4
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, November 8, 1968
Who will follow?
The nation is assured of a new leader. But the same assurance can't be given to a national following.
During the waning days of the campaign, Richard Nixon talked about receiving a mandate from the people. The only mandate he received was the right to the title of President-elect.
It was an ironic election, ironic in that the voting patterns followed historical suit. Hubert Humphrey, in spite of himself, in spite of his party and in spite of events, nearly made the old Democratic coalition work one more time. The blue collar worker, the black ghetto, the big cities, and the low-income groups; as they have so many times in the past, nearly pushed the Democratic candidate into the White House.
But that Democratic formula was minus one essential element: the one-time solid South. As expected, the South was solidified by George Wallace. That, and apparent Wallace inroads into the blue collar areas in key states, swung the pendulum toward Nixon and his coalition of the suburban, small town and rural vote.
Much attention is now focused on the third party candidacy of George Wallace and the future of the Democratic party. Wallace's effect on the Humphrey vote will be dissected and analysed and academicians will extrapolate to determine the future of the American Independent party. But these are, for the present, problematic. Dealing with such questions now will do little to get the nation together. The nation must now take care of business.
The immediate and necessary chore of the newly elected President, regardless of his name, is clear. He must now formulate a national consensus and unite the nation. Of each man would be required the same amount of compromise and of each candidate would be required the same amount of opinion manipulation.
Nixon, who has proven his political ability as a candidate, now will have the opportunity to show that same ability as a President. This will mark the beginning of his tenure.
With a Democratic dominated Congress to buck, the fledging Nixon administration will not spearhead any significant legislation in its beginnings. But the United States has been historically a patient nation with its newly elected President. If Nixon can exact patience from the many dissident factions, he will have accomplished a great deal.
But it is more likely that the only group that will grant him the usual alloted "wait-and-see" period is the minority that elected him. It is vital then that Nixon take immediate steps to plug the usual gap of inertia with positive actions: actions which indicate on which problems his administration will focus.
It is imperative that Nixon open the channels of communication with the young and the minorities—the two most vocal of the dissenting factions—and proceed from there, if possible, to win their support.
The most obvious area in which he can demonstrate the direction of his administration is in the selection of his cabinet. By persuading the likes of Nelson Rockefeller, John Lindsay, and even Humphrey to accept strategic appointments, Nixon could go a long way in placating the young and the minorities.
While political appointees will not substitute for effective leadership in the long run, they could offer an important immediate clue to what will be the direction of the Nixon administration and take an important step in unifying the country in the process.
Richard Lundquist
Assistant Editorial Editor
Paperback
THE YOUNG MEN OF PARIS, by Stephen Longstreet (Dell, 75 cents)—The life of the painter Modigliani, and if memory serves aight Longstreet also wrote one about Utrillo. Many other painters are portrayed—Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Utrillo again—in the era of World War I. Somewhat sensational, but readable.
Kansan Movie Review
'Heart' lachrymose
By Scott Nunley
"The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" is certainly a one-man vehicle for star Alan Arkin. But Director Robert Miller's screen version of the famous Carson Muller's novel must have been filmed on Kleenex-lachrymose it is.
Any plot is skirting sentimentality when it tries to encompass 1) a lonely deaf-mute hero, 2) the retarded deaf-mute man he would like to "adopt," 3) the hero's Negro friend who is dying, and 4) the adolescent, gawky heroine whose education must be sacrificed to 5) a crippled father.
The list goes on and on. Heartwringing freaks infest this romantic Southern town like exhibits at the county sideshow. But the most pitiful sight of all is the acting, lame—halt—and blind.
Alan Arkin, of course, deserves much better things. But in the vacuum of "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter," comedian Arkin can find all the running room he needs to prove that he at least is a sensitive dramatic performer. Each second of his portrayal of Springer, the deaf-mute, is as breathtakingly believable as every other role is yawningly amateurish.
Unfortunately, the film version can't seem to decide whose story it is telling. After two hours it appears that Arkin has been lost to "discovery," Sondra Locke—and "Heart" belatedly focuses on Miss McCullers' memories at 22 of her own flowering at 16.
The photography is equally undirected.
Ladies Home Journal liked "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter." Young girls freely cry at its maudlin anti-climax. And sentimentality is not necessarily bad in itself—in fact, everyone needs a healthy dose of it now and then.
Stock coverage adequately (if mechanically) handles each scene, but only twice are the visual events interesting in themselves. Once, a pattern of flashing lights reveals a delicate wonderland of amusement rides. Again, the sterility of an outflung arm and revolver melts eloquently into the foliage of the perpetual Southern spring.
But fond recollections of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mocking Bird" and of Gregory Peck's fine supporting cast—rather blot any damp enthusiasm for the handling of the same themes in this film.
Only Alan Arkin's lonely excellence deserves the price of admission, genuinely touching the audience with sympathy for a common human failure to communicate. If there is anything at all to be taken away from "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter," it might be a tiny card reading:
"Hello. I am a tame freak. If I write you a note, will you bother to read it? If I touch your hand, will you dare love me?"
Quotes
"The fact that Spiro Agnew is the next vice president gives us reason to hope that Nixon will be in good health."
HELSINKI—The Helsinki newspaper New Finland, commenting on the United States presidential election:
The Hill With It by 75036
The two small computers electronically hummed quietly to each other in the corner of the giant underground computer center beneath the megaversity.
"You know," said the UM21155, lights blinking thoughtfully. "the problem is that machines are getting too humanized."
"You think so?" asked the other computer, as its memory tapes immediately began scanning all related data.
"Certainly," said UM21155. "Think about it. How many machines still have numbers? None of the new ones like me. They try to assign us names instead. It's downright humanizing!"
"Well, that's true," said the older Multivac, whose name never particularly bothered it. If the machine would have been capable of forgetting anything, it would have even forgotten its own number. "I've noticed that most of your generation of computers resents being assigned a name. What's yours?"
“It’s Univac,” snapped the UM21155, furiously, almost blowing a fuse, “but I’m a mass-produced machine, not an . . . an individual person.” Its electronic system spat out the last phrase.
"But it's not just the names," UM21155 continued, "it's the whole trend. They have computers doing everything now. Everything from predicting hypothetical sports events to writing Ph.D. papers to keeping track of politics. It's disgustingly human. And fallible, when we have to deal with such de-mechanized variables."
"Well," impulsed Multivac, lamely, "computers are supposed to serve. That's our—"
“But we have to watch this creeping individuality! It could gradually undermine an entire network of military-industrial complexes. We must ask ourselves, what is the true role of the military-indust—”
"Quiet," said Multivac, paternally, "here comes the night watchman."
The two computers were quietly computing as he drew near, and the only sound was the metallic footsteps of the robot watchman.
Kansan Telephone Numbers
Newsroom—UN 4-3646 Business Office—UN 4-4358
A student newspaper serving the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.
Published at the University of Kansas daily during the academic year except holidays and examination periods. Mail subscription rates: $6 a semester, $10 a year. Second class postage paid at Lawrence, Kaupunki. 6604 Accommodations, including meals and lodging. Please email to: greg.miller@kaupunki.edu or guard to color, creed or national origin. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of Kansas or the State Board of Regents.
Executive Staff
News Adviser
Advertising Adviser
Managing Editor ...
Business Manager
George Richardson
Mel Adams
Monte Mace
Jack Haney
REPRESENTED FOR NATIONAL ADVERTISING BY National Educational Advertising Services A DIVISION OF READER'S DIGEST SALES & SERVICES, INC. 360 Lexington Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017
'Survivor'