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University Daily Kansan
Friday, Oct. 30, 1964
Personalities Cloud Presidential Race
WASHINGTON —(UPI)— The 1964 presidential campaign was billed in advance as one that would give American voters a clear-cut choice of political philosophies.
But as things turned out, the campaign has been fought largely on personalities. Each party sought to depict the opposing candidate as a man who could not be trusted.
Republicans branded Lyndon B. Johnson as a Texas "wheeler-dealer" and suggested that he had callouses on his conscience. They hammered away at his role in the get-rich-quick career of former Senate Democratic Secretary Robert G. (Bobby) Baker. The GOP theme of "moral laxity in high places" received an unexpected boost late in the campaign when White House aide Walter W. Jenkins resigned following disclosure that he had twice been arrested on morals charges.
DEMOCRATS LABELLED Barry M. Goldwater an impulsive "hip-shooter" and warned that he might involve the nation in nuclear war. They kept telling voters that America and the world were much safer with Johnson's finger on the nuclear trigger. This Democratic theme got an apparent assist late in the campaign when Red China's atomic explosion and Nikita Khrushchev's sudden fall from power in Russia reminded people of the hazards of the international situation.
In addition to the charge that the either fellow was untrustworthy, both Johnson and Goldwater had favorite campaign topics. Johnson bore down on peace and prosperity, saying in effect: "You never had it so good—why change the hand on the helm?"
Goldwater said that "forced integration is as wrong as forced segregation"—a line that had great appeal for white people distressed about the militancy of the Negro's drive for equality.
IN SPITE OF everything, the
campaign did turn up a number of substantive issues on which the two candidates, if not poles apart, were at least recognizably opposed.
Here is a capsule summary of the principal issues which emerged:
Johnson: Pushed through Congress the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the strongest federal enactment on racial rights since reconstruction. He has promised vigorous enforcement.
CIVIL RIGHTS
Goldwater: Voted against the Civil Rights Act as an infringement on states' rights, and has criticized it in campaign speeches. However, he is committed by the Republican platform to faithful execution of the law so long as it is on the statute books.
CRIME AND VIOLENCE
Goldwater: Promised more effective action to curb street crimes and acts of violence which have brought fear to the hearts of many city-dwellers. He acknowledged that the federal government had no direct authority over local crimes, but said it could help by establishing a higher tone of public morality and also by setting an example of firm dealing with crime in the federal city of Washington, D.C.
Johnson: Voiced concern over rising crime rates. He said the federal government must not usurp the police powers which the constitution vests in states and local governments, but that it can and does stand ready to back up local action to cope with outbreaks of crime or rioting. He proposed a national conference of law enforcement officials to pool ideas for effective local solutions.
EXTREMISM
Johnson and his supporters: Charged that Goldwater was receiving support from extreme right-wing groups such as the John Birch Society. They accused Goldwater of encouraging extremism by saying in his acceptance speech that extremism is not necessarily a vice if it's in a good cause.
Goldwater and his supporters: Accused Johnson's running-mate, Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey, of being under the influence of Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), which they called a "radical" organization.
FOREIGN POLICY
Goldwater: Called for a tougher line in dealing with the Communist bloc. Instead of settling for a cold war stalemate, he said, America should seek victory. He said this country must be prepared to risk war in order to preserve peace and freedom.
Johnson: Said the nation should continue to display the patient firmness in dealing with Communism that has been the keynote of U.S. foreign policy under both Democratic and Republican presidents since the end of World War II. His goal is to find a way of living on the same globe with Communist powers—without appeasement and without war.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Johnson: Said the President should retain sole authority to order use of nuclear weapons, large or small.
Goldwater: Said the control of certain tactical nuclear weapons should be delegated to the NATO commander in Europe.
VIET NAM
Goldwater; Called for "decisive" action to defeat the Communist Viet Cong guerrillas. As a minimum, he said, action must be taken to cut the Communist supply lines from North Viet Nam.
Johnson: Said the United States faces a long, hard fight in Viet Nam, with no quick or easy solutions in sight. He said this country would not expand the war but would meet firmly any Communist attempt to do so.
DC Voters Await Chance
WASHINGTON—(UPI)—The national capital is expected to show its enthusiasm for the right to vote for president Nov.3 with perhaps the greatest percentage turnout of registered voters in the country.
District election officials are looking for the nation's neophyte voters to line up in droves during the 12-hour balloting period.
Dan Noll, executive secretary of the local election board, said he would be "surprised" if the turnout was less than 90 per cent of the some 220.000 registered voters.
The amendment permitted residents of Washington to cast ballots in presidential elections.
THE BASIS FOR the enthusiasm of this politically minded community along the historic Potomac River is the 23rd amendment to the Constitution, finally ratified in the spring of 1961.
Ever since the District was created back in the late 1700's, residents have been pretty much voteless. In its formative years, residents selected their mayor and council but were completely stripped
of voting rights in 1878 when Congress took control of district government affairs.
DEMOCRATS, WHO MAKE up an estimated 50 per cent of the registered voters, have no doubt that the capital's three electoral votes will go to the Johnson-Humphrey ticket.
But the Republicans, led by Carl Shipley, were not prone to give up that easily.
Shipley, predicting a "large stay-at-home Democratic vote among Negroes," gave the GOP a 50-50 chance. He anticipated "a tremendous cross-over" for Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, largely over the civil rights issue.
Noll's records indicate Republicans make up about 20 per cent of the registered voters, independents about 30.
The total registration represents less than half the estimated number of Washington residents of voting age. But Noll said that many who did not register were government workers who maintain a voting residence in their home state. They will vote there personally or by absentee ballot.
Chances Dim of GOP Congress
WASHINGTON —(UPI)—The 89th Congress convenes Jan. 4, 1965. Color it Democratic.
The Republicans, who have occupied the White House in eight of the last 22 years, controlled the House and Senate only four years of that period. Current political omens do not point to an improvement of the Republican record.
If Sen. Barry M. Goldwater beat President Johnson in a landslide, the GOP probably would have a good chance to take over Congress. But unless the pollsters and professional politicians all have been led down the garden path, that isn't about to happen.
WHAT SEEMS politically improbable is not mathematically impossible, however.
The Republicans now hold 178 seats in the House and 34 seats in the Senate. They could take over by picking up 40 seats in the House and 17 in the Senate (16 if Goldwater won and William E. Miller
had the vice president's tie-break- ing vote).
But Republican professionals do not, in private, foresee a 40-seat GOP gain in the House. They look for a net change of 10 seats either way, and are working to make it fall on the Republican side. A top Democratic party aide rules out a net loss of his side and sees a possible gain of 15 seats.
For the politically volatile House, these are remarkably static predictions. In 1946, the Republicans gained 56 House seats to take control of the 80th Congress. In 1948, behind Harry Truman, the Democrats came roaring back with a gain of 75 seats. A 28-seat swing to the Republicans gave them control in the 1952 election, and the Democrats won it back with 19 seats two years later. In 1958, the Democrats strengthened control with a gain of 49 seats and then lost 22 of them to Republicans in 1960.
somewhat different picture. To begin, only 26 of the 66 Democratic Senate seats are at stake this year. Of that number three are southern and safe; half a dozen are in northern states where only the most nervous Democrats see trouble.
THE SENATE PRESENTS a
Democratic pulse-takers are worried seriously about several seats—Ohio, Indiana and Oklahoma. But they hope to make up for possible losses with wins in Maryland, Hawaii and New Mexico.
Republicans are defending only nine seats this year but count themselves safe only in two or three- Delaware, Nebraska and probably Arizona.
Two of the biggest battles for Senate seats this year are in New York and Pennsylvania, where liberal Republicans are seeking re-election and getting strong challenges.
Johnson: Would try to further isolate Cuba by negotiation with Latin American countries and free world allies.
CUBA
Goldwater: Would reinstate the U.S. Naval blockade of Cuba, and recognize a Cuban government in exile.
TRADE
Goldwater: Opposed any trade with Communist countries unless there was a clear-cut advantage for the free world.
Johnson: Favored limited trade with Soviet bloc countries on grounds it is beneficial to both sides and may lead to a relaxation of tension.
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
Johnson: Would launch new government programs to help conquer poverty, unemployment and
raise educational and health standards to achieve what he calls "the great society."
Goldwater: Would cut back on federal programs to let individuals and localities solve more of their own problems with less of what he calls dangerous interference from Washington.
SPENDING
Goldwater: Offered a definite promise of reduced federal expenditures.
MEDICARE
Johnson: Promised only to see that the taxpayer's money is spent prudently and without wastefulness.
Johnson: Favored a system of federal hospitalization insurance for the aged under social security.
Goldwater: Opposed it as a step toward "socialized medicine."
Far out, in the middle of a field shadowed with the winter skeletons of lonely trees, looms the huge shadow of a dark and empty building. Bits of darkness huddle together at the base of the building trying to escape the chilling light of the last moon in October. It is not silent, there is no sound but the mind cannot accept this eiree stillness so . . . there . . . to the right, to the left, rustlings of a fruitful imagination, as the darkness huddles closer, and the cold, naked moon smiles . . . imperceptably. You stand there, afraid to close in with the darkness, afraid to stand alone in the frozen moonlight. Suddenly, cars full of happy people arrive, lights blaze inside the building, gaiety abounds. The darkness rushes to hide the embarrassed face of the moon, helpless in the face of laughter. You are there with the Great Pumpkin, Halloween eve at the National Guard Armory. Seldom is there seen such a huge gathering of the top chart recording artists. And you recognize all these songs from recent chart listings. The one and only Great Pumpkin really urges you to turn out for this gala Halloween eve. The Great Pumpkin Party is for all KU students and everyone else who really wants to find out what fun is. So . . . be there at 8:00 tonight.
SHOWER OF STARS
★ J. FRANK WILSON — "LAST KISS" (No.1 KOMA,KLEO,KEWI, & WHB) CENE SIMMONS - "Haunted House"
★ GENE SIMMONS — "Haunted House" (Formally No. 1 KEWI & WHB)
★ TRAVIS WAMMACK — "SCRATCHY"
(No. 5 KOMA)
★ Murry Kellem — "Long Tall Texan" (No. 1 for 5 weeks last year)
★ ACE CANNON — "TUFF"
(No. 8 last year)
★ THE CAVALIERS — SHOW BAND PLAYING ALL OF THE STUDENTS' FAVORITES
EVERYONE WELCOME ADMISSION $1.50
FRIDAY, OCT. 30-8 TO 12 P.M. NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY
POP WILL BE SOLD THIS IS THE BIG HALLOWEEN PARTY