March 14, 1968 - Party Divided Further: Kennedy May Enter Race

In the wake of Senator Eugene McCarthy's stunning performance in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, New York Senator Robert Kennedy has announced he will make a decision next week whether or not to seek the Democratic party's nomination from a weakening President Johnson. Kennedy said that the results of Tuesday's primaries removed "the major obstacle" to challenging the President, saying the vote demonstrates major Democratic concerns about Johnson's policies. McCarthy, whose narrow seven-point loss to Johnson drastically outperformed any polling, declared that he would not leave the race regardless of whether Kennedy runs or not. An aide of Senator Kennedy's stated that a decision would be announced by next Friday, March 22, which is also the deadline for entering Oregon's May 28 primary. Kennedy made clear that if he opts to seek the Presidency, he will have to do so through the primaries because, "Otherwise, there is no reason why anyone should consider me." Kennedy stated his biggest fear had been dividing the Democratic Party if he was seen to be ambitious or harboring a personal grudge against Johnson. But the near win by McCarthy demonstrates that the party is already divided and concerned about the direction of the country over the next four years.

Aides to President Johnson  have expressed concern that Johnson may lose the Wisconsin primary to McCarthy, who is from neighboring Minnesota, on April 2. One gimmick quickly abandoned after McCarthy's showing in New Hampshire is the declaration that "Hanoi is Watching," suggesting that voting for McCarthy was somehow unpatriotic. They have also stated they fully intend to pin down McCarthy on how specifically he would manage the war in Vietnam differently, saying it is one thing to speak in generalities about how the war is being run but another thing entirely to be forced to offer alternative solutions. The Johnson campaign insists that will be made clear in Wisconsin. McCarthy, meanwhile, says his near victory has led to a surge in both volunteers and contributions that will come in handy as he seeks to unseat Johnson.

Richard Nixon's triumph in a virtually uncontested primary has also led to calls for him to be more specific regarding what he intends to do about Vietnam. Nixon has declared, "We will end the war in Vietnam and win the peace in the Pacific." Nixon was also clear that this is a pledge that he will run on but states he will withhold more specifics until the fall campaign assuming he wins the Republican nomination as is currently expected.



SOURCES

"Party Already Split, Bobby Mulls Race," The Santa Fe New Mexican, March 14, 1968, page 1.

"LBJ Aides Worried," Ibid.

"Nixon Is Saving His Peace 'Guns' For LBJ Race," Ibid.

"McCarthy: All the Way," Ibid.

"RFK Eyes Presidency," AP, Oswego Palladium Times, March 14, 1968, page 1.

"Bobby Hints He Will Run," by Clark Mullenhoff, Des Moines Register, March 14, 1968, page 1.