Tuesday, April 2.1968
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
7
LBJ will speak to RFK on unity
By United Press International
President Johnson Monday accepted Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's request for a "national unity" meeting in the wake of the chief executive's startling announcement he would not seek reelection.
In New York, Kennedy had praised Johnson's move as "magnanimous" and disclosed he had asked the President for a meeting "as soon as possible to discuss how we might work together in the interest of national unity during the coming months."
Returning from a Chicago speech, Johnson told newsmen he would see Kennedy at the senator's convenience. Asked what Kennedy wished to discuss, the President said all he knew was what he read on news tickers.
Thus was assured a confrontation between Johnson and one of his sturdiest antagonists, the 42-year-old New York Democrat whose attacks on Johnson's Vietnam policies contributed to the President's decision to bow out.
Politicians foresaw Monday what they once thought could only happen in 1972—a bruising battle for the Democratic nomination between Kennedy and Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey.
Pleas for Rockefeller
There were urgent pleas within the Republican party for Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller of New York to enter the race. He said again he wouldn't.
Some Democrats—including Senate Democratic leader Mike Mansfield—predicted Johnson might change his mind and accept a draft at the Democratic national convention in August. Johnson has said his decision is "irrevocable."
Those were the highlights of the morning-after reaction to Johnson's sudden notice he was ending his 37-year political career when his term expires in January.
Postmaster General Lawrence O'Brien, a key political strategist once for the Kennedys and now for Johnson, said, "I have seen nothing comparable to it during my lifetime in politics."
At Chicago, before the National Association of Broadcasters, the President renewed his appeal for North Vietnam to respond to his de-escalation of the U.S. war effort.
As for his political decision, Johnson said: "For a President to buy public popularity at the sacrifice of his best judgment is too dear a price. The nation cannot afford such a price or such a leader."
Stock exchange blooms
The New York Stock Exchange was bullish and opened with extremely heavy trading—a record 6,060,000 shares in the first hour—and then broke the one-day volume record of 16,410,000 shares set on Oct.29,1929,the day of the Wall Street crash.
In Washington, the Citizens for Johnson-Humphrey announced it was shutting down operations. But Cecil E. Burney, its co-chairman, said that if Humphrey runs, he would "be inclined to go with him" and that some other committee workers would too.
The Vice President, in Mexico for a treaty-signing ceremony, said only that he stood on his statement Sunday night that he was previously aware of Johnson's decision and that he regretted it deeply.
LBJ speech gives world relief,hope
By United Press International
President Johnson's bombing curb sent a wave of relief and hope for peace around a surprised world Monday.
Britain appealed to the Soviet Union to reconvene the 1954 Geneva conference which could arrange a settlement. India, chairman of the International Control Commission on Vietnam, promised "wholehearted cooperation" on the new peace initiative.
Most governments declined comment on the President's retirement. Ordinary citizens the world over were stunned by the bombshell news that most heard on early morning newsscasts. Many citizens in Poland, France and Sweden thought at first the news was an April fool's joke.
Communist parties in the Soviet Union and other nations brushed off the bombing halt. Newspapers and citizens of many countries suspected Johnson's action was a pre-election maneuver.
Others called his speech an act that will change history and that "proved the vitality of a great democracy." Some said Johnson was a "tragic" figure.
A Swedish newspaper took off its hat to Johnson because "in the most difficult decision of his life we have seen a new Johnson showing a quality no one expected—humility."
From Paris to Warsaw, citizens and the press predicted Sen. Robert F. Kennedy would become the next president.
Students campaign
Twenty KU students, members of Kansans for Alternatives, were among more than 60,000 volunteers who campaigned in Wisconsin last weekend for Senator Eugene McCarthy.
The KU group traveled to Beloit, Wis., and campaigned for McCarthy in a "very conservative Republican area," Lea Hirschberg, Topeka senior, one of the students who went to Wisconsin, said.
MILWAUKEE, Wis.—(UPI)—A smiling Sen. Eugene McCarthy invaded "Johnson country" Monday and found there was still vocal support for the President in the campaign for Tuesday's presidential primary.
The area was considered one of Johnson's strongholds and McCarthy ran into Johnson backers chanting "LBJ anyway."
McCarthy made separate forays into the city's South Side, which is represented in Congress by Clement Zablocki, chairman of the Wisconsin Johnson-Humphrey Campaign Committee.
Zablocki earlier in the day had held a news conference and continued to urge votes for Johnson in the primary, saying a small vote for the President would be viewed by the press "and especially the foreign press, as a defeat for the policies he set forth Sunday night."
McCarthy hits Johnson country
Johnson's announcement that he would neither seek nor accept renomination left McCarthy virtually unopposed on the Democratic ballot. The President's name will still appear, however, and there is likely to be a heavy write-in vote for such Democrats as Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy of New York.
On the Republican ballot, former Vice President Richard Nixon appeared to be a boo-in. Harold Stassen and Gov. Ronald Reagan of California also were on the ballot.
McCarthy said he did not intend to lose any of the primary contests, but that no one would be knocked out of the race by defeat in a single primary. He said a candidate could win all state presidential primaries and lose the nomination or could win the nomination without any primary victories.
At a news conference, McCarthy said Johnson's decision would not affect his campaign plans or his presentation of the issues.
To a questioner who said Kennedy still seemed to be seeking an accommodation with McCarthy, the Minnesota replied that he had denied as far back as November that he was a "stalking horse" for anyone.
AUTO GLASS Sudden Service East End of 9th St.----VI 3-4416
Keepsake
REGISTERED DIAMOND RINGS
CAPRI $250
ALSO TO $1800
Ray Christian
"THE COLLEGE JEWELER"
809 Mass. VI 3-5432
Special College Terms
Now it's EATC Crystal Sheer in ZING COLORS
Bright and breezy, for the new you. These writing papers express femininity in the now way.
Think of the marvellous mail these colors will inspire: Hallelujah Yellow—to sing out when you have wonderful news. Jungle Grass—when you're stalking him! Surfing Blue—you feel exhilarated and want him to feel the same, Piccadilly Pink—for your madcap times, when your thoughts go in every direction, like the traffic there.
PLAIN OR DECORATED You must see theml
From $159
CARTER'S STATIONERY
1025 Mass. VI 3-6133