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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 1968)
The Presidential Election 1968 OR ‘This Is the Year That Is’ 1 »■' 1L L__ rr -y/ 'MS. I “Gene McCarthy could split this party ri;*ht down the middle!” a. J “Wouldn’t you think the war on poverty and the war in Vietnam would he enough . . .?” By MIKE FANCIIKR Of the Emerald Why is Lyndon Johnson doing what he is doing? Why, in a time when more and more people are speaking out against the pres ent course of action in Vietnam does Lyn don Johnson think he is persuing the right path? Why, in a time of drastic social unrest is the president who fought so hard in his first year of office for social reform legisla tion letting the butter he produced be hardened and cast into guns. Why, in a time when there are two third parties, numerous Republican contenders, and even staunch opposition in the Demo cratic ranks does Lyndon Johnson think he will be re-elected? These are questions many Americans will ask between now and November. Maybe only Lyndon Johnson himself can answer these questions. Then again, maybe even he can’t provide the answers. But one possible explanation can be found in Johnson’s own description of his political philosophy. In his book “A Time For Action.” writ ten in 1964, the President set down the first two basic tenets of his philosophy in this way: ‘‘First I believe every American has something to say and, under our system, a right to an audience. ‘‘Second, I believe there is always a na tional answer to each national problem, and, believing this, I do not believe there are necessarily two sides to every ques tion.” Johnson later enlarges on the concept of the national answer saying it is one which all reasonable men can agree upon even though this may take many years. Possibly Lyndon Johnson thinks he is working toward that national answer. Such an explanation seems to fit the picture. First, Johnson’s course in Vietnam has in the past largely resembled a tightrope act—with the hawks on one side and the doves on the other. The picture is com plete with Ho Chi Minh holding out, wait ing to see if Johnson will tumble. Ho’s bet is that the doves will sway the rope enough to dump LBJ. The statistics backing his point could well be the anti war tone present in the U.S. today. On the otheF hand, LBJ has matched the bet with growing military pressure. His bet is Ho can be bombed to the con ference table. The statistics backing John son’s point are probably the record the U.S. has had of backing defense spending and America’s fear of spreading Com munism. “I’m Afraid To Look” V V \ {•ywy JewiikLc^ Second, due to such a course in Vietnam, Johnson has been forced to change priori ties and snub social reform. He only has so much money and he has found out that guns cost more than he thought they would. Third, if Johnson believes he is really making headway toward the national answer, then he probably believes he can maintain enough compromise votes and bal lots from Americans who just aren’t sure about the war to win in November. The problems are these: First, Johnson isn’t receiving static just from the doves. There is a strong minority of hawks making demands just as there is a strong minority of doves. There also is a majority of unsatisfied voters who want to win or get out. Proof that such a tightrope course as the present one is un tenable is evidenced by McNamara’s ouster. Second, social unrest, not Vietnam, could well be the most decisive issues in the com ing elections. Unfortunately most of the American people will be most concerned with prevention rather than prescription— it’s easier to close your eyes to a social problem by putting your thumb down on its symptoms than it is to open your eyes to the problem and tackle causes not symp toms. Third, Johnson may not be providing a national answer and may not be able to by November. Instead of a solution ali reasonable men can agree upon, the Presi dent may be working toward something no reasonable men will accept. How well Johnson can handle these problems. How well his opponents (who ever they may ultimately be) can use the problems against him. And, whether each voter answers for himself the questions, “Why is Lyndon Johnson doing what he is doing?” will combine to tell the tale of Presidential Election 1968. Jules Feiffer OF THE FOR VO^R FPIFICATIOM MV £?ANC£ TO Mfil. i m, leeeuc. uJBUS OS, AM mm UOtiH H£ MEI6H-, BORS. m ONLY ..... STROMS 6M006H JO STOP HIM & THIS AP 'MINISTRA TION. a mce m. BUtFuUIUhiulUII SjnJitM# avftitau" “Never Saw A Guy Do So Much Traveling Without Seeming To Get Anywhere”
