VOL. IX, No. 15

AUGUST 15, 1973 FORUM 25 CENTS

White Bouse and the Way 01 the Whigs by Robert D Bebn

The President's friends are right when they complain and others have catalogued the parallels: that the President's adversaries - liberals, Democrats and • between Dick Tuck's and CREEP's dirty tricks; the press - are using Watergate to destroy Richard Nixon. • between the use of the tape recorder by President On The New Y01·k Times's op-ed page, Patrick J. Bucha­ Nixon and its use by Presidents Kennedy and John­ nan, for example, argues that the "ultimate question" of son; Watergate is: • between the defense fund raised for Liddy, Hunt, ... whether the democratic verdict of the Ameri­ et al. and the ones for Ellsberg, the Berrigans, etc.; can people in November 1972 will be allowed to • between the Nixon Administration's use of the "na­ stand, or whether it will be overturned by a de­ tional security" rationale for wiretapping, and the feated minority - with Watergate as their Johnson Administration's use of the same rationale weapon. when it tapped Mrs. Anna Chennault during the Clearly, the President is down, and his adversaries 1968 campaign; are up and making the most of the daily revelations of • between documents stolen by Hunt and Liddy and White House-directed crimes and indiscretions. This is those stolen by Ellsberg; also a clear reversal of their relative positions of six G between CREEP's infiltration of the campaign staffs months ago. Then the President's adversaries were down, of its Democratic opponents and the infiltration and the President was up and making the most of his by Joe McGinnis (author of The Selling of the dominance. President) of the 1968 Nixon campaign; Indeed, the President was then misusing his re-elec­ • between the President's objective of keeping White tion victory to justify decisions and actions that were in House conversations and written notes confidential no way implied or promised during his fall campaign (or and the press's efforts to keep its own sources con­ non-campaign). The impoundment of funds, the dismantle­ fidential; ment of OEO, and the general disregard for congressional • between Gordon Liddy's devotion to a moral com­ responsibility and authority were efforts made by,the,White mand higher than the law and Daniel Ellsberg's House to destroy its adversaries when it had the advantage similar devotion. - and these efforts drew no credibility from public posi­ Clearly, CREEP and the Nixon White House have tions taken during the last campaign. invented no new tactics that require rewriting the Hand­ More significantly, the White House promoted its ad­ book of Dirty Tricks and the Abuse of Power. But the versaries to "enemies," who were no longer to be treated White House and CREEP did escalate the use of all these as part of that democratic tradition of the "loyal opposi­ techniques, so that they became central to an entire cam­ tion." Between "enemies" there are no holds barred and paign strategy. In the spirit of Dick Tuck, Donald H. for Pat Buchanan now to complain - after the White Segretti may have ordered 200 pi~za~, it giant floral wreath House itself initiated, what Herbert 1. Porter called, the and two magicians to a Muskie reception, but he also in­ "we-they attitude" - is tactically useful but hardly a vited the ambassadors from foreign nations and sent out reason for ending the Watergate inquiry. The investiga­ campaign slander concerning the personal lives of opposing tion has become nasty - indeed, American politics has candidates. become nasty. But it is difficult to sympathize with those Further, the White House has taken a quantum jump who took us to a new level of political pornography when in some of the distasteful or illegal practices of its pre­ they call now for self-censorship. decessors. Neither Kennedy nor Johnson have been re­ Second, the President's friends are right when they com­ ported to have recorded all of their official conversations. plain that most of the actions taken by the White House Nor has the claim for confidentiality of internal documents and the Committee to Re-elect are not new to American - whether defended by executive privilege under the doc­ politics. To place Watergate in perspective, Buchanan and trine of separation of power, or by freedom of the press William Safire (Buchanan's former fellow White House under the First Amendment - ever been so absolute as speech writer who now writes a column for the Times) when explained by former Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst last April. Nor has anyone used the "national and determine how we will solve our current problems. security" rationale to justify more criminal activities than Last year, we thought we understood the answers to these John EhrIichman did before the Senate Select Committee. procedural questions; today we no longer do. These two superftcially correct arguments have formed The Republicans in Congress dearly recognize these the basis for the final defense of Watergate. The President's distinctions; that is why they are pleading with the Pres- .. friends - and the President himself - have argued that, ident to answer the substantive charges and to reestablish _ because all these things, and more, have happened before, our faith and understanding of how our government and the Watergate investigations should be put aside so we the Nixon Administration work. Pat Buchanan's efforts can get on with the important business of the nation. In­ to belittle Watergate and to point to the "important busi- deed, Buchanan goes further and argues that: ness" of the economy and foreign affairs only illustrate the There now appears no damage to United States major schism between the interests of the Republican Par- interests that is unacceptable and no political prin­ ty and the interests of the White House. ciple they will not rise readily above - to sink For the Republican Party to realize its goal - to their teeth in the President of the United States. emerge from the Watergate scandal as a viable political Here the President's friends are not even superficially cor­ institution - all the facts must be revealed so the GOP rect; they are dead wrong. can be vindicated as an honest and law-abiding party. For Despite the fact that all the Watergate-style activities the White House to realize its goal - to continue to have been performed before, there are two important qual­ operate during the Second Nixon Administration in the itative differences with the past. First, in the past these unfettered style it developed during the first term - it crimes have been committed individually, not as an cen­ needs to have its critics in the Congress, the public and tral element of an overall strategy to elect a candidate. the press drop Watergate as a legitimate political issue. Second, these crimes have never been directed from the It is no longer possible, however, for the White House to White HoUse (even the Ehrlichman/Haldeman defense says determine public policies independent of the critiques of these activities were directed by John Dean who worked the Fourth Estate or of the advice and consent of Congress. in the White House) as part of a program to maintain During the next three years, the White House will have the power of an incumbent President. to adjUst to the new realities of the post-Watergate era; • The election frauds in Texas and Illinois in 1960 that it must learn to share power through a balanced constitu­ defeated Richard Nixon have never been alleged to have tional government and to lead the nation through explana­ been part of a central plot to elect John F. Kennedy; cer­ tion rather than secrecy. tainly they were not directed from the White House. The If the President breaks his silence with a counte"; Ellsberg and Berrigan defense funds were public, not clan­ attack on his critics, rather than with an explanation of destine efforts and, the conspiracy mentality of the White what happened and why, he will serve neither his own House notwithstanding, were neither part of an overall needs - to be over with Watergate so he can get on plot to take control of the country nor directed from the leading the nation - nor the needs of the Republican nation's center of power. Party. He will only serve notice on his critics that in this In the Congress, Bobby Baker and Martin L. Sweig war between "we" and "they," anything still goes. At did abuse their power for private gain (though not on the same time, he will not be able to reverse the advantage the scale of the abuses alleged in the I.T.T. affair) and that the "they's" have over his own "we's." And he will three of the Democratic senators now sittin on the Senate take the GOP one step closer to going the way of the Select Committee did vote to limit a 1964 Congressional Whigs. investigation into Baker's activities (but these votes are no cause for indictment for obstructing justice). Congress THE RIPON SOCIETY INC Is a.Republican research and has never been feared as the source of unlimited national I • policy organization whose members are young business, academic and professional men and power, even when it was under the control of Speaker women. It has national headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, chapters in sixteen cities, National Associate members throughout Sam Rayburn and Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson. The the lifty states, and several affiliated groups of subchapter status. The Society Is supported by chapter dues, individual contribu­ diversity of views of 535 members and their desire to tions and revenues from its publications and contract work. speak about everything they learn ensures that Congress THE RIPON FORUM i~ publls~ed semi-monthl~ by the Ripon Society, Inc., 14a Eliot Street, will not be the branch of government to disrupt, through Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138. Second class postage rates paid at BostoIt Massachusetts. Contents are copyrighted @ 1973 by the a silent conspiracy, our constitutional checks and balances. Ripon Society, Inc. Correspondence addressed to the Editor Is welcomed. This possibility could only be effected from the execu­ In publishing this magazine the Ripon Society seeks to provide a forum for fresh Ideas, well-researched proposcls and for a sp!r!t tive branch. That is why Watergate - the generic term of criticism, innovation, and independent thinking within the Re­ for all the campaign and political crimes that were di­ publican Party. Arttcles do not necessarily represent the opinion of the National Governing Board or the Editorial Board of the rected from the executive branch for the purpose of main­ Ripon Society, unless they are explicitly so labelled. SUBSCRIPTION RATES are $10 a year, $5 for students. service­ taining the power of the incumbent - is different from men, and for Peace Corps, Vista and other volunteers. Overseas air mail, $3 extra. Advertising rates on request. Please allow previous campaign crimes. The problems of public poli­ five weeks for address changes. cy that face the nation tOday - the reconstruction of South­ Editor: Dick Behn Editorial Board: east Asia, the detente with Russia and China, the domestic Robert D. Behn, Chairman Tanya Mel!ch economy and the international monetary system - are crit­ Robert H. Donaldson Robert G. Stewart James Manahan Ralph Thayer ical, and as the President's friends assert, we need to pro­ Contributing Editors: Cllfford Brown, Glenn Gerstel!, William A. Koelsch, Daniel J. SwUlinger, Josiah Lee Auspitz, Richard W. Rahn, ceed to tackle them as soon as possible. But the procedural John A. Rehfuss, and Thomas A. Sargent Assistant Editors: Judith H. Behn and M. Victoria Golden questions of how we reach public policy decisions - how Art: Leslie Morrill and Annie Greene we as a nation govern ourselves - are even more critical, Advertising Mancgen Deborah Bowen the Conunittee to Re-elect the President had too much of, RNC has too little of. • "Howie the Horse" is out of the starting gate POLITICS: PEOPLE in New York's 1974 gubernatorial campaign. New York industrialist Howard Samuels, who earned his nickname by gaining the devotion of patrons of the Offtrack • Not much movement is being forecast for next Betting Corporation of which he is president, is making year's elections in Nevada unless conservative Demo­ his third quest of the governorship held for four terms cratic Sen. Alan Bible, 63, decides to step down. Former by Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. But three other Demo­ Gov. Paul Laxalt (R), who would be the GOP's pre­ crats are also considered likely entrants in the Albany mier candidate if he could be coaxed back into poli­ Stakes: New York Mayor John Lindsay, Westchester tics, doesn't have any interest in the race. U.S. Rep. County U.S. Rep. Ogden Reid, and upstate U.S. Rep. David Towell, who was an upset winner last year, Samuel S. Stratton. Gov. Rockefeller is taking over may have another tough race in store for him if he Howie the Horse's New York City operation with a faces former Gov. Grant Sawyer (D), still a power in statewide agency. the state Democratic Party. The Republicans have a • Kansas's Democratic governor, Robert Docking, shortage of viable candidates at the present time and has been encouraged to tackle Sen. Bob Dole (R) in the GOP is thought unlikely to seriously challenge pop­ next year's Senate contest by a poll showing him with ular Gov. Mike O'Callaghan (D). a 54-40 percent lead over Dole. Docking has reported­ ly decided that he will not seek another term as gov­ • Monday has been cancelled due to lack of money, ernor and will instead make the Senate race. The poll not lack of interest. The Republican National Conunit­ allegedly showed U.S. Rep. Bill Roy (D) running be­ tee's weekly newsletter had flourished under the some­ hind Dole in a trial Senate heat. If Docking makes the times deft, sometimes heavy-handed pen of Editor John Senate run Attorney General Vern Miller may finally Lofton. But Lofton announced in July his intention to get his change to run for governor. Possible GOP can­ become a syndicated columnist with United Features didates to run against the "law-and-order" Miller in­ Syndicate in September. A few -weeks, later, RNC Com­ clude Lieutenant Gov. Dave Owen, State Insurance munications director Robert Rousek announced that Commissioner Fletcher Bell, former GOP State chair­ Monday was another casualty of Watergate of the man Don Concannon, and State Senate President Rob­ RNC's Watergate-prompted financial problems. What ert Bennett.

ident of the University of Vermont be­ POLITICS: REPORTS fore he became president of the Univer­ sity of Wyoming. Fey returned to Ver­ VERMONT ston Prouty in 1971.) If Mallary faces mont and National Life in 1966. The Salmon next year, a tough battle may fourth name prominently mentioned in connection with the gubernatorial nom­ MONTPELIER - The key to 1974 develop. ination is Lieutenant Gov. John S. politics in Vermont is Sen. George If Salmon and Mallary contest the Burgess, who won re-election last year Aiken. Sen. Aiken is not expected to Senate seat, their positions will be despite the defeat of the Republican announce his decision until the spring open for upwardly-mobile politicians standard bearer for governor, Luther of next year. Should the SO-year-old of both parties. The speaker of the Hackett. Attorney General Kimberly incumbent decide to seek re-election, Vermont House of Representatives is B. Cheney (R) and Secretary of State Vermont politics will likely experience one of the state's most powerful posi­ RltiIard C Thomas (R) may also have a 1974 freeze, with both Democratic tions (Mallary is a speaker alumnus.) higher posts in mind. Thomas is con­ and Republican incumbents retaining Speaker Walter "Peanuts" Kennedy is sidered may make another try at Con­ their offices. one man viewed as a possible guber­ gress; he ran second in the 1971 spe­ Should Aiken decide to retire, how­ natorial candidate. So is moderate for­ cial primary to choose a successor to ever, a complicated game of political mer Attorney General James Jeffords, Stafford in the House of Representa­ musical chairs may develop. who was an unsuccessful primary can­ tives. • Gov. Thomas Salmon (D), in office didate for the governorship last year. only a half-year, has made no secret However, if Mallary sought the Sen­ of his desires to relocate in Washing­ ate, Jeffords might be more interested ton, D.C An upset winner of last in congressional seat. MAINE year's gubernatorial race, Salmon pres­ The National Life Insurance Co. has ently is regarded as a difficult 1974 already yielded one Vermont governor target if he decides to seek re-election. in this decade: former company presi­ BANGOR, Me. - Maine's 1974 Under a proposed change in the state dent Deane C Davis. The name of gubernatorial contest may eventually constitution, next year's election may the current president of the company, pit U.S. Rep. William S. Cohen (R- be the first for a four-year gubernato­ John T. Fey, was recently floated as 2nd CD.) against US. Peter Kyros torial term. But if Aiken decides to re­ a Republican gubernatorial posibiIity. (D-1st CD.) tire, Salmon may covet the post. Fey - articulate, photogenic and capa­ Although neither congressmen has The "natural" Republican successor ble - might make an ideal candidate announced his intention to seek the to Aiken is U.S. Rep. Richard Mallary but is hindered by an "out-of-stater" position of outgoing Gov. Kenneth M. (just as former U.S. Rep. Robert T. image. The Virginia native and for­ Curtis (D), who cannot succeed him­ Stafford succeeded the late Sen. Win- mer Maryland legislator served as pres- self, both men might well be their party's strongest candidates for the Hewes who has established an excel­ woman Louise Gore, Anne Arundel post. lent record for legislative leadership; County Executive Joe Alton, Mont­ Cohen, in particular, however, will and State Sen. Jerrold B. Speers, an­ gomery County Executive James P. not have an open field even if he de­ other able legislator. Gleason, and Gullett. On the Dem­ cides to make the race. One leading Whether or not Cohen seeks to re­ ocratic side, Speaker of the House of contender would be Attorney James turn himself to Washington, State Sen. Delegates Thomas Hunter Lowe may Erwin, who lost a close race to Curtis Peter Kelley (D) already appears to challenge Mandel for the in a primary in 1970. The conservative Erwin was be in the running for the 2nd C.D. or run against Sen. Charles· McC. state chairman of the Committee to nomination. Kelley is largely a "one­ Mathias, Jr. (R), who is up for re­ Re-elect the President last year and is issue" man. He has pushed through election in 1974. The option to run still popular with Republican voters. legislation authorizing a public refer­ for the U.S. Senate in 1974 is the on­ Other GOP possibilities are- gen­ endum this fallon creation of public ly one which Congressman Hogan has erally moderate-progressives. State Sen. power authority for Maine. • closed at this time. • Harrison Richardson, a Portland at­ torney, is already assembling a cam­ paign staff. Richardson has a reputa­ MARYLAND COLORADO tion for environmental concerns and for independence. WASHINGTON, D.C. - Mary­ Another legislator, State Sen. Ben­ land's political weather has been a DENVER - The appointment of nett Katz, is also interested in a gu­ series of small gales lately, but a large Colorado Gov. John A. Love to take bernatorial run. Katz was the pri~e hurricane may be in the forecast be­ charge of the White House Energy proponent of legislation enacted in tween now and the 1974 elections. Policy Office has given Love's succes­ the Maine legislature this year which Republicans appear to be weather­ sor, Lieutenant Gov. John D. Vander­ would equalize school funding and ing the gale that arose from a falsi­ hoof, a boost toward's keeping his taxation in the state. The Katz bill is fied report concerning monies from new job next year. the sort of legislation which would CREP used to inflate the figures for a A Republican primary contest never­ have had the Supreme Court ruled "Salute to Ted Agnew" dinner held theless is in the offing with an uphill campaign against the Democratic nom­ against the appelants in Texas vs. Ro­ in May 1972. One upshot of the af­ driguez, early this year. fair has been the resignation of GOP inee to follow. One possible Demo­ State Chairman Alexander "Sandy" cratic nominee is Love's 1970 oppo­ Former U.S. Rep. Stanley Tupper, LankIer. A state committee meeting is nent, Attorney Mark Hogan, a for­ who was succeeded in Congress by scheduled for September to elect a new mer lieutenant governor. GOP Na­ Kyros when Tupper took a Johnson state chairman. The list of possible tional Committeeman Bill Daniels is Administration appointment, may also candidates for this post include State considered likely to challenge Van­ be considering the lure of the state­ Sen. Edward Thomas, U.S. Rep. law­ derhoof for the GOP nomination. house. Tupper has not been afraid to rence Hogan (R-5th C.D.) and State One of Vanderhoof's first acts was battle with party regulars; he refused Delegate Porter Hopkins. to appoint State Sen. John Berming­ to endorse Sen. Barry Goldwater in Meanwhile, the Democrats have their ham, a conservative Denver Republi. 1964 and had a long-standing feud own problems. A press release from can, as his environmental advisor. with former Sen. Margaret Chase Gov. Marvin Mandel's office in July Bermingham, a legislative leader of Smith (R) announced that he and his wife were environmental causes in an environ­ A less-likely gubernatorial possibili­ divorcing; his wife however denied ment-minded state, had sought the ty at this point is Attorney General any knowledge of the decision. In the post. The maverick attorney had re­ Jon Lund, who has earned a media wake of this revelation, Congressman portedly considered a 1974 gubernato­ label as the "people's attorney" for Hogan announced that he had some rial run himself. his consumer-oriented crusades. interest in running for the governor­ Ill. other upcoming contests, former On the Democratic side, Attorm.y ship. Hogan had previously announced Astronaut Jack Swigert is being wide­ George Mitchell, who recently lost a that he had some interest in challenging ly discussed as a possible opponent for bid for election to the Democratic Prince George's County Executive Wil­ freshwoman Denver U.S. Rep. Patri­ National Committee, is another gu­ liam Gullett (R) for Gullett's office. cia Schroeder. Denver Republicans re­ bernatorial possibility despite a severe More recently, U.S. Rep. Gilbert portedly want to retire Mrs. Schroeder name recognition handicap. Gude (R-8th C.D.) is being urged before she becomes invincible. Swigert If Kyros does run for governor, to run for governor. Gude would ben­ is not just another pretty face; he there are several possible Republican efit from a united county organization is currently executive director of the contenders for his seat. Among them - an asset Hogan would lack because House Committee on Science and As­ are industrialist Robert Monks, who of his feuding with Gullett. tronautics. waged an aggressive but unsuccessful A listing of possible candidates for In the race for Sen. Peter Domi­ campaign for the U.S. Senate nomina­ governor - or any office in Maryland nick's seat, Shakey Pizza executive tion last year; House Speaker Richard - includes GOP National Committee- Joseph Dolan is reportedly the front­ running Democratic candidate. Dolan, a former Administrative Assistant to RIPON Robert F. Kennedy, is considered a more likely Democratic nominee than FORUM former McGovern aide Gary Hart.. Published semi-monthly by the Ripon Society, 14a Eliot Street, Cambridge, Ma. 02138. Second class postage paid at Boston, Massachusetts.