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University Daily Kansan
Friday, Oct. 30, 1964
The Greatest Show
Once every four years one of the most exciting extravaganzas in modern history unfolds before the American public the show is the presidential election campaign, the stage is the entire nation, and the stars the Republican and Democratic candidates.
This year's show will close Nov. 3, when the audience or the voters of the United States go to the polls to express their applause and play the role of critics. The final reviews will appear in the next day's newspapers.
HISTORICALLY in the last 30 years presidential elections have changed a great deal because of fast advances in mass communications and improved modes of travel.
This year both candidates, President Lyndon Johnson and Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, are using huge jet aircraft to criss-cross the nation stopping for speeches or shows in several states from the east to the west coast. With the candidates in the big jets are the reviewers or reporters who tell America about the performance of each act along the way.
The fast jets are a far cry from the same show just 16 years ago when Harry S. Truman, the man from Missouri, whistle-stopped the nation back and forth across the country and put on quite a show from the back platform of a railroad car. Yes, the pollsters and so-called experts said it couldn't be done but "give 'em hell Harry" proved that he was the real star of that show and won another term in the White House.
FOUR YEARS AGO the late President John F. Kennedy played the role of a masterful politician, won the acclaim of his audience and also a seat in the White House. Former Vice-President Richard Nixon proved he too was quite a performer, and when the audience meters tabulated the score President Kennedy was elected in a real cliff-hanger.
Another form of mass communications helped the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt - it was
radio. Roosevelt, with his charismatic voice on radio performances, sent literally millions to the polls to approve of his shows.
Other elections have produced popular shows. There was the fall performance of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952. Ike played the role of a famed World War II hero who would end the war in Korea. He probably would have won the election anyway, but the general put on quite a show, which won him a sizeable margin when it closed that November.
SOME THINGS about a presidential election show do not change, however. The men themselves, for instance, always like to make personal contact with their audience and enjoy putting on a good political show. President Johnson constantly breaks into crowds to gain this personal contact — and he's got the scratched hands to prove his popularity.
His predecessor, John Kennedy, also liked to mix with his audience and entertain his followers. One sunny fall day in October 1960, about 10,000 persons waited anxiously for him to appear at a Wichita stadium. It was a long wait, about two hours, but when he arrived it was well worth it. Said the President in a humorous way, "I'm so happy to see so many here — there's so many here, some of the Republicans in Kansas must have come out to see what I look like."
After the speech he broke through police lines and went directly to the stadium seats to shake a few (hundred) hands.
FORMER PRESIDENT Eisenhower also was known to love to perform for his audience. His big thrill came when he gave the famous Ike "V for victory" sign, then watched for the roar of approval from the crowd.
Harry Truman got a big thrill from personal contact at the train stations along the way in the 1948 show. That type of personal campaigning helped put the down to earth political performer back in the White House for four more years.
- David J. Hanks
A Prize For Both Parties
The following article is one of a series dealing with states and the nation, but it will be run along with the articles on campaign issues until the election. )
In certain states, the campaign this year seems to be especially heated, and a good example of such states is Indiana.
It was classed in a U.S. News and World Report review as one of the "questionable" states in regard to the November election.
Indiana, the 11th most populous state, with 13 electoral votes, is considered a prize by both parties.
The Hoosier state is one of diversified interests and resources. There are the urban areas of Gary, East Chicago, and Indianapolis. In these cities, the labor vote will carry much weight. And, it is interesting to note, recently the AF of L and CIO pledged its support to President Johnson.
This decision undoubtedly will affect the vote of six of every ten Indiana voters who are employed in the metal industries.
Also having a strong effect on the vote in Indiana will be the state's long tradition of conservatism. The state has not supported a Democratic candidate since 1936, when it gave its electoral support to Franklin D. Roosevelt.
In 1960, the state supported Nixon, but only by a slim 200,- 000 vote margin.
During the months of the party primaries, Indiana saw several issues come to a head.
Alabama's Gov. Wallace came to the state to place his name on the Democratic primary ballot on May 5, in opposition to President Johnson's stand-in, Gov.
Matthew Welsh. Wallace made a surprisingly effective showing.
Sen. Barry Goldwater made a whistle-stop tour of the state early last week, and he disappointed much of the rural population by lashing out at corruption in Washington and foreign policy, rather than local domestic problems. i.e. agriculture.
The civil rights question was involved directly in this primary. Although only 6 per cent of Indiana's population is Negro, the Negroes are grouped in the urban areas of Indianapolis, where they comprise 20 per cent of the population, and in Gary, where they form 38 per cent of the population.
Mrs. Goldwater, a native of Muncie, returned to the state this week on behalf of her husband.
Besides the national election, the governorship, one Senate seat, and eleven seats in the House are at stake.
The most widely known incumbent seeking re-election is Charles Halleck, House Republican leader. He is running from a predominantly rural district, and is expected to return to Congress.
According to a recent issue of the Congressional Quarterly, Indiana's 11 Congressional districts will have two safe Democratic seats and three safe Republican seats. One district is "leaning" Democratic, and two others are "leaning" Republican. There are two doubtful districts.
Sen. Vance Hartke, Democratic incumbent, will seek reelection also, opposed by State Sen. Bontrager.
— Bobbetta Bartelt
Dailij Hänsan
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After-Dinner Smoke
N.D. Nebraska Strong GOP States
During a presidential race everyone's attention turns to the prospective voting in such states as California, New York and Texas. Smaller states with important electoral votes and significant popular votes are pushed aside by the more populated areas.
Two such areas are Nebraska and North Dakota. To the majority of students at Kansas University, Nebraska is not such a distant state, but no one has been blowing any horns over North Dakota.
Gov. Frank B. Morrison (D) of Nebraska is presently campaigning for a third term. His opposition is Lt. Gov. Dwight W. Burney, who was one of the few known Republicans willing to compete against the incumbent Democrat.
Nebraska is considered one of the strongest Republican states in the country, but the Republicans have not yet found a sound issue against Morrison. In the meantime, the governor has built a strong Democratic organization in the state and is favored to get his job for another two years.
The governor's race could give an indication of how the state will go nationally. Burney is a strong Goldwater supporter. The labor forces have always had a strong voice in the state, and with most of the national leaders and organizations favoring President Johnson, Goldwater could lose a lot of votes. Recent predictions and rises in Goldwater support appear, however, to give him a definite lead at this time. Nebraska has only gone Democratic twice since 1920. In 1932 and '36, it helped Roosevelt defeat Hoover and Landon.
In the fight for House of Representative seats, Republican incumbents Ralph F. Beerman, Glenn Cunningham and David T. Martin are given the edge towards re-election.
President Johnson faces rough
going in North Dakota, but he may come out better there than in Nebraska. North Dakota, like Nebraska, has gone Democratic only twice since 1920—in '32 and '36. It must be remembered, however, that North Dakota was one of the few farm states to back the Democratic wheat referendum in 1963. It was favored by 65.8 per cent of the state's farmers.
North Dakota also has seen a Democratic governor the last four years. Gov. William L. Guy is currently seeking re-election. His winning is uncertain and perhaps doubtful for two major reasons. State House Majority Leader Donald M. Halcrow (R) is popular throughout the state, and Guy was involved in a series of controversies over firings and appointments to various state agencies. At present, Halcrow has a definite lead.
In North Dakota's Senate race, Sen. Quentin N. Burdick (D), who succeeded the late Sen. William Langer (R) in 1960, has been endorsed by his party to run for a full term. Burdick is facing strong opposition from Republican Thomas Kleppe, businessman and former mayor of Bismarck. Burdick, however, is rated a slight favorite because of his incumbency and potent political name.
In the race for the House seats, the two incumbent Republicans, Mark Andrews and Don L. Short, appear to be easy victors. They are running against state senators George Sinner and Rolland Redlin.
As of now, it appears North Dakota will not lose its Republican status. Goldwater will not find the going easy, but he has a definite edge. The Democrats are in the unusually favorable position of having three incumbents seeking re-election — President Johnson, Gov. Guy and Sen. Burdick.
- Clare Casey