butions and ideas should be addressed to him c/o The Development" for December 3 and 4. The meeting will Ripon Society. be held- at Lewis and Clark College and will bring to gether political leaders, educators, and interested citi THE RIPON SOCIETY is a Republican research and zens to prepare position papers on taxation, govern policy organization composed of young members of the business, professional and academic communities. The mental organization, and expanding urban opportunities. Society seeks to rally the energies and talents of thinking The OCCR may be reached through John B. Talmadge, young people to the cause of constructive Republicanism. 7300 Southwest Brier Place, Portand, Oregon. It strives to generate creative discussion which will pro For Progress on the left and the Free Society Association duce a bold and persuasive Republican polley posture. and the American Conservative Union on the right, as The Society seeks a broad base of 1lnancial support one of the more "important groups." "Despite all for its activities. It offers the following options to those who wish to subscribe to its publications and support the talk," the article concludes, "these are the only its programs: groups that really count." Subscribing member $10 annual contribution. Contributing member $25 or more annually. News From Sustaining member $100 or more annually. the Ripon Society Founding member $1000 or more annually. UYIGOROUS" "So called 'splinter groups' All members will receive the monthly newsletter AND aren't splinters at all," writes and frequent research papers. Won't you forward your UIMPORTANT" James M. Perry, of The National subscription today? Observer in an in-depth study of Republican citizens THE RIPON SOCIETY organizations. "All of them are fighting within the P.O. Box 188, Cambridge, Mass. 02138
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