The Governors Bv Dick Behn

RIPON GUBERNATORIAL SPECIAL

JUNE 15, 1976 VOL. XII, No. 12 50 CENTS

FOOLING SOME OF THE PEOPLE SOME OF THE TIME COMMENTARY: The Governors bv Dick Behn

This past year has not been kind to many performing silly stupidities like nixing the of the nation's governors. Scandals, politi­ appointment of a well-respected legislator to cal backbiting', and budget deficits have de­ an executive department position after the leg­ flated a large portion of the statehouse resi­ islator's resignation had already been released dents. Although a large crop of Democratic to his hometown press. Dukakis' decision to, governors was elected to office on the basis reject federal highway safety funds may have of raised expectations, a lot of them have been justified but it infuriated not only the come to adopt Jerry Brown's notion' of' "lowered state legislature but also his own cabinet and expectations" out of necessity if not belief. the entire state congressional delegation. In the end, Dukakis was forced to do what most ob­ Though Democrats outnumber Republicans by servers thought he was incapable of doing: back a margin of 36-13, it's a dubious honor to be down. Integrity is a virtue and being pighead­ a governor these days. How dubious was demon­ ed may even be a virtue at times. But Dukakis strated by Colorado's Gov. Richard Lamm last demonstrated the virtue of neither when he ap­ February when he berated Colorado journalists pointed to the state's Supreme Court a man re­ for not greeting his introduction with a stand­ jected by the bar association screening panel ing ovation. Since his election in 1974, Lamm ---whose decisions Dukakis had solemnly sworn has been touted as'one of the "new breed" of' to respect in his gubernatorial campaign. The Democratic governors. After his February out­ governor's leadership has so unnerved the leg­ burst, Colorado residents suspected they had islature's Democratic leadership that they are detected a new breed of arrogance. Like others sure to find a candidate to oppose him in the of the new breed who have found that electing 1978 primary. After promising not to raise a Democratic legislature is easier than deal­ taxes and then raising them, Dukakis may be in ing with one, Lamm has had difficulty fulfil­ deep trouble. ling his campaign promises. Next door to Rhode Island and Massachus­ New England is representative of the rest etts, Connecticut Gov. Ella Grasso appears to of the country in that regard. Gov. Philip be surviving a bit more gracefully by playing Noel(D) won his last election with 78 percent the role of political "mom" to the hilt. Even of the vote. By conventional political arith­ she has long since evaporated -the reservoir of metic, Noel should be a shoo-in to succeed Sen. support she had among public employees and ex­ John Pastore(D), but time and difficulties hausted her political capital in the Democrat­ with public employee unions have had a corro- ic legislature. Her relations have not deter­ sive effect on his gubernatorial popularity. iorated to the extent that neighbor Gov. Hugh Legislators were unhappy with the governor in Carey's have in New York. Carey's poor legis­ the last session and a remark interpreted as lative relations with the Democratic Assembly a racial slur forced Noel's removal as chair­ led to the first override of a gubernatorial man of the Democratic platform committee. veto in this century. Carey's problema have been compounded by the fiscal difficulties of In Massachusetts, Gov. Michael Dukakis(D) , both New York State and New York City as well who has won fame for riding public transporta­ as the indictment of his chosen chairman of tion and his other frugal ways, has not won the state Democratic Committee, Patrick Cun­ the appreciation of public employees for his ningham, and Carey's attempted ouster of Spec­ similar frugality with them. Dukakis is bright ial Prosecutor Maurice Nadjari, who was in­ and compulsively scrupulous; these qualities vestigating Cunningham. are often interpreted as self-inflated impor­ tance and insensitivity. Dukakis has devel­ Gubernatorial problems are perhaps worst oped something of a knack for alienating the in the Northeast, but they are not unknown else­ legislature; he has a lamentable talent for where in the country. In Alabama, while Gov. George Wallace has concentrated on running for cans. Three of those will be vacated by the President, Federal Judge Frank Johnson has GOP incumbent and could easily be lost to the' concentrated on running the state. Often called the "real governor" of the state, John­ Democrats: North Carolina, Washington, and West Virginia. Still, John Spellman in Wash­ son has handed down numerous rulings ~o reform ington and Cecil Underwood in West Virginia state mental health, prison, and property tax are quality moderates, and one of two able programs. As State Senate President pro tem­ administrators in Gov. Holshouser's cabinet pore Joe Fine has observ:ed, Wallace "isn't in­ terested in solving the problems. He just lets may win the nomination in North Carolina. the courts take over." Although Tarheel Republicans are trying to keep their gubernatorial race out of the For Gov. Dan Walker(D-Ill.) arrogance and presidential limelight, Spellman and Under­ a pol~tical tightrope act caught him off bal­ wood could easily be caught in the under- ance this year. According to ,the Chicago Tri­ tow of a Ronald Reagan nomination. Although bune's Michael Kilian,"Abraham Lincoln was Indiana Gov. Otis Bowen(R) and Missouri Gov. right and Gov. Dan Walker was wrong. You can't Bond are solid favorites to win reelection, fool all of the people all of the time---not their leads could dissolve in a Reagan blood­ even a majority of those willing to vote'in bath. In New Hampshire, Gov. Thomson and party primary. Dan Walker was defeated in Granite State politics defy prediction. (Illinois') gubernatorial primary for the same reason he was elected in 1972. He broke all Two other states where progressive Re­ the rules. Not only the unwritten "gentleman's publicans have good chances---Illinois with code of political competition that even Mayor James Thompson and Delaware with Pete du Pont Daley's ward bosses acribe to, but the irre­ ---could bury the GOP if Reagan is nominated. sistible, inescapable dynamics of Illinois In three Midwest and Rocky Mountain states--­ politics. It caught up to him. In a volatile North Dakota, Montana, and Utah---Republicans swing state with a suspicious, self-centered have opportunities in close contests that electorate, you cannot be loved by both Repub­ will remain basically unaffected by the pres­ lican conservatives and Democratic liberals idential race, regardless of the nominee. ---by both Big Labor and Big Business---for In two other states, Vermont ~nd Rhode Island, very long." the GOP has uphill chances to win the gover­ norship. Although both state's voters have Not all the politicians with the guber­ shown their ability to split tickets in the natorial blues are Democrats. Gov. Jay Hamr past, they may need compelling reasons to do mond(R-Alaska) is out of favor with Republi­ so if Reagan is nominated. Only in Arkansas cans who disapprove of his controlled growth is the GOP already consigned to the politi­ policies. Gov. Arch Moore(R-West Virginia) cal graveyard. The rundown: was acquitted of extortion charges this ARKANSAS: The dilemma of Arkansas Republi­ spring. Gov. Mills Godwin(R-Va.) and Gov. Meldrim Thomson(R-N.H.) have had more than cans was aptly summarized by an editorial in their share of legislative problems; such the Arkansas Gazette just before that state's difficulties have even struck. Gov. Robert recent primary: Nothing illustrates any better Bennett's Republican-dominated legislature. the current political bankruptcy of both the Gov. James Holshouser(R-N.C.) and Gov. Republican Party in Arkansas and its old arch­ Christopher Bond(R-Mo.) have been unable rival, Orval Faubus, than the report that its to control their own state's delegations to leaders talked to him about running for gover­ the Republican National Convention. nor this year on their ticket, and that he considered doing so. Whither indeed, have we Still, because there are so many more drifted, that the Republican progeny of Win­ of them, the problems of Democratic governors throp Rockefeller (who ousted the segrega­ (some of which are outlined below) are more tionist Faubus from the governor's office) notable. There are 16 governorships at stake would be reduced to treating with Old Orv as this year. Six are controlled by Republi-

THE RIPON SOCIETY, INC.1a allRepubl1can~esearchhand Ripon Socfety, unless they are expUc:ltly 80 labelled. - .:-- po ar org n w ose SUBSCRIPTION RATES are $15 a year. $7.50 for studenls servo IIleIIIbens are youag buuIDesa, academ1c ana jlrOfessional men and u:amen" and for Peace CbfP!', Vista and other volunteers. Ov~rseas womea. It has DGffona1 ~ers in DIstr1ct of Columhta, 01r mail. $6 extra, AdvertISing rates on request. Please allow ~ in fifteen c:lties, NatfoJial Associate members thIoughout five weeD for address changes. the fifty states, and several affiliated groups of aubchapter status. ~ &oc:Iety Is IIUpJX)Ited by ~er dues, fndlvfclucil contrlbu· __ and reveDUe8 from l1B publiCaticms and c:cmtract worl:. Edlton, Dick Behn is publisi?-ed semi-monthly by the THE RIPON. FORUM RipQn SocIety. Inc., 1609 Conn. Ave .• Editorial Board: N.W••. Washlnqton, D.C. 20009. Second class postage rates~' id at Robert D. Behn. Chairman Tanya MeUch ~ashingtOL. D.C. and. other mailing offices. Contents ar copy­ Clifford Brown Robert G. Stewart righted C 1976 by the Ripon Society, Inc. Correspondence a ressed Robert H. Donalclson Ralph Thayer ' ~ ;r~~) Is welcomed. (Ripon FORUM. Box 226. Charlestown. Contributing Editors: ClIHord Brown. Glenn GersteD. 'WIllk:aII. A. In pub~ this ma~ the Ripon ~ seeu to provide Koelsch. Daniel J. Swillinger. Josiah Lee Auspitz, Richard W. R/:Jhn, a forum for fde=, wel1-researc:hed pro and for a spirit John. A. Rehfuss. Thomas A. Sargent. Richard Cleveland, Mark at criIfc:fma" fDIIcmztIoD.and bzdependenf tlifnl:fng within the ae­ f'raZler, Peter Berg. Martin Sours,"and William K. Woods. paItJbm Party. Artfc:lea do DOt Decessarfly repzesent the opfnfon at the Halkmal Govemlng Boani or the Edftorfal Board of the Techllica1 Editor. Brian J. McCarthy their last,'best hope, and that he would be could bear an uncomfortable resemblance to reduced to treating with them? •• There could 1964 for Illinois Republicans. In that year, have been no more ignominious end to (the Sen. Barry Goldwater(R) dragged Charles Per- GOP's) reform heritage than to have been cy down to defeat in the gubernatorial race. plastered this year trying to install Faubus The same thing might happen this year to again. " Ins.tead, the GOP had the forgettable former U.S.Attorney James Thompson, who might distinction of choosing between Joseph "I-am­ have been better off if Gov. Dan Walker(D) had not-a-kook" Weston and businessman Leon Grif­ not been knocked out of the race by Secretary fith. The Republican. establishment rallied of State Michael Howlett in the Democratic ~ominate Griffith over newspaper publisher primary. Thompson is probably strengthened, Weston, whose libelous antics frighten what's however, by the decision of Walker not to left of the. GOP. (On the subject of Weston, make a third-party race and thus keep his own the Arkansas Gazette noted:"A politician Democratic ambitions alive. A Walker candida­ branded as a rat in the Sharp Citizen can cy would have cut into Thompson's margins in count himself lucky, for that's about as mild the Chicago suburbs and downstate areas where as Weston gets in his criticism of officials he needs to do well to'counteract the Daley he feels have violated the public trust.") machine in Cook County. Daley certainly has Arkansas politics promise to be rather dull an interest in keeping out of the governor­ this year and the gubernatorial race will be ship the man who has given his Democratic al­ no exception. Gov David Pryor(D) was elected lies nightmares of prison life; the recent with 65.6 percent of the vote in 1974 and death of former Gov. Otto Kerner, who was pros~ should do even better this year~ The election ecuted and jailed by Thompson, may reopen old seems merely a warmup for Pryor's 1978 sena­ wounds among Kerner partisans, but they are torial campaign when Sen. John McClellan(D) likely to be Democratic voters in any case. will retire. McClellan, who w~s almost upset Despite his popularity, Howlett has done noth­ by Pryor in 1972, backed a gubernatorial pri­ ing to inspire voter confidence in his leader­ mary opponent of the governor without much ship capabilities; memories of the $15,000 success. The GOP's li~ly Senate aspirant r~tainer he received from a Chicago steel in 1978, U.S.Rep. John Paul Hammerschmidt(R) firm will linger in the public mind. In the has a similarly dull campaign ahead of himself. fall campaign, Thompson will obviously be the Having thrown the political book at Hammer­ "quality" candidate, but the GOP attorney will schmidt in 1974, the Democrats failed to nom­ be running not so much against Howlett as inate an opponent this year. against Daley and perhaps against Sen. Adlai Stevenson(D), who is Daley's choice for ~ DELAWARE: Gov. Sherman Tribbitt(D) appeals president. to voters who don't want a governor to do any­ thing. Doing things badly or not doing them INDIANA: This state may have some of the at all is what Tribbitt does best. Although closest races in the country this year. Al­ that approach may not accomplish much in state though Republicans acknowledge that they face government, it does avoid generating antagon­ some stiff contests, they also feel confident ism from large blocks of voters. So despite that they will emerge'the winners. Since Tribbitt's record of inept leadership, patron­ coattails still operate in Indiana politics, age mishandling, lottery failure,fiscal games­ a tot .of Hoosier faith is focused on the can­ manship, and prison uproar, there's'probably didates at the head of the GOP ticket: Gov. some value that voters see in the incumbent Otis Bowen and former Indianapolis Mayor Rich­ governor. Nevertheless, Tribbitt couldn't have ard Lugar, now opposing Sen. Vance Hartke-.--­ asked for a more formidable Republican oppon­ Enmity from the bitter Democratic senatorial ent. Whereas Tribbitt defeated a battle­ primary and Hartke's reputation as a turkey scarred Gov. Russell Peterson(R) in 1972 with should help the Republicans in the Senate only 52 percent of the vote, U.S.Rep. Pierre race. In the gubernatorial faceoff, Gov. Bow­ "Pete" du Pont won reelection with 63 and 60 en's stolid, solid, small country doctor im­ percent of the vote respectively in the last age should be a strong campaign asset. The two elections. Du Pont's candidacy disposed Democratic candidate, Secretary of State Lar­ of the persistent problem of Lt. Gov. Eugene ry Conrad, is an able, personable campaigner Bookhammer when the latter dropped out of the who will benefit from strong labor support. gubernatorial race in May. Former State Aud­ Pre-primary polls showed him trailing Bowen, itor George Washington Cripps has also quit whose lack of flamboyance may turn out to be the GOP race in favor of a run on the American more of an advantage than Conrad's charisma. Party ticket. Articulate and progressive, While Bowen is remembered for a tax reorgan­ du Pont is the favorite so long as voters don't ization which boosted the sales tax and low­ get too fond of Tribbitt's weaknesses. ered the property tax level in .the state, Con­ rad is still vaguely remembered as the sub­ ILLINOIS: If Ronald Reagan is nominated ject of a "master plan" for his own political as the GOP's candidate for President. 1976 ambitions reportedly written by state employ- ees on state time several years ago. Al­ has been the foremost critic of Judge's 1972 though Conrad does not excite the rancor with­ campaign financing and is expected to contin­ in the Democratic Party that Hartke does, his ue to attack Judge for his refusal to disclose popularity within the party is not as univer­ his income tax returns. Woo dahl 's primary sal as his 64 percent victory over two formid­ problems may have stemmed from Democratic able adversaries would indicate. crossovers, his opponent's "religious" appeal, or voter-annoyance with his aggressive pur­ MISSOURI: In terms of statewide strength, suit of Judge's campaign problems. Judge has the Missouri Republican Party has perhaps the a reputation as a slick politician, but the strongest potential ticket: in the nation. Led Watergate issue may put him on the skids. by Gov. Christopher "Kit" Bond and Attorney General John Danforth, who is seeking a Senate NEW HAMPSHIRE: The names change slightly seat, the ticket is complemented by an unusual­ from election to election but basically the ly able group of moderate Republican candidates scenario for New Hampshire biennial guberna­ for Congress. Moderate Republicans are furious torial elections remains the same: Cheered on that the unpar~11e1ed opportunities for victory by anti-tax conservatives and the Manchester by Bond, Danforth et a1 could be ruined by ~ Union-Leader, Gov. Meldrim Thomson(R) confronts Reagan presidential cand1dacy wn1cn WOUld be a and defeats a Republican moderate in the pri­ proverbial kick in the GOP head for the old mary. This year, the moderate is Gerard Zei1- Missouri mule. Bond is lucky that the Demo­ 1er, a former Senate staffer and state offi­ crats' strongest potential opponent, State Aud­ cial under former Gov. Walter Peterson(R). itor George W. Lehr, stayed out of the race. After narrowly defeating the moderate Republi­ The Democratic frontrunner is State Senate can, Thomson then goes on to narrowly defeat President pro tempore William J. Cason, a re­ the conservative winner of the Democratic pri­ formed alcoholic who is trying to make a 1ess­ mary,who has won because two liberals have than-subtle issue of Bond's inherited wealth split up their segment of the vote. This by using the slogan,"E1ect a man who knows how year, the conservative Democrat is former Hills­ to work for a living." Cason is weak in the borough County Commissioner James A. Connor; St. Louis area, however, where former Jackson the liberals are the same ones who ran two County Prosecutor Joseph P. Teasda1e(D) has years ago, former state legislators Harry V. picked up strong support from Democratic lead­ Spanos and Hugh Gallen. One difference this ers. Cason balances Teasdale's St. Louis sup­ year is that Zei11er has not been associated port with his own union backing and can point with pro-tax positions although, like Spanos, to Teasdale's disappointing 20 percent finish he refuses to rule out the necessity for impos­ in the 1972 gubernatorial primary. Given ition of a broad-based tax. Gallen has an op­ Bond's record of government reorganization portunity this year because he's taken the and barring a GOP presidential disaster, Bond anti-tax pledge this time; Connor has trouble should win. Even so, Bond admits the rewards because his campaign is disorganized. Connor are 1imited:"There are times when I can't even probably would provide the most formidable get the heat turned on in this office. There's challenge to Thomson by cutting into his no substitute for being in what is supposed to strength in the Manchester area. Democrats be an all-powerful position as governor and may also be strengthened by strong congres­ finding out you really don't have much power." sional campaigns from U.S.Rep. Norman D'Amours (D) and Joseph Grandmaison, a former campaign MONTANA: With the retirement of Sen. Mike manager turned challenger to U.S.Rep. James Mansfie1d(D), the expected retirement of S;;:­ C1eve1and(R-2nd). Outside of the usual grue­ Lee Metcalf(D) in 1978, and the financial dif­ some editorials denouncing him in the Manches­ ficulties of Gov. Thomas Judge(D), Montana pol­ ter Union-Leader, Zei11er has failed to attract itics is in a state of f1ux---a state that the much press attention for his primary campaign. GOP should but may not be able to take advan­ Meanwhile, according to the Concord Monitor's tage of. Judge, who disclosed April 20 that Tom Ferriter, Thomson has-Ine110wed his usually he had not reported $94,000 in contributions cantankerous disposition and begun to act sur­ and $81,000 in expenses from his 1972 guberna­ prisingly benevolent for a malevolent man. torial campaign, decided to seek reelection Commented Democrat Connor:"He'll start behav­ rather.than challenge U.S.Rep. John Me1cher(D) ing himself now. He'll stop running allover for Mansfield's Senate seat. Lt. Gov. Bill the country and stay home. He'll be a good Christiansen(D) decided neither to challenge boy." Judge nor to run for reelection, thus avoid­ ing another possible primary. So the Demo­ NORTH CAROLINA: Under the best of circum­ crats, although vulnerable, have not bloodied stances, North Carolina Republicans would have themselves prematurely. The GOP candidate trouble wining the governorship this year. Far for governor, Attorney General Robert L. Wood­ from the best of circumstances surround the Re­ !hl(R), won his primary with a disappointing publican Party this year. Governors in this 57 percent of the vote against an opponent state are limited to one term so Gov. James that he had almost totally ignored. Woodah1 Holshouser cannot seek reelection. Even if \

he could, the party he represents has largely accomplish this task. Since North Dakota been cut from underneath him during the past voters have become accomplished ticket-split­ three months by Reagan backers in the state. ters in recent years, the GOP will be able Holshouser's status in the party has fallen to to concentrate on that objective without such an extent that the prospect of his elec­ undue anxiety over the impact of the top of tiop as a delegate to the Republican National the ticket. State Public Service Commission­ Convention was threatened. In a recent edi­ er Richard A. Elkin is considered the front­ torial on the proposed selection of anti-ERA runner for the Republican gubernatorial nom­ leader Phyllis Schlafy as the keynote speaker ination with State Sen. Robert Melland close at the Republican state convention, the Char­ behind and State Rep. Robert F. Reimers, who lptte Observer said:"Phyllis Schlafy? Wen, ran unsuccessfully in 1968, as a third pos­ the state of the North Carolina Republican Par~ sible choice. The chief target of the GOP ty does get curioser and curioser. What kind will probably be Link's leadership style and of critter has it become ••• But if the Democrats the lack thereof. Link's vacillation and are a party of unruly and obstreperous parti­ procrastination have been particularly evi­ sans, the Republicans---in North Carolina at dent on gas and coal development issues. least---seem to have become a party of schizo­ The GOP hopes to be able to take advantage phrenia." It took the best of circumstances of Democratic disunity on the subject--- to elect Holshouser governor in 1972, but even if former Democratic State Chairman since then, the GOP has been repeatedly split James Jungroth does not run as an environ­ between the Holshouser-Ford and Helms-Reagan mentalist independent (as he did in the factions of the party. Ford's defeat in the 1974 Senate race). Two other independent North Carolina presidential primary wounded candidacies---one by the American Party and Holshouser's prospects for a 1978 primary one by the Teamster business agent in Minot battle against Sen. Jesse Helms(R). Thus should cancel each other's effect in the far, the four GOP candidates for governor have fall. Although Link has the edge of incum­ remained neutral in the Ford-Reagan squabbles. bency, Republicans are hungry for an upset Because the GOP primary occurs on the second after 16 years of Democratic leadership un­ day of the Republican National Convention in der Link and former Gov. William Guy(D). August, there is some h9pe that the guberna­ torial candidate may be able to salvage some RHODE ISLAND: For Republicans to win in party unity. Two of the three frontrunners, Rhode Island, they usually have to match super­ however, are former members of the Holshouser ior candidates with Democratic fratricide. In Administration: Human Res~urces Secretary D~v­ Cranston Mayor James Taft, the GOP has a super­ id T. Flaherty and Transportation Secret~rY-­ ior candidate with a respected record in admin­ Jacob F. Alexander. The ather contender is istering the state's second largest city. But the Rev. Coy C. Privette, whose gained polish Taft will not have the advantage of a Democra­ and name recognition through his involvement tic gubernatorial primary in his uphill race in Baptist church politics and statewide mor­ against Lt. Gov. Joseph Garrahy. Jr., an ami­ ality campaigns. Flaherty is the current able lightweight whose popularity stems in frontrunner but it's strictly a three-way part from his lack of substantial accomplish­ race. The leading Democrat is Lt. Gov. ment or responsibility which might have demon­ James B. Hunt, Jr., who is the most liberal strated leadership and thus made enemies. Gar­ of the three Democrats given a chance at win­ rahy's first major mistake in the campaign may ning the nomination. Although Hunt has ad­ have been his involvement in the selection of vocated a strong lieutenant governor. and a an endorsed candidate for lieutenant governor, weakened governorship in the past, he has a process which is guaranteed to cost him some reversed his position now that he is seeking Democratic friends. Garrahy also may find him­ the top office himself. Democrats seeking a self caught in some of the undertow from the more fiscally conservative, business-oriented stiff primaries expected between outgoing Gov. candidate are likely to favor either George Philip Noel(D) and Senate Majority Leader Wood or Edward M. o 'Herron, Jr. A strong John Hawkins for the Senate and between U.S.Rep. ~ticket---perhaps including black Republi­ Edward P. Beard and Warwick Mayor Eugene J. Mc­ canAsa Spaulding for secretary of state-­ Caffrey, Jr., for the House. To win, Taft will may help the Republicans, but it is a long have to tie Garrahy to Noel's unpopular deci­ way back from the disastrous defeats they sions and difficulties with the state'prison, suffered in 1974. the sales tax, and the economy. Taft will be hampered by the weakness of the Republican tick­ NORTH DAKOTA: The GOP's top priority in et outside of former Gov. John Chafee, who is this state is the eviction of Gov. Arthur A. making a second run for the Senate. Link (D) from the governor's office. Other political considerations---such as the selec­ UTAH: Gov. Calvin Rampton(D) based his de­ tion of national convention delegates at the cision not to seek reelection on the Democrats' July state convention---are likely to take ability to hold the post if he stepped down. a back seat to the party unity necessary to That reasoning may well turn out to be spe- ,

cious; top state Democrats declined the oppor­ lacks Snelling's firm base in the party. tunity to run for governor. Instead, an as­ sortment of five lesser-knowns are vying for WASHINGTON: The retirement of popular. that honor. The frontrunners are probably progressive Gov. Dan Evans(R) gives Democrats Salt Lake lawyers Scott M. Matheson and John their first'opportunity to break the Republi­ Preston Creer although JohnH. Klas has organ­ can grip on the statehouse since 1964. The ization support by virtue of his stint as Democrats' early leaders was a distinctly non­ state Democratic chairman. Both Ogden Mayor political maverick, former U.S. Atomic Energy Stephen Derks and Logan Mayor Desmond L. Ander­ Commission chairman Dixie Lee Ray. Both Re­ son are also seeking the Democratic nomination. publican and Democratic polls showed Ray, The Republican nominee is equally unclear al­ who also served as an assistant secretary of though Attorney General Vernon Romney. a state from 1974-75, leading, but she has staunch conservative, started the campaign as begun to slip this spring. Her nearest ri­ the logical GOP candidate. Romney's strained val for the nomination in a crowded Democrat­ campaigning style has allowed~tate Sen. Dixie ic field is Seattle Mayor Wes Uhlman, whose Leavitt to narrow Romney's lead with an'aggres­ battles with local unions have made him a sive campaign and Davis County Commissioner controversial figure with organized labor Stanley Smoot to take up any remaining slack. and led to a recall drive last year. Ray's In both parties, the outcome will probably not campaign, however, has been disorganized, be clear until votes are taken at July state and Republicans are confident that they have conventions. A similar situation exists in a good shot at retaining the governorship. the Republican contest for the Senate nomina­ The GOP itself faces a primary between King tion against incumbent Frank Moss(D). Utahns County Executive John Spellman and King Coun­ h8ve shown a considerable tendency to ticket­ ty Assessor Harley~. Spellman, an Evans­ split at will in past elections so the effect type progressive, i& leading the conserva­ of the national campaign will be muted, but tive Hoppe ahd appears to be gaining. That's the embarrassment of U.S.Rep. Allan Howe's re­ a good sign for the GOP; a bad sign would be cent arrest for allegedly soliciting a Salt the nomination of Reagan. Evans countered Lake decoy-prostitute is bound to hurt. the the ·Goldwater landslide in 1964, but GOP Democratic effort in the state. leaders are not· so sanguine about 1976.

VERMONT: An increasingly bitter Demo­ WEST VIRGINIA: Some West Virginia Repub­ cratic primary may provide Republicans with licans have the feeling that the governorship an opportunity to slip a conservative Repub­ of their state is for sale this year. To them. lican past a conservative Democrat and win spending $1.7 million to win the Democratic back the governorship. Although House Maj­ gubernatorial nomination is obscene. West Vir­ jority Leader Richard A. Snelling(R) has ginia governors have not always been noted for long been perceived as a staunch conserva­ their probity, but no one can claim Jay Rocke­ tive, he has attempted to moderate and sof­ feller is in the race for the money. His own ten his image, backtracking for example on money was apparently well spent in the primary his old advocacy of right-to-work legisla­ because he received 50 percent of the vote in tion. While Snelling has mellowed and an eight-way race that was expected to be smoothed his past abrasive image, State Treas­ much closer. Rockefeller lost some of his urer Stella B. Hackel(D) has not. Like sev­ magical appeal when he lost to Gov. Arch Moore eral prominent Democrats in Vermont, Hackel (R) in 1972---a race in which, by comparison, is a former Republican whose tight fiscal Moore spent only $600,000. But Rockefeller policies have their admirers in both parties. has shed some of his carpetbagger image by . She also has her critics in both parties--- sticking around the state instead of moving as she discovered when both former Gov. on. His determination to win this time is evi­ Philip Hoff(D) and Deane Davis(R) criticized dently rather strong; asked how much Rockefel­ her r~cent proposal to abolish the state's ler would spend on the general election cam­ super agencies. \Said Hoff:' '''This raises a paign, an aide said "as much as it takes." Like .question of how good a grasp Mrs. Hackel has Rockefeller, former Gov. Cecil H. Underwood, on state government." 'Before the November who is the Republican candidate, is a former showdown. Mrs. Hackel will have to defeat Lt. college president who most recently made a liv­ Gov. Brian Burns, known for his amiability, ing as a businessman. Underwood easily won the advocacy of public power, and sponsorship of GOP primary after Moore was ruled ineligible the "Tooth Fairy"(child dental) legislation, for a third term. Although Moore and Under­ and State Sen. Robert O'Brien. On the GOP wood have had their past differences, the GOP side, Snelling will have to defeat William C. is expected to unite behind the moderate former Craig, former chancellor of Vermont's state state executive. If the combined records of colleges. Craig won their first skirmish--­ Underwood and Moore count in the public's mind, a cow-milking contest---by a substantial mar­ Underwood could win. If money and media count, gin, but is expected to lose the primary. then it will be awfully hard to deny Jay Rock­ Although Craig is capable and personable, he efeller his governorship. - CHOOSING THE VICE PRESIDENT: ANOTHER VIEW COMME"TABY: Vice Presidency bv Michael C. Maibach

In an article in the May 1 FORUM entitled 1. The Minnesota Plan would truly change "Choosing the Vice President." Minnesota GOP the character of the presidential primary sys­ State Chairman Chuck Slocum discussed a propos­ tem a~ well as that of the nominating conven­ al which would change the way the vice presi- . tion. No longer would primary voters and lo­ dential nominee is chosen at the Republican cal caucuses only weigh the attributes of the National Convention. Although it is admitted Republican presidential candidates. Their fo­ that the present system has negative aspects, cus would surely be broadened and perhaps this writer finds that the Minnesota scheme clouded by each candidates' list of acceptable would be no improvement. While it would per­ running mates. Although it could be argued haps cure some existing ills, it would engen­ that these lists could add to the voters' as­ der some not currently extant by substantially sessment of each candidate vis-a-vis the can­ changing the character of the process. didate's ability to judge character as well as the kind of individuals that he/she would be According to the Slocum piece, the plan comfortable working with, such an advantage would require each Republican presidential can­ is not worth gaining if the cost is a lost didate to publicly present a list of four to public focus on the presidential candidate. six potential running mates to the Republican National Convention at least 120 days prior to 2. Such lists might not reflect the the convention. During this period, the news real, unfettered choices of each candidate. media, students of public affairs, and the Rather, each list could be primarily prag­ general public could become familiar with the matic or even opportunist. The persons enum­ personalities listed. At the convention, the erated might well be primarily from populous list of the party's presidential nominee would and/or strategically vital primary states. become a ballot from which the delegates would Men and women from small or "safe" states choose the vice presidential nominee---with might be glossed over to the party's and na­ or without an indication of preference from tion's detriment. Finally, a list of this the nominee himself. No other names could be nature, while utilitarian in the short term, added except those of unsuccessful presiden­ might leave a presidential nominee without tial candidates with whom the public would al­ his true choice upon nomination. This might ready be familiar. deprive the candidate of the ability to run with a person who could best assist and advise The impetus for this idea cbmes from the him both as nominee and President. This resignation of former Vice Presideht Spiro Ag­ plan could also work to exclude a woman or new and the withdrawl from the 1972 Democratic minority group member from the national tick­ ticket of Missouri Sen. Thomas Eagleton. The et. Minnesota Plan holds that such occurrences might be avoided in the future by ending the 3. Such a listing method, especially if practice of presidential nominees choosing not also adopted by the Democratic Party, could their running mates privately during the fren­ be very deleterious to the GOP's chances for suc­ zied atmosphere of the national convention cess in the general election. The Minnesota where the power of reason is strained. That Plan would take precious flexibility away from trap would be avoided by fostering public con­ the presidential nominee in what is now his sideration of this important decision prior personal choice of a running mate who could to the convention when a more dispassionate add the most to the quality and balance of the atmosphere might prevail. GOP's ticket in light of the Democrats' ticket. The present system offers almost total flexi­ While admitting that this new procedure bility in this regard. might solve some of the problems mentioned above, it might not have prevented even the 4. The Minnesota Plan would also alter Agnew and Eagleton affairs. In the Agnew mat­ the character of the vice presidential selec­ ter, one finds that he served as Vice Presi­ tion process as an agency of intra-party co~ dent for five 'years before his case was adjud­ promise. icated. In the Eagleton contretemps, it is clear that he had the opportunity to inform 5. Lastly, the Republican Party can and Sen. George McGovern of his psychological his­ should nominate for President an individual tory and chose not to. Perhaps the l20-day whose wisdom and political judgement it trusts. grace period would have prevented the end Surely, all serious candidates privately and result, but that alone does not justify chang­ thoughtfully consider the many possible vice ing a modus operandi which has served rather presidential choices available as they travel well on balance, especially when considering throughout the country and talk to its leaders that: Further, any politician who has the ability the potential of limiting the range of choice to capture this party's nomination should be open to the party's presidential nominee. • the best judge of those attributes need in a vice presidential running mate. Contributer Note: Michael C. Maibach is a mem­ The Minnesota Plan, while well-inten­ ber of the National,Governing Board, a legisla­ tioned, would serve to egregiously politicize tive intern in the Illinois State Senate and the question of the vice presidential nomina­ an alternate to the Republican National Conven­ tion. It would limit the ability of the party tion. ty's nominee to win in November. And it has

members of the Council on Foreign Relations. Ripon in the lews If Reagan ran on an independent ticket for President, he would get a higher percentage • In a projection of delegate allegiances the of the vote than the Republican Party would week before the California primary, the Ripon get led by any other American, with the possi­ Society predicted that Ford would win the Re­ ble exception of John Connally.P publican nomination reg~rdless of the outcome • Commenting on the impact of the possible nom­ of that election. Commenting on Ripon's tally, ination of Ronald Reagan on the Republican Par­ the New York Times' Christopher Lydon wrote, ty, CBS commentator Eric Sevareid referred to "One measure of the squirming closeness of the the Ripon FORUM's editorial suggesting that Ford'Reagan race for the Republican nomination a Reagan nomination would "McGovernize" the is that journalistic rooters for either side GOP:"McGovern opposed and busted up the Demo­ are only a few handfuls of convention votes cratic Party's establishment, so called---its apart in their latest projections of victory. official structure of existing party leaders Human Events, the conservative weekly, now most everywhere, from counties to Congress. counts 1,156 delegate votes for Ronald Rea­ The Ripons seem to think the structure could gan, just 26 more ~han will be needed to nom­ not be pulled'together again following a Rea­ inate. The Ripon Society, which calls it­ gan nomination, that Reagan, like McGovern, self the "national progressive Republican represents a narrow, doctrinal base. And if organization," responded lat~ last week with McGovern was seen by millions as some sort of its own state-by-state count of 1,161 first­ hippy freak in '72, they argue, Reagan will ballot votes for President Ford---foreseeing, be painted as the wicked witch of the West. that is, a mere 3l-vote cushion for the Ripon favorite." • In an editorial on "The Reagan Challenge," the New York Times noted,"In endorsing Presi­ dent Ford last week, the Ripon Society, made up of younger, progressive Republicans, called attention to a third factor that works in Mr. For 12 years, the Ripon FORUM and other Reagan's favor. Republicans have refused to Ripon Society publications have been published adopt reforms in delegate selection that by Fleming & Son in Somerville, Massachusetts. would apportion delegates in strict accord­ During that time, Clifford D. Fleming adjusted ance with population and that would divide to the eccentricities and unpredictable work delegates in primary states in proportion to habits of close to a dozen Ripon staff members. each candidate's popular vote. As a result, They in turn learned how inadequately Cliff's the state Republican Parties in the South pseudo-gruff exterior masked a heart of gold. and West where Mr. Reagan is strong are over­ The Ripon publications have changed over the represented." years, but Cliff's patience never did. You • Columnist William F. Buckley, Jr., who has could always tell Cliff's friends from the contented himself recently by suggesting that other customers because they were the ones President Ford get out of the presidential Cliff yelled at. Cliff yelled at a lot of race and leave the GOP to Ronald Reagan, people; they'll miss him. "The boss" died wrote recently,"Who cares, really, about the suddenly June 11 in York, Maine. Republican Party? Its soul is the property of the Ripon Society, and a few of the older FORUM Published semi-monthly by the Ripon Society, 1609 Conn. Ave., N.W., Wash­ ington, D.C. 20009. Second class post­ age paid at Washington, D.C. and other mailing offices.