REN EW TODAY

\PRlL 1, 1976 VOL. XII, No. 7 50 CENTS

AMERICAN POLYRHYTHMS COMMEITABY: CABTER by Dick Behn

It is no longer as simple as ABC. Jimmy Carter has no such problems. He wants to be 'Carter seems no longer vulnerable to an Anybody­ President, he's not ashamed of it, and he But-Carter Movement. That tells a lot about has an unwavering faith in his ability to Jimmy Carter and a lot about the polyrhythms win election. that govern American politics. Furthermore. Carter has amazing good Jimmy Carter has combined his ambition luck in his opportunity cycle, which has stead­ opportunity and press relations cycles in a ily climbed upward in ways which would have unique way. He's done so without bothering seemed improbable a year ago. First, the to tell. the public what he expects to do as failure of any liberal Democrat to emerge as President. It seems enough to know that the hero of the McGovern wing of the party left Jimmy Carter has a pleasant smile, a sincere a large opening for Carter. Second, the con­ disposition, and a Horatio Alger background; tinued stubborn presence of George Wallace on, it seems too much to ask about the specifics the party's right provided Carter with a con-:­ of Carter's planned reorganization of the fed­ venient straw man to knock down and thus cul­ eral.government. For that, the nation must tivate a dragon-slayer image. Not only was wait for Carter's planned inaugural and be. defeating Wallace a good deed for the party yond. Columnist William Raspberry, usually which earned Carter a lot of brownie points, a thoughtful observer, suggested recently that but such dragon-slaying bolstered Carter's such specifics w~re unnecessary and uncalled electabiiity quotient. George Wallace, his im­ for. Somehow it seems that less stringent age fuzzied by critiques of his' administration ,criteria are being used to select Presidents of Alabama, his vigor slowed by confinement to than are used to select members of local school a wheelchair, and his appeal dul-led by the sub­ boards~ It is hard to imagine electing a sidence of the busing issue outside Massachus­ school board candidate who proposed to reor­ etts, was the perfect Carter foil. Third, the ganize 20 schools into five institutions with~ mood of the electorate fed Carter's candidacy-­ out inquiring how such a feat might be accom­ ~--the·absence of burning issues, public dis­ plished. enchantment with Washington, disillusionment with the politics of promising, apathy about Still, Jimmy Carter has taken his sin­ "tired" political names; and the ascendancy cerity a long way. When Carter began his pres­ of electability over ideology in the voting idential q~est, he had only the benefit of a booth. Fourth, Carter seems aided by a slight­ steady ambition cycle. There is no question ly lesser dragon (one which Henry Jackson fos­ about what Jimmy Carter wants. His references ters when he talks about the importance of to the content of his inaugural address make northern industrial states)---anti-southern that perfectly clear. Carter, however, has bias. Again, Carter has used this bias and his ambition cycle under control---unlike Establishment bias at his lack of Washington. some 'other would-be Presidents like Ronald Rea­ connections to his own advantage. Carter has gan, who has been ambivalent about how much used his primary victories to dispel the prob­ he wants to be President and what he is will­ lem the same way John F •. Kennedy used his lQ60 ing to do to win that' office; Walter Mondale, prima~y victory in West Virginia ,to dispel-the who decided he didn't have the ambition it handicap of his Catholic religion. took-to gruel it out in the primaries; Nelson Rockefeller, who has always been questioned Finally, Carter has had good luck with about "the ambition" even when he wasn't wear­ his press relations cycle ••• which turned slow'" it' on his lapel; and Hubert Humphrey, whose ly upward last October with the publication of best strategy these days requires that qe poll results from an Iowa political dinner' hide his ambition until opportunity knocks. whic~~ve Carter something close to instant politicai credibility. His opportunity and press relations cycles fed each other for the POliTICS: The GOP, next two months as Carter took full advantage I of the absence of strong opponents to demon­ strate his appeal to wide segments of the elec­ Massachusetts: Reagan bruised a few feel­ torate. The glowing accounts about Carter con- ings when Diane Brosdon was appointed to head tinued to dominate media coverage until mid­ the Massachusetts campaign rathrr than former January when the media, having perceived that GOP State Chairmad William Barnstead, who had it had perhaps created a gian, reverted to its headed Reagan's primary effort. Barnstead, an role as giant-killer with critiques of Carter's outspoken and sometimes unpredictable conserva~ stands, non-stands, gubernatorial performance, tive, said-he was "crushed" by the move. and gubernatorial non-performance. Columnists Rowland Evans and Robert Novak and writer Steve Nebraska: The support ,o'f Senators Carl Brill in Harper's Magazine were particularly Curtis and Roman Hruska helps make Ford the sol­ deadly. So, to a lesser extent, were journal­ id favorite to win the GOP primary. 'Reagan's ists like the Washington Post's David Broder, campaign is headed by former top GOP officials who turned up a five-year-old letter to the in the state, but rumors of dissension have not National Right to Work Committee guaranteed improved the image of the Reagan effort. to get Carter in ~mu~le with the AFL-CIO. This sudden downturn fu media acceptability was Nevada: Sen. Paul Laxalt(R), national reversed only by Carter's victory in the New chairman for Reagan, ha,s activated his person-. Hampshire primary, which generated a new round al campaign organization in the state. That of favorable media coverage for Carter as the action alone may be enough to negate the Ford "frontrunner." effort being headed by former Las Vegas Mayor Oran Gragson. So Carter rides t~e crest of his ambi­ tion, opportunity, and public relations cycles New Jersey: The seven at-large members at the moment. Henry Jackson has'never been of tne state GOP delegation have been chosen able to get his press relations cycle to mOve by' Sen. Clifford Case, who usually disdains in­ upward. The ambition cycles of men like Sar­ volvement in party affairs. The State GOP Com­ gent Shriver and Milton Shapp always seemed mittee, though unhappy, acceded to Case's list, ~~rr~bly _~!smatched with their opporeunit~ which included State GOP Chairman Webster B. cycles. Carter cut George Wallace's opportun­ Todd, the state's three GOP congresspersons, ity cycle ~~ght 0~t frmm underneath him by former U.S.Rep. Charles Sandman, and Assembly competing- for,the same constituency. The Minority Leader Thomas H. Kean, who heads the long-awaited rise in Hqbert Humphrey's oppor­ state Ford campaign. tunity cycle maY'neve:t' come despite the steady character of his press relations cycle over ~: Despite talk of a favorable upturn the past few months. And even if Mo Udall for the President in Texas, it still seems like­ had a favorable opportunity cycle, it seems ly that Reagan will car~y the state in the May doubtful that he possesses an ambition cycle primary. As a result of'the,Bentsen.primary to complement it. That leaves only Jerry system, delegates will be chosen on a district Brown,.whose phenomenal coupling of ambition, basis; in many districts both slates are headed opportunity, and press relations cycles matches by prominent party and elected officials~ Al­ Carter's to the same degree that their guber­ though the competition thus far has been fairly natorial records seem marked by ambiguity' and muted, the possibility for more divisive con­ posturing. • flict in an already divided state party exists.

Ripon Society, tmless they are explicitly so lab!tlled. THE RIPON SOCIETY. INC.~~~~==seare:=: SUBSCRIPTION RATES are $15 a year, $7.50 for students, serv­ IIHIDIbera ant YOUIl!J business, academic ani:l ~fessional men and Icemen, and for Peace Cbrps, Vista and other volunteers. Overseas wcmum.. It hem IKIIlonal l!eadquarters In DIstrlc:t of Columbia. air mail, $6 extra. Advertising rates on request. Please allow ~ In fifteen cities, NatioDal Associate IIHIDIbera throughout five weeks far adcireBB changes. the fi!ty states, and several afIDiated groups of subchapter status. The SOciety Is supported by chapter dues, IndlviduaI c:ontribu­ tioDs cmd _ &am its pubJlC:atioIIs and c:ontract work. Edlton, Dick Bahn is published semi-monthly by" the ,TH E RIPON FORUM RilXln Society, Inc., 1609 Conn., ~ve., Editorial BoCIrd: " N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009. Second class postage rates~d at Robert D. Behn, Chairman Tanya Mellch Washington, D.C. and other mallin' offices. Contents ar copy­ Cilliord Brown Robert G. Stewart righted @ 1976 by the Ripon Society, \'nc. Correspondence a dressed Rabert H. Donaldson Ralph Thayer ' 10 the editor is welcomed. (Ripon FORUM, Box 226, Charlestown, Mass. 02129.) , ' , Contributing Editors: CllHordBrown Glenn Gerstell, William A. ID ,1RJblfabtnCJ this ma~ the ~ ~ seeks to, provtde Koelsch, Daniel J. Swillinger, Josiah 'l..ee Auspltz, Richard W. RlIhn, a farmii far fresD Ideas, well-researc:hid P%O and for a spirit John A. Rehfuss, Thomas A. /?argent, Richard Cleveland, Matk at c:rItIcIs&n. fmIovatIon. -and independent tIiinldng withtn the If.e­ Frazier, Peler"Berg, Martin Sours.and William K. Woods. ~ Parly. Articles do DOt Dec:essarIly represent the oJ)lD!on if tile NaIIoDid GovemiDg Board or the Editorial Board of the Teclmical ECUtor: Brian J. McCarthy White House and the benefits of Williams' per­ sonal weaknesses to bolster his campaign. ,In POLITICS: STATES- the interim, Gross has lost a criminal court case and Will~ams has won increased respect I ARKANSAS I Despite the withdrawl foi his position in the Senate. He has a hef­ of U.S.Rep. Wilbur D. Mills(D) from contEmtioll tycampaign warchest from an odd alliance of in the 2nd C.D., Republicans are less likely backel's---Wall Street brokers who "respect" to win this year than in 1974 when Judy Petty his position as chairman of the Seeurities alm6st stripped the former House Ways and Means Subcomm~ttee of the Committee on Banking, Hous­ Committee chairman of his seat. The Democratic ing,"a~clUrban Affairs, and union officials nomination has been practically seWn up by At­ who "respect" his position as chairman of the torney General Jim Guy Tucker. Tucker's con­ Senate Labor and Public Welfare Committee. gressional candidacy relieves Gov. David Pryor Even a losing but respectable race for the (D) of any fears about reelection, but it does moderate Norcross, 38, might boos~ his poli­ not relieve the GOP of the necessity of find­ tical career. Ironically, the man who ran an ing a sacrificial lamb to oppose him. The GOP impressive primary campaign against Gross as realizes it has little chance of upsetting the a "conservative" alternative in 1970 is now popular Pryor, but it must field a candidate the moderate candidate in the heated race for to prevent maverick newspaper publisher Joseph the GOP nomination in the 7th C.D. James Quar­ H. Wetson from receiving the GOP endorsement. emba, a Ridgewood attorney, has been labeled Instead, the GOP will emphasize its legislative a party-splitter by conservative James Sheehan, z:aces this, hoping to ,contest about 15-20 seats former mayor of Wyckoff. Quaremba is consid­ in the l35-seat legislature where only four Re­ ered the stronger candidate against freshman publicans now serve. Republicans can take some U.S.Rep. Andrew,Maguire(D) in the once strong­ heart in the strengthenecl incumbency of U.S.Rep. ly Republican district. Just when neighboring John Paul Hammerscl'lllrl.dt (~3rd), who survived U.S.Rep. Henry Helstoski(D-9th) was beginning a concerted attempt to oust him in 1.974---and to look like Sen. Williams for the GOP---tempt­ who is likely pondering a 1978' race for the ing but beyond reach---he appears to be vulner­ Senate seat now held by tbe aging John L. Mc­ able again. Helstoski has had troubles because Clellan. The GOP also has some small hopes a former top aide has been convicted for mas­ in the 1st C.D. where,businessman Harlan "Bo" terminding an extortion-immigration scheme'­ Holliman will contest U.S.Rep. Bill Alexander. Helstoski admits that he met with an underworld informer in order to explore the possibilities I HAWAII I With three of the state's of @btaining damaging evidence against govern­ four seats in the House and Senate vacant this ment-witnesses in the case. According to the year, the GOP has a strong opportunity to elect inftl)rme-r, Helstoski "said he thought the (wit­ its most attractive slate of candidates in n,esses.) had unsavory pasts and he wanted me to years. With Sen. Hiram Fong(R) retiring, the br:i.ng back evidence of it (from Chile). But GOP's Senate candidate will be former Gov. Wil­ he also said that if I couldn't find legitimate liam Quinn. The businessman-lawyer may be ahl.e evfdence~ I' was to bribe local officials to to exploit the gap between U.S.Rep. Patsy Mink -fabricate whatever was needed.'" Helstoski has ~d Spark Matsunaga in the October 2 Democratic denied this'party of the conversation and says primary enough to squeaK through to victory. his tapes of his two conversations w~th inform­ Matsunaga's seat will be sought by former State er Frank Peroff will confirm it. Helstoski Sen. Fred Rohlfing, who came within 12,000 votes himself has been the subject of federal inves­ of unseating,the incumbent in 1972. In the 2nd tigation, and in an effort to turn the tables C.D., Republicans will rely on Carla Coray, the' on U.S.Attorney Jonathan Goldstein, has tried state's able GOP national committeewoman and to get a House Judiciary subcommittee to in­ former party chairman. vestigate the U.S.attorney. Helstoski als~ pressured the full House to exempt him from I NEW JERSEY I When Dr. James R. Cowan appearances before a federal grand jury while resigned recently as assistant secretary of the House is in session---in the past he has defense for health and environment, he said made eight such appearances in less than two President Ford urged him to "seriously con­ years. Even if indicted, Helstoski would be sider" a race against entrenched Sen. Harrison a formidable candidate. However, former State Williams (D) • The former New Jersey health com­ Sen. Harold C. Hollenbeck, 37, a prominent GOP missioner said he wanted to "assess the situa­ moderate, might be a formidable match. Hollen­ tion" in New Jersey before committing himself beck considered the race in 1968 and 1972,but to a race. Another New Jersey state official, though better of it. Criticizing Helstoski's David Norcross, director of the State Law En-, most notable accomplishment in h~s own campaign forcement Commission~ is also considering the announcement, Hollenbeck said,"He answers his GOP Senate nomination, but both candidates mail, but what else does he do?" In southern must be restrained by the memory of Nelson New Jersey, Republicans also would like to re­ Gross's futile race against Williams in 1970 cover the seat lost by U.S.Rep. Charles'Sand­ when Gross had the full resources of the Nixon man, Jr., in 1974. Confronting each other for the GOP nomination are State Assemblyman James of staff. 'Among the revelations was the employ­ R. Uurley and J. Fred Coldren, whom Sandman--­ ment of Ford's sister in Ford's Memphis office, brought into the GOP state organization to he where she was paid through the Comprehensive head his disastrous 1973 gubernatorial campaign. E~ployment Training Act. Repeatedly mentioned U.S·.Rep. William J. Hughes(D) is the 2nd C.D. as a possible GOP candidate is' State 'Rep. Brad incumbent. ~.artin, a 'young moderate. --.

I PENNS~VANIA I U.S.~ep. Bill Green(D) I WEST VIRGINIA I West Virginia Republi- appears to .have the Democratic Senate nomina­ cans keep waiting "for the other shoe to drop." tion tallied up in the April 27 primary, but Actually, there are two shoes. The first is the Republican Senate' contest continues to be the pending decision by the state Supr~me ~ourt a horserace among U.S.Rep. H. John Heinz III, on the constitutionality of Republican Gov. former Philadlphia District Attorney Arlen Arch Moore, Jr.'sattempted reelection to a Specter, and former Philadelphia EvenIng:Bulle­ third term. The suit was brought by another ~ executive editor George Packard. All are Republican aspirant for the gubernatorial of~ attractive, articulate moderates, .but Heinz fice. The second shoe is the April 20 trial would be the .odds-on favorite were it not for of Moore and a former top aide for allegedly the disclosure last December that he had re­ extorting a $25,000 election contribution from ceived $6,000 in contributions from the Gulf a businessman seeking a state banking charter. Oil Corporation in his earlier congressional M90re annou~ced his candidacy December 20, the races. In later disclosing his net worth of same day he was indicted in federal court. Re­ $1.3 million and income from $11.3~illion in publicans hope that both shoes will drop be­ trusts, Heinz said,"I am not in politics for fore the May 11 primary---allowing them a personal financial gain. This is why, I ask clear opportunity to either renominate Moore the people of this state to, put the Gulf con­ or choose a Republican successor. If Moore is tribution into the right perspective." Although upheld in his 'contention that the 1970 amend­ Heinz's contributions were similar to ones ment to the constitution which l~mits governors which resulted in a criminal 'conviction for to two terms was ratified during his governor­ U.S.Rep. James R. Jones(D-Okla.), the statute ship and therefore inapplicable to him, then of limitations on the offense has now expired. Moore will assuredly be renominated. If not, Heinz has denied t9at he knew of the contribq­ then the GOP race boils down to State Commerce tions until last December~ Heinz would also Commissioner Ralph D. Alberta'zzie, 52, a Moore have received the endorsement of the State GOP "stand-in,n and moderate former Gov. Cecil H.­ Committee were it not for some adept maneuveur­ Underwood, 53, who was defeated by Moore in ing by Philadelphia GOP leader William Meehan, the 1968 gubernatorial primary. Although Al­ who took Specter's name out of the endorsement bertazzie, a former Air Force One pilot under . contest---thus forcing both Packard ~nd Heinz Richard Nixon, is the desigDated Moore favor­ to withdraw as well. Specter's strength in the ite, Underwood would be favored to win the pri­ Philadelphia area will be offset by Heinz's ad­ mary in Moore's absence. The Democratic piC­ vantage in western Pennsylvania. Green, mean­ ture is almost equally confusing. It is no­ while was supposedly the uninvolved beneficiary where near as clear as that in 1972 when then­ of an agreement between Philadelphia Mayor Secretary of' State John D. Rockefeller IV.en­ Frank Rizzo and Gov. Milton Shapp, which invol­ gaged in a well-publicized race against Moore. ved Shapp's backing for ousting the Philadelphia This time, Rockefeller faces former State Su­ Democratic leader, Rizzo's backing for Shapp's preme Court Justice James M. Sprouse, who 'ran then still active presidential plans, and unsuccessfully against .Moore in 1968; U.S~Rep. joint backi~g of Green for the Senate. That Ken Hechler, a maverick Democrat who will draw agreement reportedly convinced Pittsburgh Mayor support for his opposition to stripmining;and Pete Flaherty(D) to stay out of the Senate race. Charleston Mayor John G. Hutchinson, who has waged a feisty campaign which has been criti­ I TENNESSEE I The ann~unced retire­ cal of Rockefeller. With Hechler abandoning ment of veteran U.S.Rep. Joe Evins(D) in the the 4th C.D., Republicans feel they have a 4th C.D. has prompted a large selection of can­ good chance to pick up the seat behind Steve didates to suggest their availability. Two of Goodman, a young former railroad company offi­ them have especiallY.prominent relatives: Albert cial. The GOP also hopes to make another con­ Gore, Jr., a Vanderbilt University law school certed effort to regain Moore's old House seat, student whose father was defeated for reelection now occupied by U.S.Rep. Robert Mollohan, who to the S'enate in 1970, and Leslie "Bud" King, has resisted stiff challenges in the past. a tire company owner whose half-brother ,is Pres­ . The GOP candidate this year will be State Del. ident of the United States. At'the western end John McCuskey,'a young attorney and member of of the state, freshman U.S.Rep. Harold E. Ford a well-known local family. (D) may have jeopardized his reelection chances when columnist Jack Anderson published a column Readers having political information are re­ in February detailing the congressman's alleged quested to forward it to Ripon FORUM, Box 226, ppver.ty, high life style, and questionable use Charlestowp, 'Mass. 02129. Thirdly,the waffling stand taken by All politicians and their strategists, these three candidates has cost-them potential when analyzing the impact of the abortion backing. On the Democratic side some Iowa issue upon vote-getting, should realize that supporters of Jimmy Carter switched because it is not a traditfonal, liberal-conservative they felt his abortion stand was too vaEue. issue despite the opposition to abortion of In NeW York City, a woman resigned from his del­ such right-wing organizations as the Young egate slate upon learning that Carter has res- Americans for Freedom and the John Birch Soci­ , ervations about the Supreme Court decision. ety. To assume that an anti-abort~on posi­ In Merrick. Long Island---home of Ellen McCor­ tion would automatically mean more conserva­ mack---several Henry Jackson people organized tive votes is fallacious. For belief in an an uncommitted, pro-abortion slate So that individual's right of choice. free from gov­ voters would have a choice. On the Republican ernment intervention and belief in the separa­ side, some Ford supporters who uphold the 1973 tion of church and state are classic conserva­ decision say that while they will back Ford tive positions held by many conservative peo­ in. the GOP primaries against Reagan, they will ple. They are not going to accept a ca~di­ not work or vote for him if the Democrats nom­ date's position in opposition to their beliefs inatesomeone less equivocal'on the issue. simply because that , candidate labels himself "conservative." The argument that a "waffling" position will win Catholic votes is fallacious. Seven­ A recent United Nations-funded study by ty six percent of the Catholics interviewed in Worldwatch, an international research organi­ the previously-cited Knight-Ridder survey sup­ zation. found that in democratic countries. ported the "right of privacy" position. Cer­ "abortion liberalization seldom takes place tainly. many of these Catholics will seek an until a solid majority of a population supports 'independent course from the anti~abortion dir­ it. Once this point is reached, a return to ectives of the National Conference of Catholic earlier. severely-restrictive conditions is un­ Bishops. heard of. Opposition often continues once of­ ficial action has been taken ••• But the repre­ While it is still too early to make many sentative mode of government makes it difficult sound judgements about the impact of abortion for a minority, however vocal. to impose its "waffling" on the general election, certain will on a majority." data should b,e considered. 'If' Ellen McCormack. Ronald Reagan~ or George Wallace are indepen­ It.is hoped that Gerald Ford, along with dent candidates. they would receive most of any other waffling candidates who might be nom­ the anti-abortion vote. If none of them run inated. will recognize the moral reasons and independently, then their supporters would cer­ poiitical benefits for supporting the Supreme.­ tainly pressure the waffling candidates to move Court decision without reservation. The loud toward a strong anti-abortion position. If haranguing fr~ the right-to-life groups will any should cave in, there would immediately continue unabated for some time. And even be a counter-reaction. The pro-abortion groups though their position undermines constitution­ are larger and equally committed and could al protections of privacy, they do have the cost the anti-abortion candidate more votes right to their opinions. Only presidential than he would gain. While there is always the candidates more concerned with what they false­ possibility that a Catholic anti-abortion vote ly perceive as political benefit can give the could "swing" away'from the hard-liners to one anti-abortion position the stature and respec­ of the wafflers, it would nQt be significant, tability it does not deserve and, in so doing, given the size of Catholic opinion favoring turn the presidential campaign into a brutal­ the Supreme Court's decision. izing cacophony of bitter, unreasoned dialogue.

It would appear then that the same pat­ The views of the majority deserve to be tern of liabilities and advantages are open respected by aspiring Presidents. On the issue to the "wafflers" iri the fall campaign as in of abortion, the majority wants the government the primaries with a net gain-for those unequi­ to leave,it alone; it wants the protections vocally supporting the Supreme Court decision. guaranteed by the Supreme Court to stand. Is An independent candidacy by an anti-abortion it such a small request to ask that Ford, Car­ candidate would increase the political bene­ ter, ,Jackson, and any other waffler who pops fit the Democratic and Republican nominees up heed both t~e Constitution and the people? • could reap by a pro-abortion position. And Contributor Notes: Tanya Melich is a member of while it is hard to judge the i~pact of a Mc­ the FORUM Editorial Board~ U.S.Rep. Joel Pritch­ Cormack, Wallace or Reagan endorsement upon ard was president of the Griffin Evelope Co. be­ anti-abortion voters in the absence of such fore his election to Congress in 1972. His ar­ an independent' candidacy, it would probably ticle for the FORDMtook five days to get from not significantly aid the endorsed nominee. Washington to Boston. ABORTION ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL COMMENTARY: ABORTION by Tanya Melich

Recent discussion of the abortion issue seek out the illegal abortionist, whose danger­ evokes a disturbing sense of both deja-vu and ous methods have destroyed the health and lives 1984. Deja-vu because it conjures up past his­ of women for years. Still, the President has toric conflicts over the role of the church the temerity~~ .escribe this policy of politi­ and state in America, particularly those per­ cal expediency a~ a "moderate' position." There taining to the Catholic Church; 1984 because is nothing "moderate about a policy which the thrust of the anti-abortion arguments log­ heaps hardship upon those least able·to help ically leads one to a time when the state not themselves. only tells a woman whether she.shall have a baby but whethe!, when, and with whom she shall The President's style of political "com­ have sexual intercourse. promise" is typical of congressional decision­ making. It is enormously beneficial in resolv­ On the basi~ of the merits of the issue ing policy debates.where the elemental resolu­ alone, it disturbing that President Ford---pub­ tion depends upon agreement on how to accom­ licly professing. to be a philosophical conser­ plish a goal rather than on what the goal shall vative with strong allegiance to the constitu­ be. It is a disastrous approach to governing tional guarantees separating church and state when the issue at stake is a moral one rooted and protecting individual liberties---could in the very essence of our constitutional sy~­ take a stand diametrically opposed to these tem. There is 'a time when the President of ' beliefs. By being against abort.ion, as defined the United States need to take clear positions by the guidelines of the Supreme Court's 1973 ---when the issue at hand could, if incorrect.­ decision, the President is favoring government ly resolved, contradict and undermine the basic imposition of a particular religious belief philosophical tenets of America's democratic upon those not of that religious persuasion system. and £avoring government-dictated morality up­ on very personal, priva~e behavior. It is a Slavery was such an issue. Abortion stand favoring the intrusion of government in­ is another. Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and to some of the most vital and private concerns Henry Jackson have described their positions of human beings---both men and women. as moderate ones, but this is not the case •. For a position which hampers' the true 'imple­ It would appear that the President's at­ mentation of the Supreme Court decision, as tack upon the Supreme Court decision was,poli­ theirs do, is as morally reprehensible for tically motivated, but it is hard to understand the freedom of human beings as the anti-abor­ what political gains he sought. To repeat a tion position is. In a sense this incorrect­ worn phrase,"he cannot out-Reagan Reagan." ly-labeled "middle" position is worse since For those supporting any of the various consti­ it seeks to. establish a false aura of 'free­ tutional amendments banning abortion---both dom. No matter how they label theirposi: Reagan and George Wallace champion this ap­ tions, the reality is that these three are proach---Ford's suggestlon that the decision anti~abortion candidates. be left up to the states is a rejection of their viewpoint since it does not advance the And what are the political results of pre­ cause of total abolition. For those upholding senting such contraqictory stands. In terms the Supreme Court's position, Ford's stand rep­ of the pre-convention p~riod, there are few resents a .hypocritical undermining of that deci­ benefits. First, these candidates will not re­ sion since a state's rights policy would allow ceive the anti-abortion convention and primarY states to greatly restrict or ban abortions. vote. It is going to Wallace, Reagan, and the right-to-life candidate, Ellen McCormack.' Sec­ Ford's position not only alienates those ondly, numerous public opinion surveys taken on either side of the issue but represents econ­ over the past three years have found that a omic discrimination of the rankest sort, placing substantial majority of Americans support the him in a position of approving abortions for the Supreme Court's decision. 'According to a re­ affluent, but not for the poor. Such discrim­ cent Knight-Ridder national survey, 80 percent ination would occur if a reversion to a state's of those polled believe that abortion is none rights policy, similar'to that practiced prior of the government's' business and is a private to the 1973 decision, allowed a checkerboard matter between a woman and her doctor. There of legal and nonlegal abortion states which is little political gain for a candidate in would force women fro~ nonlegal states to trav­ deviating from a position that is held by a el across state lines to receive legal, safe majority of the-electorate unless the votes of abortions; Inevitably, those with the econom­ the minority can be won. In this case, the ic means could afford to make the trips, but minority adhere to Reagan, Wallace, and McCor­ the poor could not. Instead, they would again mack." ,

CURING POSTAL PROBLEMS COMMENTARY: GOVERNMENT bL Joel Pritchard

The regular, efficient, and reliable deli­ ters flowing-onto a congresSman's desk increases very of mail is essential to the economic and so­ each week. Demagogic attacks will fill the cial health of our n~tion. Unfortunately, the airways this election year, for though the Pos­ Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, which gave tal Service employs some 700,000 people (one birth to the U.S. Postal Service and promises percent of the nation's labor force), it has of professional, business leadership, has not no real constituency. It's an easy whipping lived up to expectations. If anythin~, the boy, and we could leave at that if the conse­ emerging problems of the 1960's now seem ready quences of a mail system slowdown or shutdown to overwhelm the postal system, and neither were not so serious to our national health and the President nor Congress have initiated any security. One day's mail delay costs billions positive proposals to forestall its collapse. of dollars in lost interest and revenue. We simply cannot afford further deterioration; Caught in the middle of the inflation/ yet, no one seems to be willing to confront recession whirlpool, the Postal Service has the problem with bold new initiatives. seen its costs skyrocket and projected mail volume growth blunted. The following table It all goes back to the basic question reflects what has happened over the p~st dec­ of whether the delivery of mail should be'con­ ade. sidered a service or a business. From its" in­ ception up until July 1, 1971 (when the U.S. Postal Service came into existence), mail deli­ very in the United States was not only consid­ All numb~cs in-bil­ Tenlears Ago Latest ered a national service but official chartered lions __ (Mid"-'i965) (Mid-1975) as a government monopoly through the private Volume of' man 71.8 89.2 express statutes passed by Congress in 1792. Postal-labor cost $3.9 $10.8 The formalization of the cherished hope of Total operating cost $5.2 $12.7 many was accomplished, however, in the four Postal revenue $4.4 $11. 7 major goals set forth in the Postal Reorgani­ Postal deficit $0.8 $1.0 zation Act---one of which called for postal revenues to cover postal costs. (The other goals were to provide the American people Two other figures need to be added. To­ with good mail service; to charge the public tal mail-v@lume is actually declining (an his­ reasonable rates and fees for this service; torical first) from a peak of slightly over 90 and to bring wages and working conditions of billion pieces in 1974, and the projected defi­ the postal worker to levels comparable to those cit for mid-1976 is expected to reach $1.4 bil­ of the private sector. Perhaps only the last lion. Mail volume over the next five years is goals has or will ever be attained. Last year, projected to fall off to 83 or 84 billion postal workers'averaged $8.05 per hour, includ­ ing fringes, compared to $8.04 an hour for pieces~ with little or no recovery prospects. workers in 14 other industries havlag stron~ unions and noted for higher wages. In general, Postmaster General Benjamin F. Bailar the pay increases for postal employees over lists some additional problems which bode the past five years have exceeded those for ill for the future: (I) A substantial portion other Civil Service workers.) of postal system costs are not tied into de­ clining mail volume. The number of delivery According to the General Accounting Of­ points, for example, continues to increase as fice, the Postal Service had revenues of $35.3 new households are formed and businesses ex­ billion in its first four years, but costs of pand. (2) Costs are attributable to the re­ $43.4 billion, requiring federal subsidies cipients of mail, rather than the senders. totaling $6.5 billions. The service's' assets, Thus, a decline in overall mail volume does again according to the GAO, exceeded its lia­ not necessarily mean a decline in the number bilities by $1.7 billion in 1971, but by the of mail slots which have to be serviced daily. end of this Year, liabilities will exceed as­ (3) Finally, major efforts over the past five sets by $1.3 billion---a $3 billion cumulative years to boost productivity through increased loss. postal mechanization will soon reach a realis­ tic end. There is only so much one can do Appearing before the Senate Post Office mechanically with a letter before someone has and Civil Service Committee this past February', to physically deliver it to your door. James T. Lynn, director fo the Office of Manage­ ment and Budget, stated that while recognizing Almost everyone now has a mail,lIhorror" the Postal Service's failure to achieve a bal­ stroy, and the voume of postal complaint let- ance of revenue and costs, the Administration still supported the basic reorganization con­ concepts about the mails, and I woul,d strongly cept and suggested three· alternatives for im­ agree. Six-day-a-week home delivery is a lux­ proving the financial picture: (1) reduce u~y which perhaps we can do without •. Maintain­ costs, (2) increase rates, (3) a combination ing endless, inefficient small post offices of (1) and (2). However, Lynn stated that the simply to placate local members of Congress Administration wQuldoppose legislation cover­ should no longer.be tolerated. Recognizing ing postal deficits with. general Treasury funds. the importance of incentive postage rates Said Lynn , "The Postal Service's first priority would spur bus~ess-mair cooperation and pro­ should be to reduce costs." This is the crUx vide competition to .the rapidly growing private of the issue. delivery systems.

The first priority of the Postal Service The Washington Post accurately summed is and must be to deliver the mail, promptly, up the situation: "The nation's postal system efficiently, and with the greatest care and should be bu~iness-like, but it is not a bus­ reliability possible. This does not obviate iness. It is a basic public service that Amer­ the need for a thorough review of our whole icans rely on heavily. Indeed, the services mail delievery system, nor for a major effort that matter most are often those that make to reduce costs. Our problem today is getting least sense in cost-accounting terms; service the right mail to the right door in a reason­ to individuals, to small communities, to small able time. Returning the post office to the businesses and little publications. This does old days of political patronage and influence not mean, for instance, every rural post of­ will accomplish nothing. We must build on the .fice must be kept open forever if equivalent Reorganization Act structure, but change our or better actual service can be provided anoth­ philQsophical direction. er way. It does mean that postal communica­ tions have to be maintained; the mails simply Postmaster Gener~l Bailar feels we should mst go through." • also challenge some of our more traditional

posed from the floor, called a "creeping social­ Box 226# Cha,rlestowD# Mass. 02129 ist" from the podium, and defeated by over 300 votes. At the convention held in late 1973, Linda Miller was nominated by the nominating • Lamar Alexander, .1974 GOP gubernatorial candi­ committee for a seat on the same steering com­ date in Tennessee, was the March speaker for mittee. She was opposed from the floor and the Nashville chapter. ~on by a l3~vote landslide. At the latest • New members of the board of directors·of the convention in January, 1976, she was nominating Chicago chapter include Dennts Allred, Leland for the· post of county GOP secretary and was Badger, David Ellbogen, Harry Estell, ~ elected without opposition. It is interesting. Flamm Robert Friedlander, Alice Ihrig, Jared to note that the chairman elected, also with­ KaPIa~, Paul Kimbal1, William Kwan, Barri""'M8c'­ out opposition, was Don Sundquist, former Young Leap., Michael Maibach, Richard Means, Kenneth Republican national president. The question PBdgham, George Polli, Roger Rainville, ~ to be pondered is whether the Memphis Chapter Sahn, Don Samuelson, Mary Sfasciotti, Maryann ·is creeping into the Shelby County GOP or the WieCz·orek, and Gloria White. Shelby County GOP is creeping forward? • An address by former U,S~Attorney James R. • Sen. Howard Baker, Jr., and former HEW offi­ Thompson, Republican gubernatorial candidate cial John Veneman were the key speakers at the in Illinois, will highlight the annual meeting 1976 Ripon Issues Conference in Washington, .of the Ripon Society's National Governing Boar