Senators Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy, both traveling separate anti-Johnson routes in their attempts to win the Democratic Party's nomination, have finally chosen courses that will result in a head-to-head contest in the May 7 Indiana primary. Kennedy arrived in person to submit the 5,500 signatures necessary to secure a place on the ballot. McCarthy had filed earlier in the day as had Indiana Governor Roger Branigan, who is the stand-in candidate for President Lyndon Johnson's attempt at re-election. The confrontation puts one of McCarthy's top lieutenants, Richard Goodwin, in a ticklish spot. Although Goodwin has a major role in the McCarthy organization, he has long been a friend of the Kennedy family. Asked in Milwaukee which way he will jump in the head-to-head contest, Goodwin demurred, saying he "did not know," but boldly predicting that Johnson will not be the Democratic Party's nominee in the fall election. Goodwin declared, "It's going to be either McCarthy or Kennedy." Kennedy, who is not competing in Tuesday's Wisconsin primary, has instructed his supporters to vote for McCarthy in that primary. McCarthy, campaigning in Superior, Wisconsin, said "it's really too kind" to criticize the South Vietnamese government as corrupt or dictatorial. Kennedy campaigned today with rallies at both the University of New Mexico and the University of Arizona.
Richard Nixon, the only Republican competing actively in the primaries for the nomination, was scheduled to meet today with one of New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller's prime backers, Maryland Governor Spiro T. Agnew, in New York City. Agnew, who has been a vocal supporter of Rockefeller, said that he has heard plenty regarding Nixon's position on Vietnam, but he wishes to get a better picture of Nixon's domestic plans. While campaigning in Wisconsin yesterday, Nixon characterized the McCarthy-Kennedy position on the war as "withdrawal whatever the cost may be," whereas Republicans want the war resolved in such a way "that will discourage more wars rather than bring on another one four or five years from now."
Nixon also criticized both Kennedy and Johnson in a recorded radio address:
"Never have we more needed and intelligent, rational, and dispassionate discussion of the great issues, and yet seldom has debate been more raucous and irresponsible." While attacking both the President and Senator Kennedy as engaging in negative campaigning themselves, Nixon had kinder words for Senator McCarthy, saying he had contributed "significantly" to the goal of "dealing with the complexities of modern democracy."
Connecticut Democrats working for McCarthy have reported receiving letters threatening them with assassination. Law enforcement officials are investigating the letters signed "the Minutemen" to see if they actually originated with the extremist anti-Communist group.
In Oklahoma, election officials have received enough signatures to secure a place on the ballot for former Alabama Governor George Wallace as a third-party candidate.
In Iowa, Governor Harold Hughes, noting the rift in the Democratic Party, has offered himself as a "favorite son" candidate.
SOURCES
"McCarthy, Kennedy Collision Due May 7 in Indiana," Associated Press, Big Spring Daily Herald, March 29, 1968, 35.
"Nixon Accuses LBJ, RFK Of Irresponisbleness," Associated Press, Lovington Daily Leader, March 29, 1968, 5.
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