Nixon says troops in Cambodia to withdraw in matter of weeks
WASHINGTON (UPI)—President Nixon, facing the sharpest criticism of his presidency, assured key members of Congress in private White House sessions Tuesday that U.S. troops would leave Cambodia in a matter of weeks and that withdrawals from South Vietnam would continue on schedule.
Through the meetings and in statement here and at the United Nations, the administration sought to ease fears that the Cambodian operation represented a vast widening of the Southeast Asian conflict. It said the thrusts inside Cambodia were "restricted in extent, purpose and time."
Late in the day, the President met for two hours with members of the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees. Rep. Thomas E. Morgan, D-Pa., chairman of the House committee, said the chief executive promised to consult Congress if the operations in Cambodia were extended beyond the border regions.
Morgan said Nixon specifically told the lawmakers there were no plans to extend U.S. operations, but the President said he would confer with Congress if he decided to go deeper than the 18 miles anticipated in the current strikes.
Sen. George Aiken of Vermont, the dean of Senate Republicans and a strong supporter of Nixon's war strategy until U.S. troops were ordered inside Cambodia, said the President "was a very skillful moderator" in presenting his case for the new policy.
"But I wouldn't say we received a wealth of new information . . . nor would I say many minds were changed." Aiken said.
Nixon began the day with a two-hour breakfast meeting with members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees. That session left Nixon's hawkish supporters more convinced that his Cambodian decision was militarily correct.
But not all doubt was dispelled. "It was dreamland," said Rep. Lucien Nedzi, D-Mich., after the first presidential briefing. "It was pretty hard to equate such statements as we will not get bogged down in a war in Cambodia with the invasion of Cambodia."
The second group presented a tougher audience since the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been the focal point for opposition to the new strategy of attacking Communist sanctuaries just across the border from South Vietnam.
Sen. J. William Fulbright, chairman of that committee and the most persistent war critic, declined to meet with reporters at the White House.
Aiken, leaving no doubt that he personally remained unconvinced, said he "hopes the President's strategy will succeed and there will be a sharp reduction in our losses and an earlier end to the war."
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1970 KANSAN 9
Lawmakers emerging from both sessions emphasized that the President told them the strikes into Cambodia were "designed to save American lives and enable him to keep withdrawal of American troops on schedule."
Nixon emphasized that the Cambodian operation was only temporary and Morgan said the President assured the second group that the Cambodian operations would be completed by the end of June.
Several participants in the morning session said Nixon gave what one described as a "firm commitment" that he would abide by his promise last week that the Cambodian operation would end after six to eight weeks.
Reps. Edward F, Hebert, D-La., and Richard H, Ichord, D-Do., quoted Nixon as saying he was pleased with the initial success of the effort to wipe out Communist supplies and communications facilities in headquarter areas across the Cambodian border with South Vietnam.
Blackmun approved by Senate
WASHINGTON (UPI) — By a 17- vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday recommended that Judge Harry A. Blackmun be confirmed as the ninth member of the Supreme Court. Full Senate confirmation could come as early as Thursday
The rare display of unanimity signalled certain smooth sailing for President Nixon's nominee when his name comes up on the Senate floor.
Committee Chairman James O. Eastland, D-Miss., would not predict when that would be, but he said, "We could take it up Thursday by unanimous consent."
Lacking unanimous consent, it will be up to Senate Democratic leader Mike Mansfield to schedule a debate and a vote. If no "questions or roadblocks" arise, Mansfield said, it would be possible to consider the nomination Friday or Monday.
The committee's approval of the 61-year-old U.S. Appeals Court judge from Rochester, Minn., came 355 days after the Supreme Court vacancy was created by the resignation under fire of Justice Abe Fortas, and after two Nixon nominees—Judges Clement F. Haynsworth and G. Harrold Carswell were meted by the Senate.
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