From Washington Straight

Speaking off the record to a group of newspaper executives well over a year ago, President Kennedy predicted that within twelve months both Laos and South Vietnam would be lost to the Communists. Since that time, the President has reversed himself on South Vietnam but it would now appear he meant what he said about Laos. In fact, hardly anyone in Washington harbors any doubts that a Laotian version of the Hammer and Sickle soon will be waving over the Royal Palace in Luang Prabang. But there is a big difference between privately admitting that a onetime anti-Communist and pro-Western nation is slipping behind the Iron Curtain and letting the public in on the secret. For the public is apt to be a good deal less blasé (sophisticated, if you want) about the loss of a Western bastion, and this discontent could be reflected at the polls.

Cato

Featured Tags

House of Representatives

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Department of Justice

FBI

Antitrust Law

Speaking off the record to a group of newspaper executives well over a year ago, President Kennedy predicted that within twelve months both Laos and South Vietnam would be lost to the Communists. Since that time, the President has reversed himself on South Vietnam but it would now appear he meant what he said about Laos. In fact, hardly anyone in Washington harbors any doubts that a Laotian version of the Hammer and Sickle soon will be waving over the Royal Palace in Luang Prabang. But there is a big difference between privately admitting that a onetime anti-Communist and pro-Western nation is slipping behind the Iron Curtain and letting the public in on the secret. For the public is apt to be a good deal less blasé (sophisticated, if you want) about the loss of a Western bastion, and this discontent could be reflected at the polls.

Cato