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Show Will Not Seek Re-election Johnson Bows Out Of '68 Election Each of us has witnessed confusing, con-fusing, mind-blowing events Americans Am-ericans never expected to see: a black sub-culture explodes all across a fat, happy, complacent white American landscape; scores of thousands of students march through, the streets of all our major maj-or cities and surround the Penagon ; black power leaders vow the Democratic Dem-ocratic convention to be held in Chicago this summer will be left in shambles; McCarthy humilates the president in New Hampshire. Something happened to the American Am-erican dream between November 1963 and the present. The dream turned into a nightmare, a nightmare night-mare no one was willing to tolerate any longer. j By J. BAUMAN Chronicle Editorial Assistant President Johnson, speaking at a nationally-televised press conference confer-ence broadcast from the White House last night said: "I shall not seek and will not accept my party's nomination for another term as President." This bombshell was preceded by a more-or-less expected announcement announce-ment : there will be a partial bombing bomb-ing pause in Vietnam. About ninety nine-ty per cent of North Vietnam will now be able to sleep more easily. President Johnson, calling this first step toward peace a "unilateral de-escalation de-escalation of the war," also called for a troop increase. After quoting past presidents Kennedy and Lincoln, Johnson said "I'm taking the first step to de-esclate de-esclate the conflict. As soon as Johnson's withdrawal was announced, students at Carroll College in Washeka, Wis., began chanting "We want Gene! We want Gene!" Presidential contender Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy Mc-Carthy stepped to the mike and became the first active Democratic candidate for the presidency to comment on Johnson's act. Said McCarthy: "It's a surprise to me ... I hope it'll be reflected in Tuesday's primary." McCarthy added the obvious; "This changes the political picture for the presidency presi-dency in 1968." It is expected that Vice President Hubert Humphrey will re-evaluate his political position and chances, but it is doubtful that President Johnson, a lame duck president, will be able to appreciably influence influ-ence the Chicago convention. This question comes immediately to mind: WHY?? It is obvious that Johnson's policies, pol-icies, whatever their merit, have divided the nation more seriously than any development since Abraham Ab-raham Lincoln. |