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Fridav. October 29.1976
University Daily Kansan
Vice president no longer unknown man
By JULIA BEBEAU
The vice presidency, long called the most neglected office in the land, is changing. It now is being given more careful attention than ever before in history.
Both Sen. Walter Mondale, D-Minn, and Sen. Robert Dole, R-Kan, have been affected by this increasing attention. Their backgrounds have beaten scrutinized, their campaigns closely followed and they've debated one another on national television.
This new public awareness stems from increasing concern over the possibility of a vice president becoming president. It has allowed me some times before, five times in this century.
IT IS THE FORD presidency that has really pushed the question of vice presidential qualifications into the spotlight. Three years ago, then Rep. Ford became Richard Nixon's hand-picked vice president after Spiro Agnew was forced to resign. When Nixon resigned the following year, he received an approval of convention delegates or the electorate. Ford in turn chose Nelson Rockefeller as his possible successor.
For two and a half years the nation has been served by a president and vice president it did not elect. Because of this unusual situation, the people have begun to focus on this potential of the vice presidency.
THIS HAS CAUSED great change in the traditional view of the second-place office. Some had called the vice presidency a fifth option, while Franklin once suggested the title "His Superfluous Excellence." Even vice presidents have enjoyed making light of the
The vice presidency was a more prestigious office in the early days of the country. Of the two candidates running for president, the loser would serve as vice president.
Dole
A change came in 1804 with the creation of the electoral college. The college was to elect a president and a vice president from only one side of the ballot. The vice president became a running mate and caused a gradual loss of prestige.
THE RUNNING MATE was chosen to provide geographical and ideological balance and to woe certain segments of the world, so that everything in the selection process.
In the 1952 campaign, Nixon was valuable as Eisenhower's partner because the two were opposites in age, personality and style. In 1960, Kennedy needed the southern vote
Mondale
to win the election and Texan Lyndon Johnson became his running mate.
This year, Ronald Reagan reached desperately for Sen. Richard Schweiker of Pennsylvania. By coupling the liberal Schweiker to his own conservative position, Reagan hoped to make the ticket more palatable to uncommitted delegates When he lost in a statewide contest, pointed supporters pushed unsuccessfully for a Ford-Reagan ticket.
BEGINNING WITH FDR and his first partner, John Nance Garner, vice president of the company's credibility, Garner helped with the New Deal. His successors, Henry Wallace and Harry
Truman, were instrumental in war programs. President Truman started the tradition of putting the vice president on the National Security Council.
Although the political games continue, this year has seen further innovations. During the five weeks before the Democratic convention, Carter and his staff surveyed at least 40 possible running mates. That said that capability to serve as president would unlikely be of interest and political balance was among his considerations.
Memories of George McGoventry's last minute search for a suitable running mate in 1927 are supportive of Carter's methods and foresight.
MONDALE CAME out of this search. As a liberal and a northerner, Mondale balances the ticket and attracts labor, liberal and ethics. He shares Carter's special concern for social programs and is in general agreement with the Georgian. In addition, he has experience, experience and seriousness seem suitable for a man who might become president.
On the Republican side of the ballot, Dole's *s*-section came as a surprise to many, even party insiders. The President was also an aggressive and willing campaigner.
AT THE TIME of the Republican convention, Ford was trailing far behind Carter in the polls. Dole's main role has been to enlist the enthusiasm for the Republican ticket.
Dole is a witty and tenacious campaigner,
and it is hard to imagine what kind of a president he might make. Dole often plays the role of the voice by saying, "I just must the boss you get."
Such is the history of the vice presidency. Voters now must judge the merits of the candidates against the new importance of the office and its future roles.
Believe it or not, election issues exist
Skeptics and critics of the 1976 election campaign have constantly contended that relevant issues haven't been discussed or questioned over by the two major party candidates.
Despite the criticism, a number of major issues have taken on increasing importance in recent months and will undoubtedly have brought on the outcome of Tuesday's election.
President Ford has been running as a moderate Republican and stressing five major campaign themes—dedication to the free enterprise system, fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense, control of government at the state and the local level and freedom for individuals against an all-powerful government.
Jimmy Carter, the Democratic nominee, has campaigned for full employment, trust in government, improved health care, increased inflation and reform of the tax system.
Throughout the campaign other issues, such as busing, abortion, women's 'rights and Eastern Europe have also received attention from both candidates. In most cases their ideologies have overlapped; rarely they run on parallel lines.
On domestic issues, Carter's positions have been biased toward middle and lower
income people, resulting in a $10-billion tax reduction. Carter's objectives are to tax income only once and introduce a progressive, simplified tax system.
Health care has been a constant theme in Carter's campaign. He proposes a nationwide mandatory health insurance program as the key to a revised system that would be financed by employers, employees and general tax revenues. The Republican party platform, however, opposes such programs and aims to make the Social Security system sound without increasing the cost to employers.
Conservation Voters; Ford was called "hopeless."
Environmentally, Ford made a major policy statement Aug. 29 by proposing a 10-year, $1.5-billion national park and recreation area program. Carter opposes development of the SST and he holds fast against efforts to lower clean air requirements, reduce budget increases for utilities, and increase national policies to lower energy consumption growth rates. Carter has been called "outstanding" by the League of
In the field of education, President Ford opposes forced busing of school children for
'Ford opposes forced busing of school children and advocates a constitutional amendment to allow prayer in schools.'
racial balance, advocates a constitutional amendment to allow prayer in schools and proposes to consolidate federal aid for schools. The state also adds into single block grants for the states.
Carter advocates the use of court-ordered busing plans for small town areas and voluntary plans for metropolitan areas. He proposes increased tax aid for education of all pupils in nonsegregated schools and a separate Department of Education.
In foreign affairs, Carter says he supports detente with the Soviet Union, 'rough
equivalence" with them in nuclear power and strengthened ties with other nations. The Democratic party platform supports a new Panama Canal treaty recognizing U.S. interests there while yielding some sovereignty to Panama.
Ford has repeatedly said that America must continue to be No. 1 militarily and must not grant unilateral favors without expecting something in return. The United States is the largest donor to the Panama Canal as an international waterway, improving relations with mainland China without compromising relations with Taiwan and maintaining a strong national defense. The Republicans hope to develop new missile launch systems to defend the Rhine and restore the effectiveness of the intelligence system.
On the defense matters, Carter would pursue disarmament and arms control agreements that contribute to mutual reductions in both nuclear and conventional arms, and he hopes to reduce spending by eliminating waste and duplication.
since Taft lost 12 primaries to Theodore Roosevelt in 1912.
After all . . .
From page 13
Suddenly the pace of the Republican campaign intensified. Reagan won Nebraska, Arkansas, Idaho and Nevada and Ford secured Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky and Tennessee. By June 8, the day of the final primaries, the result was still in doubt.
and he picked up more when Chicago's Mayor Richard Daley and Gov. Wallace pledged their support. By mid-July all the Democratic candidates—except Brown—had thrown in the towel and, in the interests of party unity, offered their support to the first Southern major party nominee since Zachary Tavlor in 1848.
Carter, meanwhile, was slowly edging his way to the Democratic nomination hotly pursued by Church, Brown and a strong 'stop Carter' faction. For them it was too late. On June 8, Carter was within 338 of the 1505 delegate votes needed for nomination
FORD'S ROUTE TO the nomination was more difficult. Delegate selection ended without a resolution of the struggle between the two candidates, and the key to the nomination became focused on the uncommitted Mississippi delegation. Political maneuvering carried on until an emotional conclusion in Kansas City, Mo.
PRESIDENT FORD — He's making us proud again.
A bitter, depressed, vulnerable America has became a confident, strong, proud America.
Inflation has been cut in half.
Prosperity has returned. Our jobs are secure. We are at peace. The world respects us again. We trust our own government again.
We trust our own government again. Just Feed us started something great!
President Ford has started something great. Now he needs your support to finish a job well begun.
Paid for by College Republicans.
ARNOLD BERMAN
Senator for the 70's
Speaks on the Issues
Only you can reject once and for all the notion that government is designed to serve only the needs of special interest groups.
Remember, the true test of any government is not how popular it is with the powerful few, but how honestly and fairly it deals with the many who must depend on it.
Isn't it time somebody spoke for you!
Pol. Adv.
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Arnold Berman, Charles N. Bilzer, Treasurer.
'Carter supports the Humphrey-Hawkins Bill . . . as well as a balanced budget and comprehensive planning to reduce inflation.'
income voters. He supports the Humphrey-Hawkins Bill, which aims to reduce unemployment to three per cent by 1980, as well as prescriptive planning to reduce inflation. Ford opposes wage and price controls beyond the present wage-price council system and stresses private rather than government as the way to reduce unemployment.
On taxes, President Ford aims to simplify the tax system and give a tax cut to middle
WEBER WILL CLEAN UP THE MESS IN THE STATE TREASURERS OFFICE!
Vote Weber Republican for State Treasurer
Approved by Weber for Treasurer Committee.
Paid for by Douglas County Republican Central Committee, John Lungstrum,
Chairman.