RIPON The New Right

December 15, 1977 VOL. XIII, No. 24 50 cents

.,.. e •• ~ ...... Commentary: Conservatives WHY ARE THEY DESTROYING THE GOP?

Anyone wishing to understand why marked for such treatment. While she American parties are in trouble should champions the crusade against the Equal examine the New Right movement in Amer­ Rights Amendment, Phyllis Schlafly is ica. It seeks to extend its influence often rumored to be a potential oppon­ within the Republican Party at the same ent to Sen. Charles Percy(R-Ill.) On­ time it undermines the party and seeks ly Oregon Sen. Mark O. Hatfield seems a bipartisan conservative' coalition. thus far to have escaped a serious chal­ lenge. Recently, a group of eight Republi­ can senators wrote Republican National There is a certain ethereal quality Chairman Bill Brock to complain about to the new conservative attacks on Re­ the New Right's tactics in seeking to publican progressives. First, the chal­ depose Republican incumbents in next lengers they are backing have little . year's GOP primaries. They were dis­ real chance of winning the general elec­ turbed by fundraising letters support­ tion. The prime motive for their candi­ ing the Senate candidacies of Jeff Bell dacies must inevitably be seen as the de­ in New Jersey and Avi Nelson in Massa­ struction of the party's progressive wing chusetts. The Bell letter (sent by U.S. ---a group most notably represented in Rep. John Ashbrook) attacked Sen. Clif­ the U.S. Senate. EVen the well-publicized ford Case's liberal record, stating: "potential" candidacy of Phyllis Schlafly ... we conservatives have failed in has to be taken with a grain of aspirin; the past to get aggressive candidates she has made no visible moves to "organ­ into races for congressional seats ize" in Illinois and would be naturally early enough for victory. This sin­ leary of jeopardizing the purported pop­ gle mistake has cost innumerable con­ ularity of her anti-ERA movement by los­ servatives any chance of winning. ing a primary to Percy. Conservatives nationally have rec­ ognized this error.and are rapi~ly Second, the New Right has a tenuous moving to correct ~t. Nowhere ~s loyalty to the GOP. One of Schlafly's this more evident than in New Jersey, most prominent boosters has been the Com­ and the defeat of a leading liberal mittee for the Survival of a Free Con­ senator in that state is an exciting gress, one of several New Right politi­ possibility. cal action funds which have stressed The Nelson letter attacking Sen. Ed the necessity to work outside the exist­ Brooke of Massachusetts maintained a ing Republican Party structure and sup­ similar thread of attack:"To Ed Brooke, port conservative Democrats such as U.S. the Republican Party and the Re~ubli­ Rep. Larry McDonald(D-Ga.). CSFO is one can Party's principles just don t seem of many New Right accounts handled by to matter." Another letter promoting the godfather of the New Right, direct radio personality Nelson's candidacy mail mastermind Richard Viguerie. Viguer'­ was sent out under the signature of ie is perhaps the New Right·s most vocal U.S.Rep, Steve Symms(R-Idaho). critic of the Republican Party. His stepchildren---theNational Conservative Virtually every Republican moderate­ Political Action Committee, Gun Owners progressive up for reelection in 1978 of America, the ,Committee for Responsi­ seems to have been targeted for elimina­ ble Youth Politics, and the Public Se~­ tion. Prior to his retirement announce­ vice Political Action Committee---tend ~ent, Sen. James Pearson(R-Kansas) was to reflect his influence. And his influ- ,

ence is great because the New Right de­ country's jingoistic past, not in the pends to a remarkable degree on ~he post-colonialism present. By tying money generated by Viguerie's lists of the Republican Party to a foreign poli­ potential contributors. It was esti­ cy of the past by opposing a turnover mated by the Associated Press' Don Mc­ of the Canal and rejecting normaliza­ Leod last summer that Viguerie is re­ tion of relations with the Peoples Re­ sponsible for 70 percent of the coun­ public of China, the conservatives will try's political direct mail. But much simply drive out the remaining moderates of the funds collected by Viguerie are and liberals, thus narrowing even fur­ siphoned off for his operation. Accord­ ther the party's already dangerously ing to Scripps-Howard's Tim Wyngaard shrunken base. close to $7 million of the $7.8 million raised by three of Viguerie's far right Columnists Jack W. Germond and Jules groups in 1975-76 went for overhead wit cover have also written extensively much of it Viguerie's overhead. Th~t's on the efforts of U.S.Rep. Phil Crane, a lot of overhead that isn't of any di­ Sen. Orin Hatch, Conservative Caucus rect benefit to Republicans of any ideo­ director Howard Phillips, et al to logical persuasion. What Viguerie says block the proposed treaties, Writing carries a lot of postage. last August, the columnists observed: Under Howard Baker, a likely rival The growth of the New Right and its to (Ronald Reagan) in 1980 presidential fundraising offshoots is partly a re­ politics, the Senate Republicans have flection of the demise of traditional shown a remarkable ability to put aside party politics. Pare organizations are their differences for the higher purpos no longer the repositories of political of thwarting the Democratic administra­ cash that they once were. Fundraising tion so far this year. is increasingly candidate-centered as But what they must decide in this hew limitations on individual contribu­ case is whether a display of party mus­ tions have limited the pool of resources. cle is as important as a showing of As a result, the pool of small contribu­ political responsibility. And what tions available through Richard Viguer­ those with national ambitions, a group ie's computers has grown enormously in not limited to Baker, also must decide importance. And this pool of contribu­ is whether they risk the enmity of the tors is primarily responsive to appeals conservative groups that are the single about emotional issues. Fortunately, most potent force in their party •••• people do not vote the way they spend What is notably absent from all money. Therefore, the victories of these calculations is any discussion of Viguerie-style conservatives tend to the merits of the agreements with Pana­ be concentrated in states like Utah ma---or, more to the point, an alterna­ where a little money can go a long way tive to simple approval or disapproval for a candidate like Sen. Orrin Hatch. of that agreement ••• A favorite trigger for New Right Much of the conservatives' pressure contributions is the Panama Canal. It cooker strategy has been directed at is true that the New Rieht's position Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker Jr. is currently superficially popular, but who has refused to take a position on it contains the seeds of a future nation­ the treaties until next year. As a re­ al and partisan disaster for the GOP, as sult, Baker had the· target of a news­ New York Daily News columnist James paper campaign intended to convince Ten­ Wieghart has pointed out: nessee voters that only the state's sen­ Even if the Canal treaties are rati­ ior senator can prevent ratification of fied by the Senate, the conservatives the canal treaties. The American Con­ will be helped more than hurt. The servative Union followed up this media angry, rock-throwing demonstrations blitz with an airplane-towed banner over by left-wing Panamanian students who the University of Tennessee versus Mem­ think the treaties do not go far phis State University football game in enough in Panama's favor show that a early November:"KEEP OUR CANAL---WRITE gradual turnover of the Canal to Pana­ SENATOR BAKER." At one point Jesse ma will not end the anti-U.S. agitation Helms suggested that Baker was "squirm­ in Panama. Conservatives will be able ing like a worm on a hot brick," but to exploit this and the strong, emo­ later backed off from his statement. tional "giveaway" issue to rally their forces over the next several years. Baker's position contradicts conven­ In the long run, however, the Canal tional conservative logic that opposi­ is a no-win proposition for the con­ tion to the treaties is a conservative servatives because it is rooted in this boon and that support for them is a conservative bane---one that could cost and conservatives to ride. My guess is Baker the 1980 presidential nomination. that the amount of heat latent in the troeaties issue is overestimated ... And Baker, however, has stood firm on in truth, voting the treaties up or his non-position. It may be much bet­ down is not going to decide the fate ter politics than his conservativecri­ of our country or of the Canal." tics ever imagined. Writing recently in the New York Times, Tom Wicker ob­ More responsible national Republi­ served: can leaders like Brock, Baker, and House If the treaties are ratified, what Minority Leader John J. Rohdes recogn­ good would it do Republicans for their ize that emphasis on the canal is mis­ Senate leader to go down with a small placed even though they themselves band of bitter-ende~s? And if the doubt the treaties' wisdom. And so, treaties are defeated, it wouldn't Rhodes, Baker, and Brock inevitably necessarily be in the party's best in­ will be new targets for conservative terest to have the major responsibil­ wrath. It may even affect conserva­ ity appear to rest on Republican sena­ tive enchantment with former Treasury tors and their leader. Remember the Secretary John Connally, who has had League of Nations? the temerity to suggest that the If, moreover, defeat of the treaties canal need not be an overriding is- should lead, as predicted, to violence sue in state elections and that the and sabotage---even guerrilla warfare GOP ought to concern itself with ---in the Canal Zone, Republicans issues which concern people as well might be saddled with much of the as ideology. blame. The party's national committee already has come out against the trea­ But as conservative pollster Ar­ ties; for Mr. Baker to refrain from thur Finkelstein observed at last win­ doing so maintains at least some bal­ ter's national conservative political ance among Republican 1eade~s, action conference in Washington,"It possibly an escape hatch from what is not reality that counts so much as might be, a year from now, an untenable the perception of reality." And right political position. now the conservatives' perception of And as a Presidential candidate, reality is that the canal is their Mr. Baker won't really hurt himself by meal ticket. establishing the idea that he won't knuckle under to transient political GOP Conservatives are blinded by no­ moods and movements. tions of short-term political gain. The The problem, as Baker himself has said, canal may save the political shirts of is to avoid the cannibalization of the southern diehards like Jesse "Senator GOP over the treaty issue. "We really No" Helms (as the FORUM noted in its must not cannibalize our party. We're October I issue), but the party will not big enough," Baker told an ABC-TV carry a heavy responsibility if the interview panel. treaties are defeated and deleterious consequences ensue. In commenting on Commenting on the right ~dng' s pre­ Ripon's analysis of the impact of the occupation with the Canal, conservative Panama controversy on the South, The columnist George Will wrote in October: Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David "No party can rely heavily on an issue Nordan observed that GOP congressional that is peripheral to the broad range candidate Newt Gingrich has been in­ of concrete interests of the general fected by the Panama bug in his efforts public. Unfortunately, the warm Republi­ to once again unseat U.S.Rep. John Flynt. can embrace of the canal issue suggests Gingrich, a bright light in the Georgia that they value it not least because it GOP, has appointed himself chairman of delays the evil day when they must con­ "Georgians Against the Panama Canal Trea­ front the poverty of Republican doctrine ty." Writes Nordan: regarding the public's more central This is an odd role for the profes­ interests." Wills' view is echoed by sor, who should know better than any­ National Review columnist James Burn­ one how Teddy Roosevelt stole the can­ ham, who wrote recently: "The dispute al and the international crisis the over the treaties is in considerable united States will face if the treaty degree factitious. Everyone realizes fails. that the momentum of the campaign It's hard to see how he hopes to against ratification derives less from gain any mileage on the issue against objective analysis of the treaties' de­ Flynt, who is as capable as anyone of fects than from the belief that it is recognizing political expediency when a hot political issue for RepUblicans he needs it. And Gingrich's frenzy of Republican patriotism may cost him ection. Fortunately, NCPAC's damage some of the young liberal and black was minimized and Dalton went on to votes which have kep him a viable if win a smashing victory. unsuccessful, political figure in these parts up to now. But Dalton himself was not able to capitalize on his own heritage as Among the constituent parts of the a leader of moderate Republicans in anti-treaty coalition is the National Virginia with a record of moderation Conservative political Action Commit­ on racial issues. But elsewhere in tee. NCPAC could write a primer on how the South, black voters' importance to to undermine the Republican Party and Republicans was clearly demonstrated in anyone requiring enlightenment on the three other prestigious posts won NCPAC's political sagacity has only by Republicans in 1977. All three to look as far as NCPAC's role in its courted black voters. All three were home state: Virginia. NCPAC and its moderate Republicans. And two of the Virginia offshoot, VCPAC, are truly bi­ three ran without substantial party partisan. In 1975, they supported a support. .-. conservative Democrat against a conser­ vative Republican for a State Senate Ken Harris, for example, is the new seat from Alexandria, The Republican mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. He won, ("I think we support too many Re­ was the upset victor by a landslide 3-2 publican candidates," NCPAC official margin over the incumbent Democrat. He Terry DDlan told U.S.News & World Re­ received little help, however, from the Pbrt earlier this year, noting that ultraconservative local Republican or­ a out half the candidates it backed in ganization, relying primarily on his Virginia were Democrats.) own network of business, civic and GOP volunteers. Significantly, the only other citywide GOP winner, progressive In this year's gubernatorial contest, Councilwoman-at-large Pat Locke, also NCPAC, VCPAC and an offshoot known as ran without organization help. The con­ Independent Virginians for Responsible servative council candidate who had such Government did their best to doom Lt. help lost. The victories of Locke and Gov. John Dalton's chances of winning Harris stand out as exceptions to the the gubernatorial race. By September, pernicious influence of Sen. Jesse Helms Democrat Henry Howell was doing a su­ over the North Carolina GOP these days. perb job of rhetorical overkill on Dalton and moderate votes were swing- The Helms mentality was evident in ing the conservative Dalton's directiono Virginia where State Sen. Joe Canada(R) Such political fortune is beyond the attempted to run for lieutenant gover­ poor taste of people like Terry Dolan nor by traversing the Panama Canal. He (chairman of IVRG, VCPAC and NCPAC), was soundly defeated by Democrat Charles David Keene(former Reagan operative who Robb. Canada's fellow state senator, is treasurer of VCPAC and IVRG), and Marshall Coleman, started out much far­ Roger Stone(who was secretary of IVRG ther behind in the polls than Canada in and treasurer of NCPAC, and is chairman his race for attorney general. Coleman of the Young Republican National Fed­ lacked even the endorsement of Republi­ eration. ) can Gov. Mills Godwin, who backed his former associate in the old Byrd Machine, NCPAC sponsored a fundraising let­ State Delegate Edward Lane. The latter's ter under U.S.Rep. Kenneth Robinson's segregationist past proved his undoing signature which misrepresented Howell's though Godwin offered a lame post-elec­ position on school busing. The letter tion excuse for Lane's loss:" ... he was allowed Howell to counterattack on the perceived in the public mind as too issue of irresponsible charges. The close to Mr. Howell." The wide dispar­ second IVRG venture was television ad­ ity in the two Democrats' views had, in vertising critical of Howell. The ads fact, spawned the term "rainbow ticket" were so defamatory and deceptive that to describe the Democratic slate. several stations refused to run them; eventually Dalton requested their By contrast, Mitch McConnell had the withdrawl. The IVRG ads "have only benefit of a united Republican organiza­ given Henry Howell an opportunity to tion in his victory over Jefferson County martyr himself ••• This kind of indepen­ Judge Todd Hollenbach in Kentucky. As a dent negative advertising is unneces­ former county GOP leader, McConnell was sary and counterproductive,"said Dalton. himself an experienced political tacti­ These tactics almost reversed the cian. His campaign was a model of good tide that was flowing in Dalton's dir- organization, good advertising and good I fundraising. McConnell's election was a with other stars and non-stars in atten­ "time-for-a-change" type victory. It nev­ dance. No, at the IWY convention, Sch1af- ertheless eliminated Hollenbach as a ser­ 1y would not have been the star. She ious contender for the Democratic nomina­ said she didn't attend because she wasn't tion for governor in 1979. Had he won welcome, but she didn't attend the IWY his election as mayor of Lexington, for­ conference in Illinois either, where mer State Sen. Joe Graves(R) might also ally Rosemary Thomson was elected as a have become a serious candidate for high­ delegate. er Kentucky office, but unlike McConne11~ he did not have a united GOP organiza­ On the convention floor, the only tion. Graves' progressive politics ap­ anti-feminist to really attract atten­ parently rubbed so~e conservative hides tion was Indiana State Sen. Joan M. Gub­ the wrong way. McConnell, however, will bins, the "pro-family" floor leader. probably be a serious contender for gov­ The names of Republican feminist leaders ernor in 1979 or, more probably, 1983. present a broader cross-section of the And Coleman seems a logical choice for party than Sch1af1y would have the me­ the GOP gubernatorial nod in Virginia dia to understand. As the Washington in 1981. Post's David Broder noted: Because the women's movement in its Coleman, of course, will have op­ early years was symbolized by liberal position from within the Virginia GOP Democrats like Gloria Steinem, the im­ in achieving any such goal. The prob­ pression has been that Republicans lem was aptly summarized in an editor­ have little part of it. But that im­ ial in the Raleigh News and Observer. pression is no longer accurate---as Commenting on the recent GOP southern evidenced by the involvement here of conference at Disneyland, the paper former First Lady Betty Ford, current noted: Republican National Committee Cochair­ Southern RepUblicans have difficul­ man Mary Krisp, former National Chair­ ty recognizing the difference between man Mary Louise Smith, and former Co­ being conservative and being obsolete. chairman E11y Peterson, along with When Rep. Robin Beard of Tennessee de­ more than 250 Republican grass-roots clared at Orlando that "I'm a right­ delegates and alternates. wing, hard-core, conservative reac­ Her leadership role may cost Krisp her tionaryl" the crowd rose to its feet job. Party conservatives are upset at to applaud. It was almost an echo of her active espousal of women's rights. the defiant shouts from San Francisco's Krisp would have to fall in the cate­ Cow Palace in 1964 when Nelson Rocke­ ijory of people that Sch1af1y labels feller, George Romney and William misfits and oddballs." But as Mary Scranton were being put down. So much Louise Smith says,"Phy11is Sch1af1y is for breadth. not a role model for Republican women." Sch1af1y seeks to influence the party The same weekend in Houston, the Re­ primarily from without. Her only real publican on whom most of the media was competition for the "anti" limelight is focusing was Phyllis Sch1af1y. She was leading her lily-white gathering of 9,000 Anita Bryant. And as Sch1af1y admitted plus "antis" against the goals being en­ in an interview with the FORUM, she and dorsed by a more representative coali­ Bryant have never met. That is under­ tion of women attending the International standable since Sch1af1y is to the "anti" Women's Year Conference in the same city. movement what Ronald Reagan is to con­ In essence, Sch1af1y chose to switch servative presidential hopes: the in­ rather than fight her battles on the dispensable word machine. floor of the IWY convention. She never The two clarion calls heeded most attended the convention where she would energetically by conservatives this have had to compete for media attention year are opposition to ERA and the

is a Republican research and to the editor is welcomed. (Ripon FORUM, Box 226, Charlestown, THE RIPON SOCIETY , INC • policy organization whose Mass. 02129.) members are young business, academic and. professional men and In publishing this magazine the Ripon Society seeks to provide women. It has national headquarters in District of Columbia, a forum for fresh ideas, well-researched proposals and for a spirit chapters in fifteen cities, National Associate members throughout of criticism, innovation, and independent thinking within the Re­ the fifty states, and several afliliated groups of subchapter status. publican Party. Articles do not necessarily represent the opinion The Society is supported by chapter dues, individual contribu­ of the National Governing Board or the Editorial Board of the tions and revenues from its publications and contract work. Ripon Society, unless they are explicitly so labelled. SUBSCRIPTION RATES aer $15 a year, $7.50 for students, serv­ is published semi-monthly by the icemen, and for Peace Corps, Vista and other volunteers. Overseas THE RIPON FORUM Ripon Society, Inc., SOO 18th St., N.W .. air mail, $6 extra. Advertising rates on request. Please allow Washington, D.C. 20006. Second class postage rates paid at five weeks for address changes. Washington, D.C. and other mailing oflices. Contents are copy­ Editor: Dick Behn righted «:l 1976 by the Ripon Society, Inc. Correspondence addressed Technical Editor: Brian J. McCarthy Panama Canal treaties. By certain Sperling observed: "Republican leaders weird gyrations of logic, these two from all regions of the U.S. have told movements have adopted "pro-family" the Monitor---in private conversations and "patriotic" banners---thus in­ and not for attribution---that they see sinuating that their opponents are a coalescing of conservatives, most be­ anti-family and unpatriotic. Admit­ hind Ronald Reagan, and that this is put tedly, conservatives have seized on ting a new strain on the uneasy relation two hOt issues. The nature of hot ship that exists between the conserva­ issues---particu1ar1y conservative tives and moderates in the party. Thus ones like hard hat opposition to the while GOP leadership in Washington is "peaceniks" and anti-busing militants seeking to pull the party elements to­ ---is that their impact is relative­ gether and reach out to independents ly short-lived. and Democrats, Republicans at the state level admit that strong forces are pre­ Those conservatives, for example, venting this strategy from making much who seek to capitalize on Avi Nelson's progress." anti-busing leadership in Massachu­ setts might meditate on the fate of Having failed to kill the Republi­ Louise Day Hicks in the 1977 Boston can Party overtly, New Right conserva­ City Council elections. The anti­ tives are now pursuing their mission busing matriarch lost. At the same in a less direct, but equally insidi­ time, they might consider the elec­ ous fashion. Commenting on the letter tion of Republican Mitch McConnell signed by the eight GOP senators, New as judge of Jefferson County, Kentucky. Right guru Kevin Phillips argued:"The He eschewed the busing bandwagon de­ simple fact is that GOP conservative spite the strong opposition to the activists do not accept any common use of busing in desegregating Louis­ view or interest with the Percy-Case ville schools. element. Nor do they want to be ham­ strung by a label that tries to create The problem with the issues on community where there is none." which the New Right seeks to capital­ ize is that important "people" issues The New Right is making its own are ignored. This poin~ was made by new community by creating a coalition Daniel Joy, a former aide to former Sen. of interest groups outside the GOP. James L. Buckley, in an article pub­ New Times' Andrew Kopkind reported lished in the Nation last January:"The this phenomenon in an article in Sep­ Viguerie people address only those is­ tember and noted that Paul Russo was sues which tend to stir up hostilities GOP national political director Charles among lower-midd1e-c1ass whites. But Black's liaison to this coalition. The they never address the most important Group Research Report says this new concerns of middle-class Americans of coalition has'alreadY sent out its all co1ors---job1essness and income se­ first fundraisin~ appeal. But why--­ curity. That is what really matters outside of Black s and Stone's inf1u­ to these peop1e---economic issues. And ence---shou1d the GOP contribute to these are the very issues on which the its own destruction by cooperating 'New Right' people say they are willing with groups that have a stated inter­ to compromise." And these are the very est in the party's destruction? which the New Right's prophet of Repub­ lican gloom, Kevin Phillips, says are It is cannibalism, noted Senators important to American voters, Unfor­ Charles McC. Mathias,'Jr; Jacob K. Jav­ tunately, says Phillips, the GOP never its; Henry Be11mon, John Heinz, Mal­ does well when economic issues are par­ colm Wallop; Mark O. Hatfield; Robert amount. T. Stafford, and Edward W. Brooke. They asked:"Why have we, as a party, Ironically, it is on the economic steadily lost the confidence of the issues that Republicans have shown the American people and become in danger greatest ability to compromise and of forfeiting our standing as a national agree---as Senate Republicans did ear­ party? Simply put, the majority of lier this year on their economic-tax Americans no longer regard the Republi­ plan. It is on foreign policy and so­ can Party as willing or able to repre­ cial issues on which they have the hard­ sent the rich diversity of opinion in est time reaching consensus. And the our country. The Republican Party is New Right is conveniently using these not generally perceived as having a sym­ issues to press its own interests while pathetic ear for programs which the ma­ torpedoing the GOP. In a recent column, jority of Americans is certain are vi­ the Christian Science Monitor's Godfrey tal to its well being." Amen. X -/

Commentary: Conservatives THE PROBLEM WITH PURISTS by John B. Anderson

I wish with a partisan ferver matched its own country that could have so ne­ only by the mythical "little old Republi­ glected the ethnic groups, after they can lady in tennis shoes," that the pic­ first began to pull away to A1 Smith in ture were brighter. But, alas, it is 1928, and imagined that they could b~ not. The GOP is down on its luck, and permanently brought back into the fold if we'r.e going to rectify the situation, by trumpery appeals to 'ethnic heritage" we must first own up to it. As columnist in the late 1960s. It is only a party George will says,"the foremost conserva­ ignorant of its country that could have tive virtue is prudence, which involves failed for so long to appeal to the fun­ facing facts." Let us face facts. damental conservatism of the working class in any country ..... Having said that, I hasten to ob­ serve that I cannot be sure, for myself, In his book Nixon Agonistes, Garry of all the reasons for our party's de­ Wills recalls the plight of a hapless cline over the past 35-40 years. My monk in an obscure tale called Cardinal limitations in this respect remind me De Bernis. It seems the monk had devel­ of the words of Robert Lowell: oped a strong attachment for the cleric, But sometimes everything I write who responded by often inviting him to with the threadbare art of my eye dinner: seems a snapshot, ••• but as the friar was so humble, lurid, rapid, garish, grouped, (goes the story) the rules of pro­ heightened from life, tocol required him to sit at the yet paralyzed by fact. bottom of the table, far removed from his host. So Bernis said to Nevertheless, I will hazard some him:IIWhen I do this (putting his thoughts about our party's current state. finger to his nose) you can know I In part, I am certain, the most recent am thinking of you." And ever and push toward extinction has been caused anon during the banquet he would by Watergate. And also, I tend to think be seen to glance down the table that the expanding chasm that separates along the profiles in serried rows Republicans and the nation's profession­ of gobbling cardinals and scintil­ al communities is partially responsible lating duchesses, to make his lit­ for our present state. It is a gap, as tle signal to the poor old m~~ just one analyst has noted, that "first be­ visible through the forest of can­ gan to open when Theodore Roosevelt left dles. And then the face of the party ranks to form his Bull Moose move­ poor toothless friar would be ment in 1912. It was accentuated dur­ transfigured with joy. ing the 1920s and widened further during Sometimes I feel that the GOP plays too the New Deal. It was fixed most firmly much the role of the Cardinal to the by the McCarthy experience of the early voters' IIpoor toothless friar. II There 1950s. It is a gulf which as Walter is far too much distance between the Lippmann has written is "at the root of party and the people. the RepubLican decline." There are doubtless a host of Then, too, I detect a glimmer of en­ other factors that have conspired to during accuracy to an observation made sap our party's strength, factors that at the 1940 Republican Convention by the I have overlooked. But there is one New Republic's Bruce Bliven: "In a dozen additional overriding factor common to ways the delegates to this convention all of these I've just mentioned, a showed their dominating emotion was factor in this ruinous equation that I, hatred---hatred of Roosevelt, hatred of for one, feel is a key to our present the New Deal, hatred, it almost seemed state and our future aspirations. It of the 20th Century." is related to "organizational arro­ gance,1I and I grieve for our party, for ":It is only a party ignorant of its it is a deadly flaw, a kind of hubris country," one contemporary journalist that is bound to drag us down, inexor­ has written, II that could have so disdain­ ably, toward extinction. ed, and thrown away, the black vote since it first began to lose it in Over the course of the past few 1928. It is only a party ignorant of years, the GOP has witnessed the growth of a faction which seeks to im­ This kind of fractious, fratricidal pose its will on the party as a whole, warfare---borne of an organizational ar­ a faction bent on driving out of the rogance that will turn the GOP into the party anyone who does not subscribe to nation's country club---is not only a its philosophy---anyone who, to quote morally-tragic, politically-foolhardy William Allen White in another context, course to follow in a nation as diverse is not "spiritually photogenic." as ours. It also runs counter to the grain of American history. Mind you, I am not speaking of my fellow Republicans whose philosophy The Republican Party, before it be­ may differ somewhat from, say, mine. came the "aginner" party of the New Nor am I speaking of the great majori­ Deal era, was a proud and creative force ty of Republicans whose dearly-held in America. Recall, in the 19th cen­ political views are leavened with a tury, that the nation's intellectual sense of tolerance, mutual respect, life was dominated and nurtured by Re­ and compassion. Rather I speak about publicans. As Nick Thimmesch has pointe the extremist, fringe elements who out in his book, The Condition of Re­ claim membership in our party, those publicanism, the giants of American arts who seek to expel the rest of us from and letters in the l800s were Republi­ the GOP using their own, arbitrary, cans: Emerson, Longfellow, Melville, philosophical purgative. Whittier, Lowell, Holmes, Parkman, and Whitman. In terms of public policy, I am speaking of what has become the Republicans provided the government known as the "New Right," as distin­ with the cutting edge that brought the guished from those who espouse the nation into the 20th century as the traditiQnal principles that many of us strongest, and at the same time, most respect and cherish. I am speaking of compassionate, on earth. The GOP was those who call themselves Republicans, responsible for much of the most impor­ but whose real allegiance appears to tant social legislation of the 19th lie with.organizations outside the par­ century: the Homestead Act, the Sher­ ty, whose apparent goal is to rob the man Anti-Trust Act, federal conserva­ party rather than revivify it, whose tion statutes, the Food and Drug Admin­ devotion to doctrine outstrips their istration, child labor laws, creation dedication to party. I am speaking, of the Department of Labor, and the to recall George will's words again, Norris-La Guardia Act(which limited of those whose ideology is "almost un­ federal injunctions against unions.) blemished by realism." Where is the party our 19th cen­ These are people who disdain the tury forebears? Where, I ask, is the healthy mix of competing political tolerance and balanced sense of public ideas, for whom politics is a battle, good that Madison justifiably fretted not a contest. In their distorted con­ over? In its place, there rests the struct of the political process, the perfervid arrogance---the "cathedral debate among well-intentioned men and mentality"---of those who commit the women of legitimately differing views extreme act of political presumptuous­ is'supposed to give way to the relent­ ness---the banishment from the Republi­ less espousal of hardline dogma. It can Party of all those who do not conse­ is the political application of the crate themselves to their political "smash-and-grab" technique of modern philosophy. "I am sick and tired," warfare. said Gerald Ford recently,"of those who want to prove they are purer of philos­ In a system that functions by "ma­ ophy." So am I .• jority rule," it is ironic indeed that certain elements of the minority party Contributor Note: This article is ex­ would seek to drive others from their cerpted from a speech given by U.S. midst, thereby preserving their minor­ Rep. John Anderson, chairman of the' ity status. Irony or no, it is true. House Republican Conference, at a con­ In a display of hard-edged intolerance, ference of Michigan Republicans on a small, willful group of rigid, right­ September 18. Anderson himself has wing Republicans is trying to write off been targeted for elimination by New the rest of us, to "cleanse" the party Right groups and faces a vigorous' of all those who commit the ultimate primary challenge from the Rev. Donald apostasy of disagreeing with them. M. Lyon in Illinois' 16th C.D. RIPON FORUM Published semi-monthly by the Ripon Society, 800 18th St., N.W., Washing­ ton, D.C. 20006. Second class postage paid at Washington, D.C. and other mailing offices.