THE WEEK

■ David S. Broder had an in-depth interview with Senator Thomas Eagleton two weeks before the Democratic Convention at a time when Eagleton’s name was just one of dozens being mentioned as possible Democratic VP. It makes interesting reading post-Convention. It shows, in fact, that Eagleton is on many issues to the right of McGovern, more moderate in his views. For instance. On the defense budget: He thinks it could be cut, but not as sharply as McGovern would like to cut it. On busing: He favors it in general but believes that judges who order it across “non-gerrymandered” county lines (as in Richmond and Detroit) have gone too far. On gun control: He’s against any further federal restrictions, but would like to see the war against crime, on the federal level, beefed up. On bombing and mining: They were more successful than he had anticipated but he thinks they may be a barrier to a negotiated settlement. On tax loopholes: He thinks you could close every one on the books and still not get the added revenue to finance ambitious new domestic programs. The only way to do that, he says, is to increase income-tax rates. Question: Will the new Eagleton ventilate his views?

■ Congress seems to agree with Senator McGovern that families earning $12,000 need higher taxes. The recent 20 per cent increase in Social Security benefits will involve a 41 per cent increase in payroll deductions for the $12,000 taxpayer by 1974, and an automatic increase in taxes and benefits each year thereafter—to keep up with the inflation resulting from adding $4 billion to the deficit by increasing Social Security benefits.

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Presidential Election

William F. Buckley Jr.

■ David S. Broder had an in-depth interview with Senator Thomas Eagleton two weeks before the Democratic Convention at a time when Eagleton’s name was just one of dozens being mentioned as possible Democratic VP. It makes interesting reading post-Convention. It shows, in fact, that Eagleton is on many issues to the right of McGovern, more moderate in his views. For instance. On the defense budget: He thinks it could be cut, but not as sharply as McGovern would like to cut it. On busing: He favors it in general but believes that judges who order it across “non-gerrymandered” county lines (as in Richmond and Detroit) have gone too far. On gun control: He’s against any further federal restrictions, but would like to see the war against crime, on the federal level, beefed up. On bombing and mining: They were more successful than he had anticipated but he thinks they may be a barrier to a negotiated settlement. On tax loopholes: He thinks you could close every one on the books and still not get the added revenue to finance ambitious new domestic programs. The only way to do that, he says, is to increase income-tax rates. Question: Will the new Eagleton ventilate his views?

■ Congress seems to agree with Senator McGovern that families earning $12,000 need higher taxes. The recent 20 per cent increase in Social Security benefits will involve a 41 per cent increase in payroll deductions for the $12,000 taxpayer by 1974, and an automatic increase in taxes and benefits each year thereafter—to keep up with the inflation resulting from adding $4 billion to the deficit by increasing Social Security benefits.