4
Thursday, September 19, 1974
University Daily Kansan
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
OPINION
Every Congressional leader, with the exception of a few diehard Republicans and Southern Democrats who have defeated the President's premature, unwise or both, Television and newspaper editorial opinion has been used by Ford's absolute submission to Ford's absolutism of Nixon.
Although President Gerald Ford's pardon last week of Richard Nixon mocked both justice and mercy, at least one good result may come from it. The pardon should greatly increase Ford's chances of returning to the White House in 1976.
More importantly, public reaction has been unfavorable. A poll commissioned by the New York Times and released four days after the pardon indicated that only 32 per cent of
Ford's open door closing to press
Democratic National Chairman Robert Strauss said last week that Ford "hasn't cut his political throat, but he's not going to die." Strauss is correctly reading the national reaction to the pardon.
In the aftermath of the "Sunday Morning Massacre" one important aspect seems to have been overlooked by almost everyone.
That being the resignation of Jerald terHorst as President Ford's press secretary.
Ford has pledged repeatedly that his would be an open administration with access to all officials. But the fact that his own press secretary wasn't informed of the Nixon pardon until the day before it was announced seems inconsistent with this pledge.
By RICHARD PAXSON Contributing Writer
Ford's political base is eroding
TerHorst resigned because he was forced into it. Prior to the announcement, he had told reporters several times that Ford wasn't even considering pardoning Nixon.
But that Sunday,terHorst was expected to face the reporters and in effect tell them he had lied, that his boss had been considering it and had even pardoned Nixon.
So he resigned rather than lose the trust of the crowd he is part of.
All of this seems reminiscent of terHorst's predecessor in office, Ronald Ziegler. But
terfhorst had some sort of ethical base whereas it appeared Ziegler didn't.
It seems that in the five and a half years Ziegler was press secretary, he set a dangerous precedent of performance that Ford has assumed to be the "way things work."
That precedent being the press secretary isn't there to assist the press but rather to manipulate the press, withhold information and do anything that will keep the press from obtaining the facts.
It is a dangerous precedent and must be stopped by Ford if he expects the members of the press to continue cooperating with him. Obviously, that would be breakfast shouldn't be considered "cooperating."
Contributing Writer
Objectivity duty of press
What do a dead bug, a half moon, the byline from this column and the phrase, "OR there is no not enough," have in common?
The Kansan always is accused of shoddy journalistic practices. So it almost every professional- or campus-
I wish I knew. Those were the contents of a letter I received last week. And, like so many other letters I receive each day, it was probably a complaint about something.
For the most part, the objections are partly justified. But it is rare indeed for a newspaper to be totally in the wrong. Yet,
even the best of papers errs occasionally.
The story goes on to say that
Yesterday's Lawrence Daily Journal-World is a prime example. A front-page story on the lives of two women as director of business and fiscal affairs for both University of Kansas campuses violated at least one cardinal moralistic ethics-objectivity.
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KANSAN
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Eric Meyer
Associate Editor Campus Editor
Jeffrey Sinton Jill Willis
Angry Chiefs
Caitlin Cotter
Editor
Erin Moss
- editors
Mark Mitchell and
Sports Editor
Mark Mitchell and
Assistance Editor
Roy Clevenger
Associate Sports Editor
Jason Dunga
Business Manager Steve Haugan
Associate Campus Editor Linda Weinstein
Makeup Editors
Advertising Manager
Steve Haugun
Advertising Assistant Business Manager
Allocation Manager
It is mistakes like this one
Classified Manager
Assistant Classified Manager
Classified Manager
Assistant Classified Manager
Steve A. Albworth
Assistant Classified Manager
Steve A. Albworth
Business Advise Mel Adams
News Adviser Susanne Shaw
journialism" takes a smattering of *facts* and runs wild with the thuggery. Such a story at best would be published only on an editorial page.
the action "culminates a long period of unhappiness with several situations at the Medical Center" and that the regents "are anxious for him (Dykes) to control regain over
By Eric Meyer
Editor
the center, which was allowed to drift and lose direction from M. Oread during the tenure of the incumbent Laurence Chalmers."
None of these statements was attributed to anyone. In fact, no one even was asked to respond to them. When they were asked (reporters), they categorically denied the allegations.
that give journalism a bad name, an air of irresponsibility. While I am not saying that either the Kansan or I am perfect (and every one of our readers knows we aren't), I do suggest a need for higher quality in journalism—not just from the Journal-World but from the Kansan and from every other newspaper, magazine and broadcast station in existence.
The Journal-World story was a clear example of what happens when "interpretative
那些 polled gave Ford a good job rating. A Gallup Poll taken before the pardon had nearly 65 per cent of those polled approved of the way the President was doing his job.
There are less scientific but perhaps more meaningful indications of dissatisfaction with the
decision. A Committee to Impeach President Ford was formed in California, and 2,000 members were against the pardon in Wisconsin.
welcome this development, since it reduces the possibility that Ford will be our chief executive through 1980.
Political columnists are now speculating that the pardon will be a campaign issue in 1976. The governor will appoint George Wallace should
Many of us seem to forget who Gerald Ford was before his ascension. He was the congressman from Michigan who voted with the major conservative bloc in the House more than per cent of the voters. He is also to impeach Supreme Court Associate Justice William O. Douglass.
He was the congressman who introduced almost as much major legislation during his 25 years as did Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., during his tenuile—ture or none. He was the man who played football and had played football without his helmet once too often."
He was the vice president-designate who. like Spiro
Agnew, was chosen as an innocuous compromise among competing political factions. Someone said at that time that he was the national example of breeds with impervious breeds mediclarity."
He was the vice president-designate who said during his confirmation hearings that he didn't think the public would stand for such a pardon of President Nixon.
He was the vice president who defended Nixon's innocence when he had no evidence of that innocence. And he defended Nixon only until it became politically inopportune to do so.
He was the President who said 10 days before the pardon at a press conference that he might pardon Xion, but only if the former President were tried and convicted first. Any pardon before judicial proceedings would be unwise and untimely, he said.
He was the President who assured everyone he wouldn't try to succeed himself and he pushed his mind within two weeks.
Stocks reflect hard times
Worst of all, he was the President who pledged to unite the country, and then divided the country further over the pardon and the issue of amnesty for Vietnam War resisters.
By ROY CLEVENGER
He is the President who is already on the campaign trail for 1976. He can only be stopped by a public realization that a president should be chosen for him, not because he looks so good in background of the disgusting morass of the Nixon years.
Reporter
Hardly anyone understands how the stock market works. However, almost everybody knows that big drops in the stock market can signal big changes for the American economy.
Economists and stockbrokers have watched dejectedly as the Dow Jones industrial average—which rose 1.8 percent yardstick of performance on the New York Stock Exchange—has sunk steadily for weeks. Last week, the average number at 14.58 raised to a 12-year low of 627.1,
The Dow Jones industrial average is a composite of the values of stocks issued by 30 leading manufacturing and distribution corporations. The index is seen both as a concrete indicator of economic activity and as a psychological clue to the economy's over-all state.
Some economists saw the breaking of the 1970 barrier as an indication that the American economy really was in a recession and was destined for a hard time in the near future.
Friday's drop in the index was significant in both regards. The index dropped to the lowest point since the Cuban Missile 1962, which was a period of intense national uncertainty.
Friday's drop also was significant because it took the average below the low mark set in spring of 1970.
That low point, which occurred during a recession, was seen as a crucial point for confidence in the economy.
The current stock market troubles, however, reflect a broader concern with inflation, the rise in housing and the tight money supply.
The stock market would drop, for example, with the assassination of a president, and investors would suffer, but an insurance company stock market would rise again as soon as that one factor was past.
Recent figures on retail and wholesale prices and production by American workers haven't helped the situation.
The recent drops are especially troubling to investors because the drops were caused not by a single factor but by a general discontent with the path of the economy.
Government economists
estimate that inflation will be cut only to nine per cent by the end of the year. Wholesale
prices took the largest jump last month in 28 years.
High interest rates continue to discourage all forms of new investment and to nearly cripple the housing industry.
Economists say these problems can't be solved easily, and the stock market is ex-pected to be weak for some time.
The stock market drops have altered drastically the lifestyle of Wall Street: Dozens of brokerage houses have gone bankrupt, and some oncewealthy brokers are now peddling ties or working as bartenders.
The drops also are scaring off many of the small investors who
play a key role in the market, and economists are worried that this trend could signal even further trouble for the bank. The move to stock transactions has been slipping steadily for months.
Everyone is suffering from higher prices and a tighter supply of money, but those involved in the stock markets are suffering a special torment, not only the economy but the business cases, their own jobs and futures down the drain.
'I AM NOT ONLY UNEMPLOYED... MY WELFARE CHECKS ARE GOING TO NIXON'
Spencer Library wrapped in red tape
By STEVEN LEWIS
Contributing Writer
Everyone knows what lousy shape Watson Library is in. But have you been to Spencer Research Library lately?
Special collections and valuable books are allegedly stored in Spencer. If you think Watson has been secretive, Watson, you would find security unreable in Spencer. For those of you who haven't been to Spencer recently, let my ex-roommate, Ivy, guide you to the School of Hard Knocks.
The other day I went to Spencer for an economics book from special collections. I approached the librarian and
handed her a note containing information about the book I needed. The red tape began:
"This is my first time here," I responded.
"Sir, have you registered with us?" the librarian asked
"Sir, you're going to have to register."
"Well, all right. What do I do?"
"Take these seven forms to one of those tables and fill them out."
I did as she instructed,
although I was perplexed about
why I had to state my net worth
of $2 million. But the privilege of handling a book
"Now sir," the librarian said, "go into that room and remove your clothes."
"What! What's going on here?"
"You'll need to pass a health examination, sir. It's required of all new patrons of our library."
"Why? Do you think I have termites? All I want to do is check out one book! I filled out all of those absurd forms!"
"Sir, the rules require that you be examined by a nurse and
"Nothing is permitted in the reading room that could be used to deface the material."
"Why would I deface the material? You've got my name. I could never get away with it."
a psychiatrist. If you pass their exams, you'll be given special clothes and permitted to enter the reading room."
tights with number 42163 on the back. I was permitted to enter the reading room.
I had to read the book to pass an economics test, so there was nothing I could do but give in. Then I realized I had passed the exams and, wearing
At last, the librarian entered,
bringing my book. She secured
the book to a table so that only
the pages could be moved. A
pencil and writing pad were
also secured to the table so that
the pencil wouldn't reach the
book.
The first thing I noticed about the reading room was the motion picture cameras that scanned back and forth. I was alone and frightened, but I had to read that book.
"I don't understand all this security," I said. "That book
looks like any ordinary book in Watson."
The librarian gave me a vicious glare and left the room without answering.
I began to read. Before I had read five pages, my allergy to eucalyptus hadn't sneezed more than three times before a door burst open, and two large security officers were standing me with their nightsticks.
That's all I can remember.
Incidentally, I am writing this from Douglas County Jail.
Did you see me for me. I didn't get to finish what
beyond excuse could I have for missing my economics test?