Vol. VIII NO. 17

SEPTEMBER 1, 1972 FORU.M 25 CENTS

Republican Rules Roulette Oosing the Door after the Party The nine-day battle over the rules to govern the Re­ Committeewoman Rosemary Ginn, who chaired the DO publican Party through the 1976 Convention provided the Committee, making the most convincing arguments. Now only break from the carefully programmed and wrapped­ faced with open meetings, Cramer acidly stated that while in-plastic 1972 Convention. anyone could attend, "the meetings will be orderly and any disruptions would be dealt with appropriately." In the end, after a spirited floor fight, the Conven­ tion adopted a delegate allocation formula containing sim­ The four Rules subcommittees convened in makeshift ilar defects in the opinion of lawyers to those in the for­ quarters in the Eden Roc Hotel Tuesday morning, with mula ruled unconstitutional in April for the Ripon So­ television cameras covering the meetings on Rule 30 and ciety and the Republican National Committee (RNC). Rules ;1-34. Rule 30 on delegate allocation, chaired with unflagging fairness and good humor by William S. Pow­ The Convention also adopted DO Committee rec­ ers of Colorado, suffered its first "disruption" not long Gmmendation 8, which provides that, "Each state shall en­ after it had begun wading through the 17 proposed for­ deavor to have equal representation of men and women mulas before it. in its delegation to the Republican National Convention;" but ignored DO recommendations designed to increase Cramer walked in and announced that Sen. John the participation of young people and minority group Tower of Texas had an important statement to make and members. had been unable to be present the day before. Tower ar­ rived following a press conference to announce the "Tower­ Kemp" (Rep. Jack Kemp of New York) Plan, dubbed the "Miami Compromise," which was the basis for the formula finally adopted by the Convention. The Tower Plan was accompanied by a chart showing how the plan would work if Nixon carried every state in November. When reduced to the basis of all other plans - 1968-70 voting statistics - the plan would have generated 1321 delegates, 27 fewer than at this Convention. By the end of the day, the subcommittee was down to three plans: Sen. Percy's, modeled on the Ripon plan; the Tower plan; and a formula worked out by Fred Lip­ pitt and New York Chairman Charles Lanigan, which allocated delegates based on carrying congressional dis­ tricts as well as presidential vote. The Lippitt-Lanigan plan carried 6-5 over Tower, after the Percy formula had been eliminated by consensus. The subcommittee plan was presented to the full RNC Rules Committee the next day, along with re­ ports from the other three subcommittees. Tom Stagg of Louisiana offered as a substitute a modified Tower plan, which would have enlarged the convention to 1979 dele­ gates. The modified plan provided that each state would re­ ceive delegates equal to three times its electoral vote, plus 4~ delegates and 60% of its electoral vote if the state carried for the GOP presidential candidate. After sub­ But the only really serious controversy involved del­ stantial debate, during which opponents of Tower called egate allocation. It began with testimony before the RNC it a form of "Russian Roulette" and pointed out its con­ Rules Committee on Monday, August 14. The open hear­ stitutional defects, the substitute, as amended, passed 31-16. ings, which had been agreed to by Rules Chairman Wil­ The full RNC met the next day to receive the report liam C. Cramer of Florida only a few days before, in­ of the Rules Committee. A minority report, signed by cluded statements from, among others, Senators Packwood, nine of the 16 who voted nay in the Rules Committee, Javits, Buckley and Percy; Congressmen Railsback, Crane was presented by Bernard Shanley of New Jersey, who and Wiggins; Governor Francis Sargent and gubernatorial had been a vocal opponent of Ripon's lawsuit, but was candidate Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri; John convinced that, since the court had spoken, the Tower Gardner of Common Cause; Dan Swillinger of Ripon, plan was as unconstitutional as the old Rule 30. The minor­ Mrs. Jesse Sargent and Christine Topping of the Women's ity report (the original plan approved by the subcommit­ Political Caucus. tee) was defeated on a voice vote, and the decision was After the testimony was completed in early evening, made by its principal advocates, State Chairmen William Cramer asked for a motion to make all subcommittee and Mclaughlin of Michigan, Dave Krogseng of Minnesota, committee sessions closed. The motion was made, and Charles Lanigan of New York, and Lippitt that a record then to Cramer's surprise, was defeated, with Rhode Is­ vote would not be requested. Two amendments later of­ land National Committeeman Fred Lippitt and Missouri fered to the Tower plan - one to extend the victory bonus to senatorial and gubernatorial contests, and the Sen. Hugh Scott, accompanied by McLaughlin, Lanigan other to include a congressional district victory bonus - and Pennsylvania Chairman Gifford Jones, with Bliss again were both defeated, the first on a 50·71 vote, the other the mediator. A compromise was discussed and it was by voice vote. agreed that each side would discuss it, with the group to Attention then turned to the Convention Rules Com· reconvene on Tuesday at 11 a.m., only two hours before mittee, also chaired by Cramer, which was to meet for the Convention would meet to hear committee reports, in· the lirst time on Sunday, August 20. Its 105 members con­ cluding Rules. Tower failed to show up, encouraging Bliss tained only 15 who had served on the RNC Rules Com­ and Scott to go back to their delegations to convince them mittee, and included effective advocates of reform like to vote for the Steiger plan, which would be offered on Congressman William Steiger of Wisconsin, Senators the floor. Mathias, Percy and Packwood, Minnesota Chairman While a floor light had been tactically discussed for Krogseng and New York Assembly Speaker Perry Duryea. a week, the decision to proceed was not actually made until The group, which had been in the minority all week, Tuesday morning. The New York delegation caucused and also set about to develop a true compromise formula, voted unanimously for a floor light, providing the light's which included elements from both the Tower plan and impetus as well as much of its logistical support. the subcommittee plan. Originally conceived by Lanigan in the lobby of the Eden Roc Hotel and refined in a two­ The convention managers asked that the two sides room suite in the Dea.uville which had become the opera­ meet before debate began to work out ground rules. At tions center, the plan was put in linal form on Sunday. the Deauville headquarters it was agreed that Steiger would Congressman Steiger agreed to offer it when the Conven· speak· first in support of his amendment, to be followed tion Rules Committee met to consider Rule 30 on Monday. by 24-year-old Brigid Shanley of New Jersey, New York Assembly Speaker Duryea (both members. of the Rules Also on Sunday, Governor Robert Ray of Iowa held Committee) and finally Michigan Chairman McLaughlin, a press conference to announce his opposition to the Tow­ who had been effective in debate all week. er plan. Ray worked until the final vote for the Steiger plan, particularly lobbying among fellow governors, many Steiger led off, followed by Cramer in opposition. of whom arrived that weekend. The speakers then alternated, with other opponents in­ . Th~ weekend also saw the lirst attempts at media­ cluding Rex Duwe of Kansas, Mayor Richard Lugar of tion of the dispute. RNC Chairman Bob Dole asked for­ Indianapolis and linally Gov. Ronald Reagan. The roll mer National Chairman Ray C. Bliss of Ohio to meet call vote was 434-910 against the Steiger substitute, with with both sides, which he did on Saturday, but no head­ the bulk of Steiger's support coming from the large states: way was made. Dole made it clear again Sunday on na­ (New York 88, Ohio 52, Pennsylvania 60, New Jersey tional TV that he wanted a compromise which would avoid 34, Michigan 48, Massachusetts 34). Substantial support the almost inevitable floor light, but neither Dole nor Co­ was also received from Minnesota, Connecticut, Wisconsin, chairman Tom Evans personally pushed hard for a com­ Iowa, Missouri, Oregon and the Virgin Islands (all of its promise, due in part to the press of other duties. three votes). The White House and the Committee to Re-elect the Ripon reaffirmed its determination to challenge the President, which during the RNC Rules proceedings through new formula, as part of the current proceedings. Senators its agents Charles McWhorter and Harry Flemming had Scott and Schweiker announced that they would file suit been not-so-quietly supporting the Tower plan, also linal­ to challenge the constitutionality or new Rule 30: ly began looking for a compromise. John Ehrlichmann had been designated as the contact, but beyond some sound­ So the battle, fought so well for nine days in Miami ings, nothing was done until the Convention Rules Com­ Beach, returned to the courtroom. And moderate Repub­ mittee had made its decision. licans, beaten once again in convention, returned home with a renewed appreciation of how well the conserva­ When Rule 30 was reached on Monday, Steiger gain­ tives control the party. ed recognition and offered his compromise formula. After very brief debate, the Steiger substitute was tabled on a motion by Mississippi's Garke Reed, effectively ending debate on it. Immediately thereafter, a 22-year-old state ,ln September, the FORUM will reverse the usual representative from South Carolina, Sherry Shealy, severe­ ly munching on a Wisconsin apple, moved that the Tower order of publication for its magazine and newsletter. plan be adopted without amendment. This provoked the The FORUM newsletter will be published September 1 longest debate in the committee, with the supporters and feature special reports on the Republican National arguing that the issue had been fully debated over the Convention in Miami. The FORUM magazine will be past week, and the opponents arguing that this was a new published September 15 and feature an in-depth analy­ body which should make its own decision, and that de­ sis of the record the Nixon Administration. bate should not be cut off until everyone who wished to of speak had been heard. The motion was linally defeated on a 38-61 roll call vote, which one Washington political writer dubbed "a: THE RIPON SOCIETY INC. Is a RepubUcan r~earch and narrow victory for the First Amendment." One amendment I poUey organization whose members are young business, academic and profeSSional men and was linally adopted, granting one bonus delegate for each women. It has national headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, GOP senator, governor or congressional majority elected chapters in thirteen cities, National Associate members throughout the fifty states, and several affUiated groups of subchapter status. in a state. The Society Is supported by chapter dues, Individual contribu­ tions ana revenues from its pubUcations and contract work.

When the Rules Committee finally ended its work THE RIPON FORUM Is published semi-monthly by the Ripon Society, Inc., 140 Eliot Street early Tuesday morning, Rule 30, though very different and Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138. Second class postage rates paid at Boston, Massachusetts. Contents are copyrlghteti © 1972 by the providing for a larger convention, still unfairly discrim­ Ripon Society, Inc. Correspondence addressed to the Editor Is inated against the larger states. Aside from the provision welcomed. In publishing this magazine the Ripon Society seeks to provide on women delegates, and the inclusion of a provision a forum for fresh ideas, well-researched proposciJs and for a spirit of criticism, Innovation, and independent thinking wtthtn the Re­ creating a committee with no enforcement power to as­ pubUcan Party. Articles do not necessarily represent the opinion of the National Governing Board or the Editorial Board of the sist the states to implement the new rules (which contain Ripon Society, unless they are expUcitly 80 labelled. very little new), the report going to the floor contained SUBSCRIPTION RATES are $10 a year, $5 for students. service­ men, and for Peace Corps, VIsta and other volunteers. Overseas little to cheer advocates of an open party. air mail, $10 extra. Advert!sing rates on request. Please allow five weeks lor address changes. The adoption of the Tower plan made a floor light Ectilon George Gilder inevitable, even though prospects for winning were slim. C_trihutIDg Editom CUfford Brown, Glean Gersten. Howard Relter. PoUtlc:aJ Editon Dick Belin. In an attempt" to keep it from the floor, the White House Clrcu1cdloa Dept.r Judith H. Belin. arranged a" meeting on Monday between Sen. Tower and Arb Leslie MorrO!, David Omar WhIte. Florida for the Tower plan, even though those states fared better under almost any of the other seriously considered, but apparendy constitutional, formulas. Responsible Leadership Republicans have every reason at this point to be euphorIC about their convention and their national tick­ et. As the Democrats continue to bumble and stumble through the campaign, the Republican ticket continues to rise in the poDs. The carefully orchestrated perform­ Conservative Coalition ance in Miami proved every bit the media event its The coalition which pushed the unfair and proba­ planners had hoped. bly illegal Tower plan through the Convention was Still, Republicans ought to be concerned about the made up of two distinct groups, which came together lack of candor on the part of the President and party out of necessity. officials about the future direction of a second Nixon One part first met in June in Salt Lake City, to Administration. Neither the platform nor the Presi­ discuss the Ripon lawsuit and convention strategies. dent's acceptance speech presented any kind of con­ The meeting was called by Wyoming State Chairman sistent theme or set of princi'ples on which to build David Kennedy to seek ways to protect small state in­ that vaunted new majority. Tune and again, Rer.mli­ terests. (See June 15 FORUM newsletter for details) cans attacked McGovern or one of his policies Without Though from generally conservative mountain states advancing concrete goals for future Republican lead­ they were not moved by ideology but by the need t~ ership. keep the over-sized chunk of delegates awarded by the On the sole major controve~ before the conven­ old, unconstitutional Rule 30. tion, delegate allocation, the White House totally ab­ At Miami this group was joined, and later dom­ dicated responsible leadership. Instead of working open­ inated, by southern conservatives, led by Mississippi Ir and forthrighdy with the Rules Committee over the Chairman Clarke Reed and Louisiana's Tom Stagg, SIX months it studied the problem, a few White House who operated by proxy on both Rules Committees. This operatives jumped in at the last minute behind a con­ group presented the rules fight as "a liberal takeover of servative-backed allocation formula which helped polar­ the }.latty," claiming after the fight in Reed's words, ize the entire convention and ensure further court ac­ "ThIS assures that the nominee in 1976 will not be tion. The fight may not have seriously damaged Richard to the left of Richard Nixon." Nixon's electoral prospects, but his party was hardly The old YR syndicate was put into action, and a strengthened by the outcome. committee was formed to pump out attacks on such peo­ So far, John Mitchell's dictum, "You can't beat ple as RNC General Counsel Fred Scribner and Rules somebody with nobody" seems to have held u,('. Ul­ subcommittee chairman William Powers. The -hand­ timately, however, the voters will measure Richard outs carried Clarke Reed's phone number, but he dis­ Nixon not just against George McGovern but against avowed any knowledge of them. The sheet attacking the responsibilities of the presidential office. If the Powers was in such bad taste that even Tom Stagg was President projects no greater sense of responsible lead­ moved to call it "scurrilous garbage." ership and direction for the nation and party than he The conservative nature of the coalition was best did 10 Miami Beach, we may find this election much illustrated by the support of California, Texas and closer than it now is or ought to be. Party Platform Rhetoric over Substance MIAMI BEACH - The near flawless orchestration - Between running our own lives and letting others of the 1972 Republican Platform must have been viewed in a distant bureaucracy run them. with some satisfaction by Maestro Richard Nixon and his And so the tone of the Nixon campaign is set - White House Ensemble. a tone which carves a rhetorical distinction between the Just about everything was in tune, as everyone knew goals and outlook of the two parties, knowing full well it would be, and a few discordant notes heard now and that, in reality, the broad policy positions of each are large­ then throughout the performance must have been more ly similar. a source of amusement than irritation. The President used the platform to call upon the The language of the platform was designed by and Democratic Congress to take action on many of his dom­ for conservatives, although the programs and proposals estic legislative proposals, including the five-point foun­ it outlined were relatively moderate. It stands in contrast dation of New American Revolution: welfare reform, to the Democratic platform which was unabashedly lib­ revenue-sharing, government reorganization, national health eral in both language and content. insurance, and environmental initiatives. Few Democrats quarrel with the basic thrust of those proposals. Neverthe­ But while the 1968 Platform Preamble stressed posi­ less, the platforms of the two parties do diverge on sev­ tive Republican leadership "in time of crisis" the 1972 eral highly emotional, potent political issues. preamble relies heavily on a narrow attack on McGovern­ - The Republicans opposed busing children to achieve ism, criticizing in particular "the convulsive, leftward lurch racial balance in schools; the Democrats called it "another of nation the national Democratic Party." The 1972 Pre­ tool" to bring about desegregation; amble, like 1968, takes note of people's frustration's with - The Republicans opposed gun control laws; the government, especially among youth. In 1968, the pre­ Democrats endorsed the ban on the sale of handguns; amble stressed solutions, saying in part: - The Democrats endorsed amnesty for war resisters; - We must bring about a national commitment to re­ the Republicans opposed it; build our urban and rural slum areas; ~ The Republicans supported voluntary school pray­ - We must attack the root causes of poverty and er; the Democrats did not mention it; eradicate racism, hatred and violence; - The Democrats did not mention the use of - We must give all citizens the opportunity to in­ marijuana; the Republicans opposed liberalization of exist­ fluence and shape the events of our time. ing laws; The 1972 preamble in contrast, gives one line's credit - The Democrats called for a repeal of section 14(b) to social progress under President Nixon and then proceeds of the Taft-Hartley Act (the 'right to work" section); the to set up some false choices: Republicans did not mention it. - Between negotiating and begging with adversary It is difficult to escape the judgement that on most nations; of these issues, the party of Richard Nixon has successful­ - Between an expanding economy in which workers ly tapped the troubled thinking of middle America, and prosper and an handout economy in which the idle live that by so doing, it has won for itself a sizable number of in ease; votes. it will never be mediocre. Some would-be seers, of course, go further, entertaining national visions. In bar stool whispers and barbershop speculation, the name CONVENTION SIDELIGHTS Lugar often elicits the fervently-held conviction that the Unigov merger may not have been Indy's last mir­ • Led by Governors William Milliken (Mich.), acle." Robert Ray (Iowa), and Francis Sargeant (Mass.), Re­ • The efforts of the Black Caucus at the Repub­ publican governors pushed forcefully for rules reform, lican Convention were a study in disorganization. Each and were instrumental in restoring the original lan­ of the three top GOP strategists, RNC's Edwin Sexton, guage of Rule 32 encouraging minority delegate rep­ CRP's Paul Jones and the White House's Bob Brown, resentation. Several governors personally attended the threw elaborate parties for the black delegates but they Monday night meeting to support delegate-allocation were ineffective and petulant when confronted with reform. questions at meetings of the black caucus. The only • If Sen. Edward Brooke's keynote address seem­ effective black leaders were Carol Ann Taylor (New ed to end abruptly, it was because the last two para­ York) and Gen. Hassan Jeru-Ahmed (D.C.), but even graphs were left off the teleprompter. they failed to generate any concerted action. Hassan • Tom Stagg, the Louisiana National Committee­ and fellow D.C. Republican Wilber Colom filed a chal­ man who was a leader in the conservative effort in the lenge with the Credentials Committee on the make-up Rules Committee, didn't belong there. Stagg was an of the D.C. delegation (which was 33 percent black I elected member of the Resolutions Committee but when though D.C. itself is 71 percent black) but dropped the ~' things heated up in Rules and South Dakota's Jack challenge in exchange for floor p~s - a deal on Gibson proved an inadequate spokesman, Stagg took which the D.C. delegation chairman later reneged. The I over the seat to which Ross Shirah of Louisiana had D.C. credentials fight was the sole effort on which the been elected. When a challenge to Stagg was made on black caucus really united. At best, the caucuses were the opening day of the convention by Inkster, Michigan debating sessions. At worst, Sexton and Jones became Mayor Edward Bivens, Jr., former Congressman Wil­ involved in a argument over Jones' position - which liam Cramer ruled Bivens out of order. Cramer prom­ Sexton would like. On the convention floor, however, ised Stagg the previous night that he would not al­ these same black leaders were scarce. The feeling is low Stagg's credentials to be challenged in committee growing that the black voter effort, that Jones and session. Some observers felt Cramer might have made Sexton are supposed to be coordinating, is being writ­ a Freudian slip when he said "Tower-Kemp would ten off. Apparently, "nobody is listening" to these staff­ be known as the Louisiana Compromise not the Louis­ ers on CRP, and as a result, the votes of black voters iana Purchase." may go Democratic by default this fall. • A reporter literally bumped into Presidential • By comparison, the Indian delegates, though far assistant John Erlichman coming out of an elevator in fewer, had impressive success with their platform sug­ the lobby of the Fontainebleu. "What's happening?" gestions. The Indian delegates caucused Sunday night Erlichmann asked in his big, friendly way. "Just sat and negotiated with Platform Chairman Rhodes the through a press conference with George Romney," said n::xt day. Though only one of their five platform pro­ the correspondent. "What'd he say?" asked Erlichmann, posals had been accepted by the platform committee, beaming broadly. "He said he was quitting the Ad­ Rhodes agreed to support a minority report supporting ministration to go into business with Wally Hickel," economic development and "self-determination with­ the rep0rter replied, trying a small attempt at humor. out termination" if planks on urban Indians and sur­ Erlichmann, no longer smiling, grunted and marched plus land were dropped. Peter MacDonald presented away. the report to the full convention, Rhodes seconded the • Congressman Peter Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), report and the amendment was overwhelming adopted. chairman of the subcommittee on human rights and • Ohio former Gov. James Rhodes (R) testified responsibilities, reported sought to modify the platform with characteristic enthusiasm before a platform sub­ position on amnesty so that no proposals· would be committee on the policy issue nearest his heart, voca­ considered "appropriate" until such time as the war tionaf education. Looking slimmer and more relaxed had ended. The White House insisted on language re­ than he has in years, Rhodes gave every impression jected "here and now" all amnesty proposals. Support­ of a man ready and willing to offer himself to the ers of that language emphasized that it would contrast voters once agam. with the Democratic position while still leaving open • Congratulations to the convention security the President's options for later action. forces who devised a develishly clever scheme to ex­ • The subtle and not-so-subtle manipulation of clude hippie-looking young people from the Platform the platform was illustrated by the plank adopted sup­ Committee's televised sessions. Tickets for the "open" porting voluntary school prayer. Congressman Freling­ sessions in the large LaRonda Room of the Fontaine­ huysen, chairman of the subcommittee which dealt bleau were available to the public at the opposite end with the school prayer issue, had been one of the only of the cavernous hotel in a tiny room surrounded by 26 Republican Congressmen who had voted against a curtains and posters. Security officials at the door of constitutional amendment on the subject in November, the LaRonda Room asked to see tickets from all who 1971. School prayer advocates made unsuccessful ef­ attempted to enter. Those without tickets who were forts to have Frelinghuysen removed as chairman. neat, clean and Republican were gently and apolo­ Meanwhile, John J. Rhodes invited Congressman getically referred to the other end of the hotel where Chalmers P. Wylie (R-Ohio), the leading House pro­ they had no trouble obtaining passes. However, those ponent of school prayer, to testify before the commit­ persons who were unscrubbed and long-haired, were tee. The "arrangement" of such witnesses was a key forcefully told that "No one enters here without a to the final platform. The only major changes on the ticket," without so much as a whisper about the exis­ White House-written document were, in fact, the tence of the tiny ticket room, open to the "public." planks on day care and women's rights spearheaded by Congresswoman Margaret M. Heckler. • Indianapolis Mayor Richard Lugar ran an im­ pressive press blitz for his presidential ambitions at the Miami Convention but some of his maneuveuring left Republican moderates annoyed. Lugar's hard-line key­ note speech on foreign policy seemed so out-of-char­ acter that Lugar associates later passed the word in Indiana that it had not been prepared by Lugar's of­ fice. Lugar's· second convention speech - supporting the conservative proposals on delegate allocation - also annoyed moderates because Indiana had earlier voted for big-state proposals in the Rules Committee. Neither speech was as impressive as the party thrown by Indiana's Committeeman, Keith Bulen, to introduce key party personalities to Lugar. The Fontainebleau shindig was complete with walkie-talkie operatives, five­ foot-tall blowups of Lugar in various poses, impressive brochures, and a souvenir china ashtray connecting Lugar with the All-American City, Indianapolis. Titled "There is Hope," the last section of the Lugar brochure read: "Of Lugar's future, nothing is certain except that • One of the primary objects of vice-presi­ • Clarke Reed, Missississippi State GO~ Cha.irman, dential speculation in 1968, Sen. Mark O. Hatfield (R­ and generaIissimo of the conservative rules fight, up­ Ore.), bypassed this year's convention in favor of his set many women with his use of South Carolina's Sher­ own re-election campaign. One of his aides and an al­ ry Shealy and Nebraska's Mrs. Haven Smith as spokes­ ternate from California, Frank Cook, circulated a hand­ women for his position. He told them what to say and some platform statement from Hatfield promoting they said it. neighborhood government. "The Democrats urge people • Reed didn't appreciate the comments of GOP to come home to a new nationalism. We Republicans Party Counsel Fred Scribner who told the RuIes Com­ should urge them to come home to their neighborhoods mittee that one of Reed's plans might not be approved and community affairs," the statement said. by federal courts. "He has shown his (Scribner's) stu­ pidity," said Reed. "He has sided with the liberals." • "He's a poor man's Jonathan Winters," com­ • The delegate-allocation plan adopted by the mented one member of the Women's Political Caucus convention directly contradicts the Nixon campaign about Rules Committee Chairman William Cramer, strategy of attracting new Jewish and Catholic votes whose slighting comments about women, iII-concealed to the Republican standards. These voters are pre­ favoritism to spokesman for the "small-state" propos­ dominate in such states as New York, New Jersey, als, and rudeness to some moderate Republicans did Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Penn­ little for his image. At the key RuIes Committee meet­ sylvania which would tend to be hurt most by the ing Monday night, the committee was forced to move plan adopted by the convention. All six of these states to a smaller room in mid-evening. Although the room's are over 30 percent Catholic and include large Jewish capacity was 112, and over 300 persons jammed into communities. it, Cramer refused to adjourn the meeting - even • Among the tidbits available to the media from after firemen tromped into the room. Cramer instead convention communications personnel was one hand­ accused Congressman Bill Steiger (R-Wisc.) of dilatory out in which orchestra leader Manny Harmon disclosed tactics and rammed through the conservative propos­ that President Nixon's favorite selection. was "Buckle als. Down, Winsockie." • Ken Reitz, the former chairman aide to Sen. • Brigid Shanley, 24- year-old delegate from New Bill Brock who's now running the operation of the Jersey, whose speech attacking the unconstitutionality Young Voters for the President, did an extraordinary of the Tower-Kemp delegate-allocation formuIa drew job organizing the Tuesday youth rally and other youth a standing ovation from the convention, had been pro­ happening, at Miami Beach. Although not all the Nixon posed for an official speaking role in the convention. youth were happy about their deployment, Reitz's or­ The White House however, denied clearance even ganization is probably the best organized element of the though Ms. Shanley was on loan to CRP from her post Nixon campaign. as an assistant to RNC Vice-Chairman Tom Evans. Kicked out the Open Door I am a 21-year-old registered Republican. Until a We sat for a while - Bill Wyman of New Mex­ year and a half ago, I was involved in Democratic state ico, Bob Mulletz, Ron Kovics and I. Armed with poster politics, but became interested in Congressman Paul board and a magic marker, Bob made a sign that read McCloskey and his Presidential candidacy. He became "Stop The Bombing." After about five minutes, a se­ "my candidate," and in the course of my involvement curity man rushed in (we had in the meantime been in both his Presidential and Congressional campaigns, he surrounded by. men wearing security credentials), grab­ was successfully in convincing me that the fundamentals bed the sign and ran off, tearing it as he went. I ran of the Republican Party were very similar to my basic po­ after him, asking him his name and what right he had litical beliefs. to take the sign. He mumbled something about it not I differ with President Nixon on a number of is­ being any of my business. A policeman standing by re­ sues. But my priority right now is the Vietnam War. fused to be of any help. Basically, Nixon's handling of the war is the best Another sign was made, this one reading "Stop evidence that his administration is guilty of such un­ The Killing." A delegate grabbed the sign and started Republican tendencies as the brutal and cynical sub­ to tear it. He stopped when a guard told him to re­ stitution of impersonal technological warfare for the di­ turn the sign. All along, we were being harrassed by rect involvement of America's sons. And, any Repub­ Nixon people around us. Finally, we couldn't take it lican who feels this way - or any other way - sholl.ld anymore and one of the Vets violated an agreement we have had the opportunity to express his views. Un­ had made before we entered the hall - that we would fortunately, Miami was not a convention, but a Nixon not yell or make trouble that would lead to our expul­ rally. sion from the hall. He started to yell, "Stop the killing. A group of former McCloskey workers decided to Please stop killi1!g my brothers." With that, television join me in a trip to Miami for the Convention. We cameras were on us, and we were shuffled out of the had been denied the right to be represented officially hall by security guards. The young men were let out at the convention. Our request for gallery passes from of a side door and it was then locked. I was not allow­ the RNC had been turned down because we were not ed out with them . . . I was told to leave via a door members of Young Voters for the President, but felt at the other end of the hall and three young men, that the trip could be worthwhile if we could find some crippled for life defending their country, were left to way to express our views to convention delegates and fend for themselves in the tear gas war that was go­ other young people in Miami. My friends and I spent ing on outside the hall. Monday and Tuesday talking to Congressman McCloskey And, from that time until I returned home to and sitting around hotel lobbies discussing issues with Boston on Thursday afternoon, I was followed by two the "Nixonettes." We attended convention sessions and men. At one point I went up to them and said, "I know committee meetings. Tuesday night, I asked Pete if he you're following me. Can you tell me who you are and and Tom Mayer (the young man from New Mexico why I'm being tailed?" I was answered with: "we're who was supposed to be McCloskey's delegate) would doing this for your own security." like to attend Wednesday night's session. "No," Pete Well, as a result of my trip to Miami, I've become said. "But give the passes to some of the WAW (Vet­ the Jane Fonda of the Republican Party. erans Again the War) guys." So, the three of us went to Flamingo Park before - The Republicans don't want me anymore because the Wednesday evening session and brought two young of my opposition to the President. Vets in wheel chairs to Convention Hall. All armed The Democrats don't want me because I'm a Re­ with proper guest credentials, we ran through the tear publican and not about to give that 1IjJ. gas and into the hall. So where does a girl go who loves her country and We were allowed into the hall and told our seats who has been condemned for having the courage of were on the platform, but because of the wheel chairs her convictions? we were allowed to stay in the flo01' guest area. - SUSAN B. COHEN NWPC Women and the Republican Party MIAMI has come and gone for the The education process on women's ocratic sisters. They undoubtedly re­ Republicans and Republican women rights that accompanied the child care Bected more accurately the 68% of are now in the process of assessing fight was a remarkably healthy one for Republicans who, when questioned by their gains and losses. On the positive both the women's movement and the Gallup pollsters, supported the belief side, there is a strong women's plank Republican Party. The NWPC held that abortion should be a decision be­ in the platform and it contains a Re­ two meetings for all the women dele­ tween a woman and her physician, publican Party commitment-- to quali~ gates.on the Platform Committee and than did the delegates who either op­ ty developmental child care - fed­ innumerable smaller sessions. The posed abortion or simply were afraid erally-assisted and comprehensive. Par­ change in attitude and awareness to speak out. ty Rule 32 has been expanded to pro­ which resulted should be an eye open­ Republican women have also been vide for positive action to open up er to politicians, male and female, of criticized in the press for attending the party and' the delegate selection both parties. From a group whose a Women of Achievement brunch and process to women, youth, minorities, initial belief seemed to be that the a women candidates seminar, the first ethnic groups and senior citizens. And women's movement was for those because it prominently featured, among women "got it together" in Miami in who couldn't make it on their own, others, the wives of famous men and a significant way. Despite some pro­ views began to be expressed on a included an inaugural gown display gram setbacks, a "consciousness rais­ broad range of women's issues and and the latter because it was entitled ing" did take place and, because of priorities and a sense of common pur­ "See How She Runs." I am getting it, the Republican Party will never pose soon developed. These feelings rather tired of attacks on any form be the same. crossed widely divergent ideological of activity or expression that do not Arriving in muggy Miami on Sun­ and geographic lines and agreement comport with what is viewed as the day evening, August 13, I did not was not limited to the Eastern, tra­ current popular and proper mold. think the two weeks ahead looked very ditionally liberal wing of the party: While I, as an individual, would not appealing. For those of us from the for example, Anna Chennault made have chosen either attendance at the National Women's Political Caucus the strongest case in the room for brunch or that name for the seminar, who had experienced the Republican women power and quality child care there is no reason to chastise women Convention of 1968 a let-me-out-of­ for all; and the issue of placing women who find either those titles or those here feeling developed almost as soon in decision-making positions was ad­ activities to their liking. What the as we sighted the familiar beach hotels. dressed most effectively by delegates NWPC attempted to do at Miami and But with a belief that surprising from Arizona, North Dakota and Ne­ what I believe we successfully accom­ things could indeed happen, we es­ braska. It should also be noted that plished, was to present our conception tablished ourselves at the Sans Souci the attitudes of many of the male del­ of what is important in today's po­ Hotel and plunged into the fracas on egates were altered during the course litical process. The women's move­ platform and rules aware that we of the Convention and the movement ment, after all, is supposed to open were at least starting with assigned ac~ gained quite a few male supporters. up to women the freedom of choice commodations that reflected more sen­ to determine their own life styles. sitivity than the Democratic Conven­ On the matter of abortion: Abor­ The victory on Rule 32 involved a tion's delegation of women's groups tion, both pro and con, was among coalition of "progressive" forces of to the Betsy Ross Hotel. the topics discussed for three days which the women advocates were one straight in subcommittee II hear­ part. The Rules debate ran for 9 days The original draft of the plat­ ings and twice before the full Commit­ and involved approval first by the form, as presented to the Subcommit­ tee. In addition, NWPC talked with RNC Rules Committee and then re­ tee, had not contained any positive a large number of delegates about the view by the Convention Rules Com­ reference to child development and question of abortion and found a core mittee. There were two key sections day care programs beyond the tax of between 35 to 40 women, approx­ in the final language accepted by the deduction provisions which are al­ imately 10% of the female delegates, full Convention on August 22nd, the ready law and the custodial proposals who were actively and publicly sym­ first of which had been presented by for welfare children in H.R. 1. In­ pathetic and in support of our posi­ the NWPC: deed, its only additional reference was tion that abortion should be a matter .. ( a) . . . each State shall take opposition to involving the federal of personal choice for a woman and positive action to achieve the government "in the day care business not a matter that is dictated by so­ broadest possible participation by on a massive scale." However, by the ciety. While agreeing to talk with everyone in party affairs, in­ time this full Platform Committee re­ reporters, these women deliberately cluding such participation by ported out its finished product, the chose not to bring the issue to the Con­ women, young people, minority plank contained a commitment to: vention Boor for two reasons: (1 ) and heritage groups, and senior ". . . the development of public­ they felt they stood a good chance of citizens in the delegate selection ly or privately run, voluntaly, being booed off the podium and read process. comprehensive, quality day care out of their state parties for public­ (c) Each state shall endeavor to services, locally controlled but ly embarrassing the President; and have equal representation of men federally assisted with the require­ (2) they would give the "right to and women in its delegation to ment that the recipients of these life" groups the right to reply on na­ the Republican National Conven­ services will pay their fair share tionwide TV (hitting a large and vul­ tion." of the costs according to their nerable daytime audience instead of When the RNC Rules Committee ability." the 3: 30 a.m. nightowls, as was the work was completed on August 16th, This result, which involved in­ case with the Democrats) and this the language in Rule 32 had read as numerable hours of word by word could imperil the abortion reform ef­ it was when it finally passed the full negotiating with administration and forts underway in a number of their Convention with one major exception: committee staff by Peggy Heckler (R., states. missing were the words from the 1968 Mass.), the NWPC, the other Sub­ Thus to say, as some have, that anti-discrimination rule that called for committee, women and the chairman, abortion was not discussed at the Re­ "positive action" for participation. In Peter Frelinghuysen (R., N.J.), rep­ publican Convention because it did their place were the words "strive to resented a significant change in Ad­ not make TV time, prime or other­ achieve . . . the opportunity for par­ ministration and party rhetoric and a wise, is not a fair statement. The pro­ ticipation." Thus, while we had recognition of strong feelings on this abortion delegates fought as hard as gained specific reference and targeting subject by Republican women, a fact they could and didn't do any better of women, youth, minorities, ethnic too long and improperly ignored. or worse in the end than their Dem- groups and senior citizens in the del- ; egates selection process, we had lost in the Convention Rules Committee of Rule 32 and possibly even control · important action words that would re­ and its acceptance by the Convention them, if in opening up the party quire a strong effort at the inclusion itself, we found that we had the votes they found people who shared their of these groups. While "positive ac­ of both the real reformers and those ideological perspective. tion"--as a synonym for "affirmative who were royally miffed at the thought What does the Rule 32 battle say action"-had a legal and legislative of someone having pulled a fast one about women at the 1972 Republican history outside the party framework, on them. Convention? First, it says that women "strive to achieve" had none, and that Commentators have assigned many were prime movers for the expansion suited the opposition just fine. As reasons for the victory of Rule 32. of that rule and the broadening of one National Committeeman stated They point out that the real conserva­ the party's base. Women felt strong­ bluntly: "We want to avoid credential tives had put all their energy and strat­ ly about the issue of delegate repre­ challenges at all costs in 1976 and the egy into the battle on Rule 30 over sentation, both as it applied to women effort mandated by the words 'strive delegate allocation between the small and as it applied to other underrep­ to achieve' would be substantially less and large states and had never real­ resented groups. And, while the forces likely to support such challenges." ly focused on Rule 32 or on what it seemed to shape up primarily along This gentleman was also in agreement could mean for their state parties; progressive versus conservative lines, with a number of witnesses who had that they did not want to risk a Con­ many of our supporters called them­ earlier stood before the all-white, al­ vention floor fight which they could selves "progressives" on this issue most all middle-aged and almost all lose: and that it was 1 :45 a.m. and while, in other policy areas, they would WASP Committee and proudly de­ the exhausting end of an extremely classify themselves as "conservatives." clared that .. the. Republican Party long day with work having been done This leads to a second observation: doesn't need to be reformed." under very hot, crowded and tense women seemed to be the only group conditions. in Miami who could overcome ideo­ The change in wording had oc­ All these are reasonable assumptions logical classifications and begin re­ curred rather late on August 16th but two factors should be added: (1) lating to each other as people with when Rule 32 had been retyped to that the progressives were stronger common concern. A genuine bond · reflect some other changes that were than anyone thought: the vote on Rule developed among us over the course · about to be voted on. The Rule left 30 did not turn out to be indicative of two weeks. And that bond, perhaps the Pompeii Room of the Eden Roc of the conservatives' real numbers since more than any single event at the Hotel reading "positive action" and many of the small states were rep­ 1972 Convention, made it all worth­ returned reading "strive to achieve." resented by progressive delegates who while to a group of exhausted females Adoption of the whole Rule, as re­ voted "conservative" on Rule 30 but from the National Women's Polit­ vised, was quickly voted on without "progressive" on Rule 32; and (2) ical Caucus who boarded their planes discussion of that altered part and we the conservatives did not want to leave home on August 24th with the belief soon discovered that a majority of Miami as the party opposed to all re­ that something very exciting had in­ those voting did not realize the change form; and wanted to extend some sort deed happened in Miami Beach. had occurred or did not appreciate of olive branch to both the party's - BOBBIE GREENE KILBERG its impact. In seeking and winning a progressive wing and its women; they This article was reprinted with per­ mi.s~ion from the Sept. 2 Washington restoration of the stronger language felt they could live with the reforms Post © Washington Post.

People in Polities took pictures of empty rooms. Ashe's door-to-door cam­ paign must have been effective. He won by more than 3 to 1. His. election is considered a big boost to mod­ • The Congressional Action Fund, has announced erate Republicans in East Tennessee. financial contributions to the campaigns of six se­ • The Committee to Re-elect the President has lected anti-war liberals: former Congressman George endorsed a candidate. It's now the Committee to Re­ Brown (D-Calif.), striving for a comeback in Cali­ elect President NIXon. fornia's 38th C.D.; Alan Merson (D), seeking to un­ seat Colorado Congressman Wayne N. Aspinall (D); • Operation Boll Weevil is being quietly promoted by House Minority Leader Gerald Ford (R). If Re­ Congressman Abner J. Mikva (D) who has moved in­ publicans are within range of House control after the to a new Illinois district and faces a conservative Re­ November elections, pressure will be brought to bear publican, Samuel H. Young; Andrew Jacobs (D) of to arrange a massive political sex change among as Indiana; Harold Miller (D), who's running against many as 17 southern Democrats - with the guarantee Congressman Joel Broyhill (R) in suburban Virginia; that these Democrats would keep their accumulated and Alan Steelman (R), the sole Republican endorsed, seniority as Republicans. However, even conservative who running against Congressman Earle Cabell (D) is Republicans may oppose the move because they stand in Texas' 5th C.D. to lose high seniority positions if it were ever ef­ • Helen Delich Bentley, Ghairman of the Fed­ eral Maritime Commission, has been rumored in Wash­ fected. For instance, Congressman Burt L. Talcott (R­ Calif.) who is now 14th in seniority on the Appropria­ ington to. be the proposed replacement for Secretary tions committee would end up lower on the commit­ of Transportation John A. Volpe after November. Mrs. tee totem pole than Congressman John J. Flynt, Jr. Bentley was appointed to her FMC post in 1969 and if since that then has devoted herself diligently to mar­ (D-Ga.) Flynt switched aisles. Congressman Joe itime interests. Although the maritime industry has Waggonner (D-La.) is considered the Southern Dem­ opposed a transfer of the FMC from the Commerce ocratic spokesman for Boll Weevil negotiations. Department to the Department of Transportation, Mrs. • State Rep. James C. Johnson, who lost the GOP Bentley's appointment might ease opposition to the Senate nomination in North Carolina to conservative change. Volpe is reportedly interested in becoming broadcast executive Jesse Helms, has endorsed Con­ Ambassador to Italy. gressman Nick Galifianakis, a liberal Democrat, for • In Tennessee, State Rep. Victor Ashe defeated the Senate. Johnson's cross-party endorsement was the fellow Republican State Rep. Jack Comer in the result, he said, of Helm's attacks on the Nixon Admin­ August 8 primary. Comer had been an adamant foe istration. of Gov. Winfield Dunn ever since Dunn's election. • The Republican Congressional Committee has Comer cast the deciding vote against the governor's sent out another fundraising letter announcing it's sales tax while Dunn killed Comer's bills to legalize broke: "Our Republican Congressmen are facing an horse and dog racing in the state. Comer was instru­ emergency; we are out of funds for incumbent Re­ mental in passing the Democratic redistricting plan publican Congressmen. They are begging for funds which effectively gerrymandered away any Republican now to assure their re-election this year. They need hopes of winning a majority in the House. Just prior help with newspaper ads, television commercials, radio to the filing deadline, Ashe, a 27-year-old progressive shows, direct mail letters, now! Why? Because the who's been a strong supporter of education and mental Radicals-Liberals are joining forces to defeat them." health, moved from his own 3rd district into Comer's' Shades of Radiclibs, circa 1970. Maybe CRP has some sixth. Furious, Comer broke into Ashe's apartment and money. ·s~~as -nq:>8SSBW: 'UO~SOa: lU Plud a.8elsod ssu[.> puo;,as ·8&t~O ·ew: 'a.8pJ.Iqwe::> 'laa.IlS lO!l:!l eIrt ·A~af.lOS uodlll a'llw:n.H