President Lyndon Johnson will address the nation at 9 p.m. EST tonight to deal "rather fully" with the Vietnam situation, including further troop increases, activation of reserve units, and the overall projected cost of such endeavors. The President announced during a news conference Saturday that he will address the nation tonight both by radio and television. In addition to the situation in Vietnam, the President said his speech would cover "other issues of some importance," most notably the government's "entire fiscal policy." Johnson disputes rumors of hundreds of thousands of new troops deployed and an additional cost of $20 billion as untrue, though conceding that it will cost "a few billion." During the news conference, he reiterated his plea for a tax increase to offset the cost. At present, there are more than 510,000 American troops in Vietnam. In a related story, the President's son-in-law, Marine Captain Charles S. Robb, departed Norton AFB, California for 13 months duty in Vietnam. Robb's wife, the former Lynda Bird Johnson, was composed as she witnessed his departure.
Johnson's speech comes two days before the Wisconsin Democratic primary, where polls are showing that Eugene McCarthy, Senator from next door Minnesota, may receive as much as 60% of the vote in what is a two-man contest with both candidates on the ballot. In their only previous competitive primary, Johnson topped McCarthy, 49-42% in New Hampshire, where only McCarthy's name appeared on the ballot. New York Senator Robert Kennedy is not competing in the Wisconsin primary but has instructed his supporters to vote for McCarthy. A McCarthy loss in Wisconsin would likely end his campaign. The Johnson campaign, meanwhile, may actually benefit from a McCarthy win. The theory, popular in Democratic circles, is that Kennedy is the stronger candidate but a viable McCarthy in future contests will continue to splinter the anti-war coalition each is trying to build and thus make it easier for Johnson to prevail. McCarthy, for his part, attacked the President last night in Milwaukee on the issue of law and order, saying that continuing Johnson's policies towards civil disorder "will guarantee years of mounting lawlessness, violence, and virtual civil war" in the nation's cities. McCarthy also challenged local union members to strive to ensure "equality in employment and housing" for Negroes.*
Senator Kennedy was attending a $75 per plate fundraiser in Phoenix today at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. Introduced by Arizona Rep. Morris Udall, a critic of the Vietnam War, Kennedy gave a thoughtful speech that praised the entire history of the Democratic Party, starting with Thomas Jefferson and going all the way through to the man he hopes to succeed, President Johnson.
The Republican primary is essentially non-competitive. Three names - former VP Richard Nixon, California Governor Ronald Reagan and former Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen - appear on the ballot - but only Nixon is a publicly declared national candidate. Nixon is expected to win easily, his only concern being that since Wisconsin permits crossover voting, his vote total may not be overly impressive if thousands of Republicans cross party lines and vote in the Democratic primary. Statistics on file with the Wisconsin Secretary of State show that Nixon has spent $371,580, more money on the state than all other candidates combined
Former President Truman asserted in Key West yesterday that whether it takes one ballot or one hundred, Johnson will be renominated.
SOURCES
"LBJ Viet Report Tonight," by Max Frankel, New York Times writer, submitted to The Salt Lake Tribune, March 31, 1968, 1. Also published in Arizona Republic as "LBJ To Review Vietnam Policy," 1.
"McCarthy Win Seen Likely for Wisconsin," by Warren Weaver, Ibid.
"LBJ Today To Reveal Increase In Viet Troops," Associated Press, Racine Journal Times Sunday Bulletin, March 31, 1968, 1.
"Lynda Bids Robb Adieu," Associated Press, Racine Journal Times Sunday Bulletin, March 31, 1968, 1.
"RFK Solicits Support on Phoenix Visit," by Bernie Wynn, Arizona Republic, March 31, 1968, 1, 12.
"Johnson Hit by McCarthy on Rioting," Associated Press, Bridgeport Post, March 31, 1968, 4.
"Truman Asserts LBJ Will Win Renomination," Ibid.
"Nixon Campaign Costs $371,580," Associated Press, Dubuque Herald Telegraph, March 31, 1968, 24.
* - I'm well aware that this word is no longer in use and may be regarded as offensive. No offense on my part is intended. However, as this is passing on information as reported at the time rather than a politically sanitized version fifty years after the fact, I have chosen to use the verbiage used in 1968.
No comments:
Post a Comment