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Show i Tup f" 'p 't,'-- j - y y P 0 Peter Lisagor Nation Sunday Morning, August 26, 1973 Past The Trees, More Questions Pago 22 On Performance Grounds Alone, Dr. Kissinger Is Best Choice Dr. Henry Kissinger didnt wait long to extend olive branches. His Thursday press conference was obviously meant to increase domestic support fot his recent nomination U S. Secretary of State. No such extra o effort would be needed on his behalf in other capitals throughout the world. Dr. Kissinger has been generally recognized around the globe as Americas chief foreign policy designer and builder, although his only official title was Natioral Security Council chairman. Deeply involved, however, tn fashioning President Nixons most prominent foreign policy initiatives. Dr. Kissinger established a personal presence exceeding that of a technical adviser. other hand, he has not always been unanimously celebrated either m the State Department or Congress. And these two On the places seemed to be the intended audience for his soothing words Thursday. Which figures since Dr. Kissinger needs loyalty from the foreign service and sympathy in Congress to continue his successes, this time as Secretary of State with portfolio. The expectations he mentioned are reassuring. For congressional leaders he offered a in developing the new and full partnershp, nations international policies, adding, we have an obligation to explain our philosophy and purposes. This acknowledges former Nixon and Dr. Kissinger Mr.' that complaints excluded Congress from key decisions. He promised State Department personnel a busy and exciting future in planning and implementing this nations worldwide respon The latest inmate victim, providing there have been no more assaults, is John Wilkes, 28, who was stabbed in the abdomen Thursday night. The rash of assaults began Sunday when Jesse Scott was stabbed. In between the Scott and Wilkes assaults Pierre Andre Nelson was burned over 80 percent of his body when an inflammable liquid was poured over him and ignited and Ronald Easthope was the victim of a beating. All is not well at the prison. The public deserves to know why things are not well. The parents, relatives and wives of inmates are entitled to assurances that the lives of their its summer recess. la his Wednesday press conference Mr. Nixon made it perfectly clear he would not release any of the recordings, made in secret, of conversations in the Presidents Oval Office and on the telephone, unless under definitive order by the Supreme Court. Thus, -- the arguments presented before J. Sirica, also on Wednesday by special Watergate investigator Archibald Cox and Texas law professor Charles Alan Wright, representing the President. were only the first courtroom stage in U.S. District Judge John what will be a prolonged judicial proceeding. Professor Wright presented wo basic arguments to support tne White House refusal to surrender pertinent portions of the tapes. He said the President is the sole judge of whether such records should be made available and no court has a right to substitute its judgment for that of Mr. Nixon. And 'also, the tapes include national security information so highly sensitive that he (Nixon) did not feel free to hint to me what the na- - The Grant Cartoon fn fact, if cross-examin- e tense engagement. escaping from prison. An explanation of w hat has gone wrong at f the Mountain must be the the Point subject of an immediate report to the public from the Board of Corrections and officials at the prison. The people of Utah are entitled to know why the prisons internal security system has apparently broken completely apart and what measures are being taken to prevent further attacks on inmates by inmates. ture of it is. This despite Wright's full secur- ity clearance. A certain inconsistency arises between this position and what the President said on; the parking lot at San Clemente. In press conference Mr. Nixon said1 he would permit the judgment of the Supreme Court to be substituted for his. And Mr. Nixon seems willing to release the tapes when it will tend to benefit his position. He showed no reluctance to let former White House chief of staff II. R. Ilaldeman hear a portion of the tapes. Mr. Nixon explained the only tape IPlde-ma- n was permitted access to was that of a conversation in which Halderman participated. The President was emphatic in stating Haldenr.ua was not permitted to hear tapes of conversations between just himself and Dean. The only motive the President attached to the limited release of tapes to Haldeman was to make sure we were absolutely correct on our response to Deans allegation that Nixon might have known about the Watergate cover-u- p as early as Sept. 15, 1972. Thus, the President seems very aware oi what Watergate prosecutor Cox calls the defects of human recollection and has no qualms about outside examination of th tapes when such examination will serve to remove that defect, providing, it serves to keep the White Houses good image intact. It is impossible to accurately predict how the Supreme Court will eventually rule, but until such ruling is handed down the suspicions about the Watergate incident pointing at Mr. Nixon will not lessen. For that matter, should the court agree with the President and permit withholding the tapes. Mr. Nixon will remain under that cloud. stairs When big businesses insult their competitors by name instead of as Brand X, how can we expect the younger generation to hred our admonitions that rudeness Is not nice? in the White House East Room or the State Departments elegant auditorium, the situation was for the President's purposes. He could turn away pick and choose among the reporters, to an follow-uplay crucial from the questions, audience out in the republic, finesse the embarBut, as hand-toole- WAo person for a position of both high honor and heavy responsibility, Dr. Henry Kissingers appointment to be Secretary qf State is it. He has proven his diplomatic abilities in the most exacting international difficulties the world has ever known, an incomparable prospect for State Department leadership. inmate kin are being given reasonable, protection. And the inmates themselves are entitled to similar protections by the state, after all, the state has ordered them into a situation they can not legally flee. It is impossible for them to move to a safer neighborhood without committing another crime, Situation Hand-Toole- ever performance qualified a No matter what steps the government takes to improve the safety of the tncycle, they'll never get a model that doesn't involve a certain amount of n.sk for dad when it's loft at the top of the f But its easy to indulge illusions here. Under a benign sky, looking toward the sea, any thing seems possible; The world is tolerable, the Congress malleable, Waterstridencies of the real gate manageable now. The of the world yield to the rythmic, soothing whoosh surf. It hardly seems a setting for grim encounters, some but one took place here the other day when the President 70 newsmen sought to about Watergate. The reporters were losers before comfortthey started. The locale was deceptively able and serene as the reptrters took their seats a under the big sky, like petitioners summoned to cameras color the as big potentate's court, scanned the scene like a classroom monitor, their to an already chiding presence adding a tension duties, recommendations on how to resolve differences between departments, for instance Stale and Defense. How could Dr. Kissinger, m such a situation, be objective if he must also represent, as Secretary of State, the State Department viewpoint? and it was a natural More specifically in raised the at press conference question a very crucial area, the Middle East, how well can the U.S. preserve its influence if its Secretary of State is Jewish? Regardless of pronouncements, wont Arab nations automatically presume an unfriendly bias? Dr. Kissinger insisted he will administer U.S. foreign policy in line with requirements as determined by a balanced evaluation of this countrys interest, not based on his religious affiliation or rational heritage. His record would support that answer. That cloud will dissolve only when Mr. Nixon releases the tapes, whether on his own volition or by order of the Supreme Court of Umteu States. Mr. Nixons posjtion in history may be brighter if he chooses the former course. Richard, is there anything von want to say to me before the season starts?" low-slun- g All questions surrounding the nomination haven't been fully explored. Mr. Nixon wants Dr. Kissinger to remain as NSC chairman as a special presidential adviser. But in the past, the council post handled, among other Better Course Toward History The issue of whether or not the White House tapes will be released to grand jury scrutiny is now before the courts and final disposition of the issue will, in all likelihood, not be forthcoming until sometime after Oct. 1 when the Surpreme Court ends - sibilities. That should nip a growing department malaise, traced to a feeling it was operating in the National Security Council's shadow. Whats Wrong at Prison? The way things are going at Utah State Prison by the time this is published it could be completely out of date. In five days four prisoners at the institution were assaulted. Chicago Daily News From the presiSAN CLEMENTE, CALIF. you cant see clear on a day, dential compound much of anyforever. Alas, you cant actually see thing tu,ond the eucalyptus, pine and sycamore, except for a building complex erected on a promontory to accommodate an itinerant executive. Knockin the flag r-- The Public Forum ate approval. I believe that our nation deserves a better casket than our socialist friends intend to , we could see a rebirth of freedom give it. In fa-- Editor, Tribune: Watergate was an unfortunate endeavor for several men set on achieving overof President whelming odds for the Nixon. I can see only reasons against his direct involvement as the President cf the United States. d p thats what theyre doin Defends President wath televised news conferences if we will it. rassing inquiry. These disadvantages notwithstanding, the reporters did their professional best to ask the President probing, relevant questions. The newsmen were, by and large, tough and uncompromising, trying desperately not to be nide or impertinent. Most succeeded, but all were frustrated by the lack of opportunity to bear in on the President when he failed to answer directly and left holes so obvious a schoolboy could have spotted them Accumulation of Questions L. S. BROWN Richfield Sen. Sam Ervin, chairman of the Watergate e Committee, has said that you cant a written statement. The same is true m a presidential news conference, especially the first in more than five months with an accumulation of questions that could sustain a single reporter for several hours. A lawyer might require several days to exhaust his interrogation of the President, given the contradictions of other witness and the inconsistencies of the Presidents own accounts. cross-exaimin- Richard M. NLxon is first an American citizen, just as you and I are, set on the advancement of the richest and most powerful nation in the world. Beyond expressing it publicly during his years in public office, he served eight years as the vice president representing the nation abroad and reaffirming alliances. During his five years as President, he has methodically accomplished his and our goal of peace. Involvement in such a scand- - Government Runs Again Editor, Tribune; President Nixon has asked the country to give up its attention to Watergate so that we can get on with the urgent business of government. On the contrary, I thuik government began to function again when the advent of Watergate released it from the paralyzing pall of repressive power and fear of retaliation cost by the Nixon administration. Forum Roles Public Forum letters must be submitted exclusively to The Tribune and bear writers full name, signature and address. Names must 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) left'rs permitting use of the writers true name. All letters are subject to condensation. Funds voted by Congress but impounded by the President have been released for housing, education, environmental improvement, essential physical and mental health programs. The House of Representatives gained enough courage to support the Senate in ending the bombing of Cambodia. Military deception and extravagance are under closer scrutiny by the legislative branch. Watergate lorced the appointment of new federal prosecutors who are bravely looking into costly favors purchased by huge donors to the perpetuation of this administration. al could only tarnish his credibility and shed on the office of President. A man loyal to his country would not concern himself with such a thing so destructive to his very base of loyalty, and ours, (he presidency. The Presidents assertions cried out for a vigorous cross examination. Examples abound. He dismissed his brief secret meeting with the EUsberg trial Judge Matthew Byrne as having taken place in full view of the whole White House staff, and everybody else who wanted to see. 1 asked him how he liked his job . . . The San Clemente compound is heavily guarded and the implication that its open to the public generally was left laying there. And Mr. Nixon could not be pressed on his statement that Judge Bryne made the decision to talk to John Ehrhchman, who was sounding out Byrne on whether hed like to be FBI director, the impropriety of it all lost in the wind Burglaries Well-Know- n Without Watergate, Haldeman and Ehrkthman would still be in position of power. Their departure has given the Department of the Interior more freedom to cope with the energy crisis according to its Secretary, staunch Republican Rogers C.B. Morton. Some would suggest Mr. Nixon wants to abolish the system and institute authoritarianism with such a heinous act. This very system provides this nation with the competition so needed for the maintenance of our American government. History has proven this to be an integral part of loyal Americans the country over. two-part- y Government is active again and it is heeding the needs of our country. It is no longer manipuge lated to promote Mr. Nixons unrealistic as the worlds most powerful peace maker. self-ima- Mr. Nixon is personally appalled at scandal in offices. In a recent issue of the Detroit Free Press, it was noted that Richard NLxon grew up during the great Teapot Dome scandal and according to his parents, he conceived an aspiration to be an honest politician and to root out all scandal in his presence. I personally that a man with such a conviction would not have allowed such an incident to transpire had he known about it, nor would he have condoned it. HLs present acts on the presidential tapes I find well within his constitutional obligations of confi- dentwlity. high government After all, what President gains historical fame by leading his own natipn to legal, economic and social peace and justice? IMOGENE W. KING The President also alleged that quite well known" burglaries were authorized in the Kennedy and Johnson yea's on a very large scale," and there was no change to ask for documentation. Even after two attorneys general of the period challenged the statement. White House spokesmen repulsed efforts to get proof by saying, The President said it because it is a fact. Mr. Nixons Watergate news conference! was a sad and depressing affair to many veteran reporters, wtr could not recall a comparable case of newsmen asking a President about burglary, bribery, violations of oaths of office, perjury, impeachment and other utterly amazing breaches ot conduct within his official family be-lie- Theodore Long 'Thou Too Chorus Heard in Land The late Justice Hugo Black liked to say that constitutional rights were absolutes and thus not subject to modification under any circumstances Political pragmatists refused to agree, arguing tnat while Blacks position was noble in concept, it couldn't pass the test of practicality. When rights come in conflict, the pragmatists said, something has to give, but if common sense prevails, the adjustment can be made without serious damage to fundamental principles. In fact, they added, unless the nghts of government are clearly recognized, individual nghts may eventually become worthless. Only negatives would appear on the ledger and only a poor image, national disgrace and a deterrence from duty could possibly accrue, as the press has afforded him. I am most certain that Richard Nixon knows that you cannot "fool all the people, especially when there are 20U million of them LLOYD WILKINSON Bountiful Let's Reject Kissinger Editor, Tribune: What have we done to deserve this? The appointment of Henry Kissinger to Secretary of State Oh. yes! We elected President Nixon Kissinger is a Council on Foreign Relations member and a long time associate .of the Rockefellers. He has been a top advisor in state and defense, arms control and disarmament, and three presidents as well as the CL: He appeals to communist appeasers by destroying our military and strangely enough to conservatives ly advocating a weak nuclear capability. He has actually been in command of foreign policy the past few years and his dynamic leadership has seen us become a second rate military power and more capitulation to our mortal enemies than I ever thought possible. The Red China hierarchy view Kissinger as their man after he delivered President Nixon on a silver (oops, a $6 million gold) platter submerged in United States wheat and a 'sorted other goodies Now, people who say you can never do anything have a choice. They can allow the Kissinger appointment to be confirmed and thereby sanction the filth in Washington or they can write their U S. Senators of their total disgust and block Son- - This is a problem that the U.S. Supreme Court is frequently asked to solve, though its decisions, more often than not, are based tn exceedingly narrow interpretations. Maybe absolutes are Just too hot to handle. Unthinkable Occurs . Is liberty an absolute? No, we are told, because liberty doesn't mean the license to do as one pleases. It Is the right to life an absolute? Again the answer Is negative since there are occasions when a government may require the sacrihas never fice of life. The pursuit of happiness truths are been satisfactorily defined. subject to qualification. Even the absolutes ol science and technology are not always what they seem. And so, in small matters as well a great, the unthinkable occurs and few things are unbelievable The dollar is no lc'ger the world's strongest currency. The nation is in the midst of an energy crisis, an inflationary crisis, and a crisis of cn donee. And since the governments hand is in erything, the government is blamed. But vvhal meant by the government? The executive ; legislative branches, being controlled by differ political parties, can't agree on the answer, stea adherents of the two branches engage what columnist William F. Rucklcy has callci game of tu quoque-ism- " (thou too) Becomes a Chon.,. President Nixon says that inflation, like letnam war, was well under way before he ti office. He also says that the big spenders Capitol Hill are feeding the fires of inflation. so, the Democratic spokesmen in Congress rej nd a debate becomes a chorus of tl too . . . thou too . . thou too . " As for Watergate, to let of us Mr. Nixon believes it is ti the courts handle the scandal while the r get on with the urgent business of nation". But the Democrats obviously, const the Senate investigation of an exceedingly urg matter and are probably happy in the" thou that here, at least, the game of tu quoque-i- s is not likely to be played. Worst Yet to Com- - Meanwhile, journalists, pollsters and politic; are trying to read the public mood and getting sorts of responses: the worst is over worst is yet to come and why us a nation ... richly endowed so sorely afflicied1 As a possi answer to that question. here is a verse bv R yard KiplingWe had a kettle: we let It leak Our not repairing It made It worse. We havent had any tea for a week . The bottom Is out of the Universe! . |