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Show I I Smith Salt iakt Section Friday Morning August 24, 1973 Page Nuclear Threat Still With Us IS More Frequent Press Conferences Could Aid Nixon Rebuild Image new and intriguin'; question was raised at President Nixon s lengthy press conference in San Clemente, his first in fix e months Why did he wait so long to face newsmen'1 A Sure, the Wednesday give and take left areas of the Watergate affair unexplained And the President experienced some shaky moments during the 50 minutes of questions and answers. But Mr. Nixon displayed a candor and good humoi conspicuously absent in his previous televised responses to Watergate allegrtions. Had he called press conferences and submitted to similar questioning some months ago his situation today may have been far less tenuous. many As presently conducted, the presidential press conference is a made to order vehicle for selling the administration's views. An astute chief executive can field the questions in a manner advantageous to himself and, if he chooses, can easily rebuke, slight or totally ignore those who seek to embarrass lntn. The President, as Mr. Nixon did on several occasions Wednesday, can use a question as the launch pad for a lecture on subjects only slightly related to the original query. He can answer that part of a question which he chooses to answer and skip over that which he does not want to discuss Since as many newsmen as be given an opportunity to sometimes long and involved President must recognize first possible must present their questions, the one, then an i Washington Star News WASHINGTON Wednesday's encounter was additional evidence of the President's disdain. The conference was called on unusually short notice and scheduled for an awkward time when a minimum of concerned viewers were likely to be looking in. Yet Mr. Nixons performance and performance is an accurate description was his best to date. Had it been presented during prime time with sufficient advance publicity, the President might have reversed the course of his ebbing popularity. As it was, most Americans will form their conclusions from printed accounts which, though accurate and complete in content, often fail to convey the special mood of a specific occasion. The mood at San Clemente Wednesday was confident and encouraging. But it was best seen to be appreciated and relatively few viewers were tubeside in the middle of a working day. Imperfect as it is, the press conference remains one of the few opportunities for public questioning of the chief executive. In the light of Wednesdays good effort, Mr. Nixon should submit more often to its rigors and its rewards. Residents of Moscow are now receiving directories for the Soviet capital, provide ed they are willing to pay $10 for the set. It is the first new directory published since 1938. new four-volum- Only 50.000 copies have been published and they are being dispensed on a basis. Routine distribution to all subscribers is unknown in Moscow . first-com- first-serve- d The Moscow directory doesnt list the names of foreigners or of businesses, hospitals and public institutions. Foreigners are not carried in any book but a special directory, issued at regular intervals, supplies the other missing data. The Moscow directory differs from western telephone books in other ways, too. But in one respect there is an easily recognizable similarity. The second most popular family name listing is Kuznetsov, which New York Times Moscow correspondent Theodore Sha-basays is the literal equivalent of Smith. d The fact that Dr. Henry Kissingers nomination as U.S. Secretary of State claimed more attention than William P. Rogers' departure from the post sums up a situation long peculiar to this countrys conduct of its foreign affairs. But it shouldnt obscure the valuable work done by Mr. Rogers. With his inauguration in 1909 it was generally assumed that President Nixon would personally tend ie the major international matters facing this nation. And that prediction was largely fulfilled. Nonetheless, the State Departments responsibilities are more numerous and varied than damping down hot spots that break out around the world. Meeting those obligations requires an able admina translator into detail of broad-baseistrator policy. William Rogers was d His initial problem was relative from Indochina, a historic withdrawal rebridging of contact between this nation and Communist China, as well as an apparent new thaw in relations with the Soviet Union. Dr. Kissinger, no doubt, deserves the worldwide esteem he gained from these achievements. He is unquestionably the correct successor to Secretary Rogers. But before he is confirmed and launched on what most expect will be his sternest test as an architect of global policy. Dr. Kissin- ger's stature shouldn't be permitted to com- pletely overshadow Mr. Rogers efforts. In almost five years as Secretary of State. Mr. Rogers has travelled thousands .f miles, visiting over 50 countries and conferring with anyone who could influence others toward peaceful solutions to multi-natioproblems. And in that time, former adversaries have opened new channels of communication. The Soviet Union and the U.S. have reached qualified accords on nuclear armaments. An agreement has reduced Berlin as hosa potential flashpoint for East-Wetilities. The Middle East still simmers, but it hasnt exploded, thanks in certain measure to Bill Rogers' unending search for a coexistence formula there. n inexperi- ence with intricacies of State Department assignments. But he served with distinction as the late President Dwight D. Eisenhowers Attorney General and was not unfamiliar with Washington bureaucracy. Moreover, he had acquired a reputation in private as a patient, successful negotiator and he was a valued confidential adviser to Mr. Nixon. Also, in 1909, there was considerable interest in appointing an outsider to controlling some of State's independent tendencies. But while Bill Rogers labored at these chores. Dr. Kissinger, as head of the National Security Council, with offices in the White House, carried out the Presidents key foreign policy initiatives. He, therefore was out front when discussions led finally to the U.S. st Running the U.S. State Department, as Dr. Kissinger may well discover, is a monumentally difficult task. William Rogers didnt leave conditions any worse than he found them. In many respects, they are better. That alone is high tribute to the selfless commitment he bestowed on a very crucial public service. A record Mr. Rogers can remember with pride and the American people can approve with gratitude. Visiting Cartoonist Bill ple aughaifs In Its Food Editor, Tribune: I have been thinking a great deal about the letter from the very fine lady who defended her husbands action in refusing to market beef until such time as the freeze was removed and he could get a higher price. This good lady compared his action to that of a person who had, say, refrigerators for sale. I would like to suggest that perhaps there was just a little lack of clear thought in such a com- Forum Rules i- - Public Forum letters must be submitted exclusively to The Tribune and bear writers full name, signature and address. Names mast be' printed on political letters but may be withheld for good reasons on others. Writers are limited to one letter every 10 days. Preference will be given to short, typewritten (double spaced) letters permitting use of the writer's true name. All letters are subject to condensation. Sludg-epum- body Corner in 1 he Woshmgton Star News p else." The Skylab crew will be in orbit for about two months. It's going to require some time in a decompression chamber before they can adjust to the food prices when they pet back cerned to destroy industry, which alone made this country great, in the name of lichees, clubmosses and coyotes. The rights of the individuals are supreme, not the collective interests of the mindless mob, of which Mr. Linford appears to be a champion. A morality based on the recognition of individual freedom can alone produce a great nation; as witness the unparalleled success of America, which was conceived in and grew up in that freedom. Let the maudlin mediocrities of the new left take their collectivist control elsewhere. You Americans cannot afford them. G. KIDEAU Pans. France Missed by Burglars? Editor, Tribune: Your editorial Aug. 17 is not correct. President Nixon did not liken the doctrine of confidentiality for the President to privileged communications between lawyer and client, doctor and patient, and priest and penitent. As published in nis release i statement and as stated in his address last Wednesday, the President's examples were the relations between a lawyer and his client, between a priest and a per.titent, and between a husband and a wife. One great big difference is the beef this good man is refusing to market at less than his price Doctor and patient communications and recv ords are privileged. But, possibly, because of the just happens to be an item of food which mr people consider rather important. People lived for burglary of Dr. Fielding's office by the White some several millions of years before somebody House plumbers, it was too painful for the Presidreamed up household appliances of ai.y kind. 1 dent to include that important example. In fact, would venture a shrewd guess that people have the President himselt has violated confidentiality had somehow to acquire food about as long as by secretly recording private and confidential conthere have been people around! versations. Some of these important recordings were then given to H. R. Haldeman, who stored A good friend of mii.e suggested that people them for two days in a private home. There was a to have just got to accustom themselves paying no more security for the confidentiality of those The food. income for of their higher percentage of this Presiproblem there is that every producer of most any- tapes than the illusory arguments dent. statea would name make could likiely thing you have to accustment to the effect that people-wil- l President Nixon claims that to release the om themselves to paying a higher percentage of tapes would destroy forever the confidentiality of their income for his particular lines of goods. presidential conversations. Suppose they had been All of these good people stiuuld remember one stolen. Are we to be grateful to D.C. area burglars fundamental fact: there is on(v 100 percent in that who failed to enter Haldemans house on those income to begin with. Probatoly most of that in- nights? If so, let the President proclaim it to the nation. come is already budgeted for something else. WILLIAM A BRINDLEY dime a to save able been have people Logan since I can remember! What is exacted in higher prices one place has to come out of something else! I predict that with groceries exacting the toll they have been exacting, there will be some pretty more poor paying creditors around the nation hat About Bo)le? than there are now! Utah State AFL-CIA. Tribune: KING DAVID proposal Editor, Nixon either that Layton resign or be impeached over Watergate affair brings a few things to mind. Individual Supreme Editor. Tribune: I am a visitor from Europe, and I cannot refrain from comment on the horrendous article Qonservation Conversation Utah Must Take Lead in Land-UsSolution," by which whoever he may be Ernest H. Linford appeared in The Tribune Aug. 13. e m It is an article wtiich expresses succinctly a nutshell, so to spick the prevailing attitude of the collectivist new left" which can be seen so clearly, by an outside observer, to be bringing about the destruction of the U'.S. as a significant world power, and even as a nation. Look at some of the statements made regarding a person's own development rights on land should be set by the community or state . . These sentiments, and let no one be deceived, are not primarily those of people interested ui Man. They are those of a minority of unproductive lookers and bureaucrats whose motive is control of property, of people, of nations. The logical adoption erf Mr. Linford s sentiments by government would produce a stale of affairs indistinguishable, ultimately, from dictatorship. The new left," of which the major environmentalist groups are an integral part, having failed to demonstrate any advantages accruing to anyone from a socialist srricty, are now concerned to destroy capitalism for its successes, rather than its failures. They therefore appeal to the altruistic side of the gullible with talk of "grecki? rather than "incentive." and are con . . I for one have never been satisfied with outcome of Tony Boyle and the Aablonsky murder case. Boyles name was mentioned m connection with this. Wasnt Boyle convicted for the misuse of union funds? The present union president who ran against Boyle declared a clean up of Boyle practices in his campaign. TV newscasts reported all local unions supporting Boyle. For locals to sweep the dirt of their own camp under the rug and then come out in judgment of Nixon seems strange. Mr. Williams, the new union president won the election by a great majority. The rank and file of the union membership voted for cleanup and an honest union management. This did not seem to interest the local supporters of Boyle. G. G. SANDERSON Fatrv iew quieting In the seven-poin- t accord on basic principles signed in Washington by President Nixon and Soviet Communist party boss Leonid I. Brezhnev June 21. it was agreed that in the field of nuclear weaponry efforts to obtain unilateral advantage, with directly or indirectly, would be inconsistent the improvement of relations between the two countries. Does the Russian MIRV testing amount to an effort to obtain unilateral advantage? That depends on how you look at it. Clearly, the United States expected a Russian effort to obtain a MIRV capability. Equally clearly, the balance of nuclear terror will not be upset unless and until the Russian rockets actually are fitted with MIRVs. The problem is that MIRVs, in contrast to rockets, are virtually impossible to detect by And Russian resistance to inof her nuclear facilities is just as rigid spection now as it was a decade ago. e The most sanguine American strategists work the presumption that, no matter how great a numerical advantage the Soviets may have or develop in terms of warheads, a surprise attack by either side can be ruled out because of the relative invulnerability of nuclear submarines and the lack of missile defenses around population centers. Under this theory, neither side would attack the other oecause it would face the sure prospect of sustaining heavy civilian losses in a retaliatory second strike. on c But would heavy civilian losses be as unthinkable to the Russians, who sustained more than 20 million casualties in World War II, as they are to ourselves, particularly if it assured the global hegemony of the Soviet Union and the final triumph of Marxism? And what happens if the Russians develop missiles capable of seeking out and destroying our nuclear submarines and hardened underground missile silos? Need for Social Programs Nobody in his nght mind wants to see the nuclear arms race accelerated. Beth the Soviet Union and the United States desperately need for social programs the billions of dollars which go into nuclear hardware. And the growing sophistication of nuclear weaponry increases the chances that some nut in the Kremlin House may decide to use it or the White The. happy solution would be for the Russians, having successfully developed the MIRV capability, to install multiple warheads only on enough missiles to give them nuclear parity with .the United States. But there has to be an method of verification, either by inspection or some other means. Given their track record, this is a matter in which the Russians word simply is not good enough r If no foolproof verification system can be worked out and agreed to. the United Stales will have no choice other than to proceed with a hugehard target ly expensive program to develop weapons impervious to attack and capable of destroying Russian missile silos and command centers. Whether Congress as presently constituted would agree to such a program is, as they sav. uncertain iron-cla- d on-sit- e IntcrlaiKli .... . . Accused of malfeasance, Congressman adopts the currently fashionable moral stand: "I didn't do it, and anyway so did every- year, the and expanded With a greatly modernized Soviet fleet already in a position to challenge the and the U.S West for control of the high seas Armys volunteer concept showing every sign of this shifting of the nuclear balance of failure terror in Russia's favor is. to say the least, dis- The Public Forum ... n Mr. Hempstone SALT I outlawed quantitative increases in the number of rocsets but permitted qualitative improvements. With the Russians now theoretically capable of attaching at least six missiles, warheads to each of their giant SSX-1the United States and four to the smaller SSX-1to Defense Secretary James R. according Scldesinger, could be in a state of nuclear inferiority bv the earlv 19x0s Position to Challenge West . The gasoline shortage already has a theme song: ' Never on Sunday. SALT United States agreed to freeze the number of rockets allowed to each country at a level numer1.710 to ically unfavorable to ourselves The rationale behind this was that the MIRVing capability, which the United States had and Russia did not. gave a edge in the number of war heads. a prime obstacle is the conviction that the owner has a nght to do with it anything he pleases." The person in search of quiet could do worse than spend the weekend downtown whence everybody else has clattered off to the country in search of quiet. first the accord, signed in Moscow in May of last property: Orbiting Paragraphs targeted multiwarheads (MIRVs) on their huge intercontinental missiles means that the agreement arising from the first round of Strategic Talks Limitation Arms (SALT) is not worth the panson. Really, there is little eompariain between the marketing of an appliance and an item of food. About the only thing they have in common is that both might be considered as merchandise. Rogers Writes Proud Record The successful flight testing bv the Soviet Union of other, thus denying each a chance to follow up on an evasive answer Kven the best of reporters cannot coax the full story from a reluctant subject with one question This being the cast, the wonder is that Mr Nixon, long creditied with great political savvy, has neglected to take full advantage of the press conference format. The Names Familiar Salt Lake City residents have just received their 1973 telephone directories. There was no charge. Hemp-ton- e How Different Than Europe, Editor, Tribune: I read with great interest the article in the July 2S Tribune on tae restoration of the Union Pacific building. How grateful we should be to people like Mrs. Warde M. Cameron who is interested enough in Utah's great heritage to try to do something about saving it. How different we are in this part of the world than in Europe where great hordes of people go to spend millions of dollars to see and study the very things that are being destroyed here. The Union Pacific depot scents to be a perfect solution to a greatly needed facility. We depend on the far reaching influences of The Salt Lake Tribune to publicize this and help carry it to a conclus'on DIANE E. TURNER Bountifpl If the present mood of the country continues, we ll make a fortune in signs." |