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University Daily Kansan Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1965
A Look at the Future: Predictions for 1965
Crystal ball gazing is almost every man's sport. It is an action that cannot be proved wrong immediately and which is usually forgotten by the time it is proved wrong. Here are some predictions for 1965:
VIET NAM: The limited war in Viet Nam will get much worse for the South Vietnamese and the United States. Since the war in this area has been going on for more than 10 years, the Vietnamese are becoming eager to end the war. Another coup d'etate and many more riots can be expected in South Viet Nam. The next possible leader of shaky South Viet Nam could be the neutral Buddhists. The Buddhists probably would try to negotiate a separate treaty with North Viet Nam and definitely would ask the United States to remove itself. The Vietnamese will have to work out a compromise for bringing the country back together again. A Korean-type settlement is not possible. In the case of Vietnamese consolidation, the best hope would be that Viet Nam have a relationship with Red China like that which Finland has with Russia. One of the big questions that will arise when the Buddhists gain control of the government is whether or not the United States will have the courage to withdraw when asked
RED CHINA AND THE UNITED NATIONS: The long- ignored question of seating Red China again will be on the UN voting agenda. One of the biggest backers next year looks to be none other than France's Charles de Gaulle. Red China has a close chance of being admitted. If and when Red China is admitted, it is not altogether positive that Red China will join. Before any idea of actually joining the other nations in the UN, Red China will want something to be done about Nationalist China's seat. If Red China does decide to join the UN, one may be sure such an action would be mostly on Red China's own terms.
NATIONALIST CHINA: Formosa is found in a rather touchy position. Since Chiang Kai-shek is an old man, and since Formosa's enemy has some semblance of nuclear weaponry, the new year may bring a less rigid government which may start communications with Red China. This mainly hinges on Chiang Kai-shek's long-awaited death and the possibility that Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek will not be able to seize power in her husband's absence.
INDIA: To the west of Red China shudders the neutral state of India. India seems to have internal problems that aim mainly at the thought of new premier. The struggle centers mainly around the right wing and the left wing of the Congress party. If the right wing of the party gains the upper hand, India will start working for her own nuclear bomb and military strength with the hope of restoring some sort of an arms balance that will
protect India from Red China. If the left wing of the party is victorious, India will continue to follow Nehru's policy of non-alignment with more vigorous efforts to settle the problem of Kashmir. It is doubtful that the Red Chinese will push further into India. The Red Chinese already have proved to the world their dedication to the Marxist teachings by expanding into India soon after Russia was forced to take missiles out of Cuba.
ISRAELIS AND ARABS: The last few months have seen stepped up spy activity as both the Israelis and the Arabs try to out-weapon each other. The Arabs hired several German missile experts to build a few deadly missiles that can be aimed at Israel. Israelis have been pressuring West Germany to recall the missile experts and at the same time are trying to make a deal or two with France for some equally deadly weapons. The Israelis soon will be intensifying the efforts to finish the Jordan river project, which should result in a little heavier border fighting. There is very little chance of an actual fighting war breaking out between the two camps as each is afraid that the other might be better armed or be able to muster more friends.
CONGO: Tshombe's spotlighted African nation will continue in the news while he and his white mercenaries finish up the lion hunt. If Tshombe can be kept safe from a rebel sniper
bullet, the Congo still has a good chance of becoming a unified nation when the rebel Simbas (Swahili for 'lions') are hunted down. If Tshombe is assassinated, the UN may have to move in again to prevent the Congo from destroying itself.
FRANCE: Or perhaps this heading should have been just Charles de Gaulle. Around France, according to some leaders, all of Europe should revolve. If the pending multilateral treaty dealing with nuclear armaments for Europe is accepted by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, De Gaulle will formally announce France's withdrawal from NATO at his annual January press conference.
RUSSIA: Red Squaresville in Russia is due for another shakeup in the coming year, because the two present leaders are only temporary. Leonid I. Brezhnev and his sickly co-leader Aleksei N. Kosygin will fade out of the limelight in about four to eight months, at which time the actual leader will emerge. Stalin required about two years to rise to power and Khrushchev took about a year to consolidate his power after Stalin's death. Since Khrushchev did not die but was removed by the party, the new leader should not require as long as Stalin or Khrushchev because Khrushchev's removal was planned. The new leader will be a strong-willed politician from the Presidium. The real leader may turn out to be Brezhnev, but he hardly seems like the colorful leader that the Communist
Party of Russia usually produces.
UNITED STATES: America is found near a gray wall in Berlin; south of Viet Nam; definitely not in France; wishfully in Cuba; unfortunately in the Congo; and doggedly in Formosa. Aside from the American economic and political problems outside the United States, there will be some problems inside the United States.
Among the economic problems to hit the U.S. will be a mild recession or inflation in the spring. The choice of a recession or depression depends largely on the measures that the Johnson administration takes to combat present and near-future money problems. The money problems will be based mainly on a few present and near future situations. Those situations are the financial problems of most of the nation's farmers; the cattlemen's meat market problems; money out of circulation caused by strikes; unemployment due to closing military bases; and the loss of cash due to the filing of income taxes.
Civil rights will have its field day early in the spring too. As soon as warm temperatures of early spring arrive in the South, Negroes will cause test cases to examine the effectiveness of the new civil rights law. If the new law is found wanting or seems to be moving too slowly, Negro riots again may threaten some of the larger cities.
— T. S. Moore
KU Loses Loyal Friend
KU ATHLETIC EVENTS won't be the same in the future without Don Pierce, sports publicity director and one of the University's most loyal servants.
Maybe Jack Mitchell. KU football coach, put it best when he said, "Without Don Pierce in the athletic department, it is like losing one of our sports."
Cigar-chopping Pierce, known as a newspaper man first and publicity man second, died Sunday from injuries suffered in a New Year's Eve automobile accident at a Lawrence intersection.
AS STUDENT, ATHLETE AND PUBLICITY director, Pierce was loyal to KU. Last spring his mind was in a turmoil because he had received a job offer from the Denver Broncos professional football team. Although the Denver job meant considerably more money, Pierce confided to friends that he was sick with the thought that he might leave KU.
His salary was boosted to the relief of his friends and the news media he served. But salary is no measure of Don Pierce's greatness.
"THE WHALE," so nicknamed because of his 6-foot, 250-pound frame, was an institution in the Big Eight and across the nation. His collection of facts—some stored in his Allen Field House file cabinets and bookcases, others in his memory—made him an unofficial conference publicist.
Called 'the best in the business' by many of his counterparts, Pierce abhorred propaganda. He came to KU after working on several newspapers in the area. He periodically said he would like to return to the newspaper field someday.
Pierce was as devoted to athletics as any fan or sports writer—probably more so. He might be a bit disturbed that news of his tragedy appeared on front pages or as part of radio and television newscasts across the state and nation.
"YOU'D THINK it was the World Series." Pierce remarked of the attention given elections.
On the afternoon President Kennedy was to address the nation on the Cuban Crisis in October of 1961, this writer mentioned his concern about the situation to Pierce.
"I don't care anything about it unless it concerns football in the Big Eight Conference," Pierce, head and cigar cocked, told me with the distinct trace of a frown.
Beyond his loyalty to KU, his professional ability and his devotion to sports, "The Whale" will best be remembered in connection with good times spent with him and the jokes he told and retold you. He called all this "camaraderie."
DON PIERCE WILL BE MISSED by at least one professional associate and close friend for telling stories while watching football practices and scrimmages in the late afternoon . . . for taking "cola stops" on road trips . . . for pounding his "mill" (he never called it a typewriter—and it was so old it scarcely resembled one) with two fingers while chewing on a cigar.
For writing letters and copy on scratch paper months and years old . . . for addressing waitresses in his deep voice as, "Say, Little Lady" . . . for his love for steak (as well as ice water and "colas") . . . for his roaring laugh and thigh slapping . . . for the nicknames he gave to friend and otherwise. . .
For using a dollar bill to light a 'gar in a Miami hotel while posing as a "Western Kansas cattle baron" . . . for saying of cheerleaders, bands, etc., "They never scored a touchdown" . . . for his distaste for KU bureaucrats . . . for educational trips to the Western Union office downtown . . . for his stubby pencils . . . for his unreadable (but to himself) notes . . . for his witty, unmatchable press releases. . .
FOR PLAYING HANDBALL several times a week . . . for his heavy overcoat . . . for his wide ties . . . for tales of his professional football playing days . . . for his slow driving..
FOR HIS EFFORTS which led to a good Memorial Stadium press box—a structure which stands as a memorial far above the Kaw Valley to a KU journalism graduate, all-conference football player, professional football player, sports writer and University of Kansas sports publicist.
Roy Miller
"And What Can I Expect From You?"
Dailii'Hänsan
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EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Jim Langford and Rick Mabbutt ... Co-Editorial Editors