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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 1976)
Watergate hero discusses party principles Richardson says Nixon pardon justified O*. iiu/P A141 __. f . . . Of the Emerald Elliot Richardson, the man who gained near folk-hero status fol lowing the infamous "Saturday Night Massacre," said Monday it is not inconsistent for him to sup port Pres. Ford even in light of the Nixon pardon. In an appearance at the Univer sity law school, the present Sec retary of Commerce, whose past government employment reads like a "Who’s Who" In Washing ton, told approximately 600 peo piu uicu u ic? paiuuu rrao iiv/i wur side the bounds of equal justice. “The constitution grants the power of clemency to the Presi dent,” he said, "and the criteria for its application takes into account more than just the law.” While saying the pardon could have been handled differently, Richardson felt Ford could justify not pursuing a trial unless a jail sentence was the desired out come, adding that a President should not have to go to jail. “For Nixon to resign without fulfillment v/i 11*9 yvai vi a yciicianuu vi peace,” he said, was penalty enough. Displaying a quick wit, Richard son defended the Ford-admini stration’s stand on a number of different issues. On nuclear proliferation, Richardson said "It’s impossible to put the genie back in the bottle” on an international scale. While the administration is doing all it can to insure peaceful use of nu clear fuels, he continues, "I don't think we can make it international law.” Democratic fund drive begins Lane County residents can ex pect some visitors this week as the "Dollars for Democrats" fundraising drive gets under way. Approximately 200 volunteers will be campaigning door to door throughout Lane County, mostly in the metro areas. “Some precincts may have al ready begun the drive," says or ganizer Mary Kronoski, “but our big push will be this week. We’re telling residents to look for volun teers that are wearing red, white and blue campaign buttons that say "Dollars for Democrats Drive — Lane County Democratic Party." Money collected from the activ ity will be disbursed to local candi dates after a special committee has determined each candidate's financial need and electabHity. The committee was appointed by Bill Dwyer, county chairer, of the Lane Democratic Party. It is currently researching local candi dates, talking with them about their budgets and plans for the final two weeks of the campaign. Those persons serving on the committee are not directly in r Cro **t& anb Religious; Jetoelrp Gold Fillsd Cross A Cham Young adult accounts invited. Free ear ! piercing with purchase of $6.95 earrings. JEWELERS Downtown Valley River Center a read od€— lh« «4€-ttngkf votved in any local campaigns. "We want the money to be used for a special effort, for instance television or radio advertising,” says Kronoski. “One reason for the fundraising is because there is no national democratic telethon (this year) like there was in 72 and 74. We re out a few thousand dol - lars this year because the receipts from the telethon were shared with state and local organizations, so we re going directly out to the precincts.” Contributors to the campaign will receive a slate card with a list of candidates, polling places and ^ 1 ->» election information. A temporary receipt bearing the donor’s signa ture will be replaced at the end of the year with a permanent docu ment for tax purposes. Donors can take advantage of the “direct tax credit law,” which enables a person filing a single tax return to contribute up to $50, or a couple filing jointly to give up to $100 and receive the full amount back on their tax return. Half the donation will be refunded by the state and the other half by the fed eral government. Those who owe the government money can use the donation as a credit on tax money owed. . vyn nit; ruiu duimiiiMidiiuii 9 veto of a number of social service bills, Richardson reiterated the theme of Ns opening speech, em phasizing the limits of government and the necessity of choice. "The government cannot manufacture money” for these programs, he said. He believes if these bills had passed, the resulting inflation would have eventually put more people in the position of needing federal relief. The Republican defended the present tax policies in response to a query about corporate tax breaks saying, "Of $28 million in tax cuts this past year, $15 million went to families and individuals.” “As long as we have a capitalis tic system,” he continued, "we have to reward the private sector’s investment of capital” by offering tax breaks on reinvested profits. “The Ford commitment to cleaner air and water is firm,” he said. “We are doing a good job of administering the present en vironmental laws.” He then expressed his satisfac tion with the administration's commitment to cleaner energy. “I’m convinced we are (financially) into the alternatives (to nuclear energy) as much as we can ex pect at this time.” hi a irai> lAjmererKje luiiuwmg the general meeting, Richardson said “I don’t anticipate a veto” of the recently passed timber man agement bill which will affect the Northwest timber industry. “It had the broad bi-partisan support of Congress and also my depart ment.” He also minimized the effect of Ford’s verbal blunders during the foreign affairs debate. “The cam paign still has three weeks left and these things will recede. What's really going on is that people are deciding which of these men they would rather trust.” Another recurring theme, in both the press conference and open meeting, was Democratic presidential hopeful Jimmy Carter’s inconsistency on the is sues. When asked to define the difference between Ford and Carter’s economic policies, Richardson said he couldn’t since “I would have to decide what are his (Carter’s) positions. He talks about raising the federal budget by $200 million and then talks about reducing inflation.” During his lengthy career in government, Richardson has also served as Secretary of Defense, Secretary of HEW, Attorney Gen eral, Under Secretary of State, ambassador to Great Britain, plus attorney general and lieutenant governor of Massachusetts. 9
