THE WEEK ■ Who’s Hughes? ■ Senator Mansfield’s announcement that he will oppose the space shuttle promises a replay of the heated SST debate in Congress. The space shuttle will probably win this time, however, because it makes demonstrably good economic sense, and because Congress is not likely during an election year to oppose a project that will restore at least fifty thousand jobs in the depressed and resentful aerospace industry. ■ On December 30, a Los Angeles grand jury recast the two original indictments against Dr. Daniel Ellsbergtheft of government property and intentionally endangering national security-and then added ten new ones, including conspiracy, unauthorized conveyance, and receiving stolen government property vital to the national defense. In the opinion of legal scholars, the new form of the indictment makes Ellsberg’s conviction much more likely, and reflects the determination of the Justice Department to penalize Ellsberg for his actions if it possibly can. The defense is expected to dispute the meaning of terms like “national security” and argue that Ellsberg, far from “intentionally endangering it,” was actually trying to do the nation a good turn. The additional charges are viewed as protecting the prosecution from defeat on some technicality, and the conspiracy charge will greatly expand the area of admissible evidence. ■ Are youse confused? ■ Notes on the Ashbrook campaign: Kevin Phillips, author of The Emerging Republican Majority, comments in his syndicated column: “Conservative Ohio Congressman John Ashbrook is mobilizing surprising party support behind his March 7 primary challenge against President Nixon in New Hampshire. In seven of New Hampshire’s ten counties, the local Ashbrook campaign is being headed by state legislators: Representatives William Boucher (Rockingham County); Elmer Johnson (Cheshire); Warren Metcalf (Coos); Elmer Akerson (Hillsboro); Richard Bradley (Grafton); George Gordon (Merrimack); and John Ineson (Stratford).” . . . Because of his announced entry in the New Hampshire primary, Ashbrook’s name was automatically entered in the Florida primary that takes place a week later (March 14). Republicans in Florida are convinced he will run considerably better in their state than in New England: Even Florida GOP Chairman Tommy Thomas has predicted a 20 to 25 per cent vote, well ahead of what is expected for Paul McCloskey. … It turns out the ubiquitous reports of condemnation of the Ashbrook candidacy by “all prominent conservatives except William F. Buckley Jr.” are considerably exaggerated. In point of fact, no prominent conservative has publicly attacked the Ashbrook move to our knowledge, although some are known to have been against it in private and may later state an open opposition. The story (reported in the Buckley syndicated column as well as in the general press) that Barry Goldwater, “asked to comment on the prospective entry in the New Hampshire primary of a Republican conservative,” condemned it as a threat “to the entire party, the entire nation, the entire free world and freedom itself” was inaccurate. A letter from Senator Goldwater’s office explained that “nowhere [in Goldwater’s remarks] is there any mention of the word ‘threat,’ ” that the quoted phrase was used in a speech on the importance of Nixon’s re-election, delivered November 9 and later repeated by telephone to a meeting in San Antonio, without any reference whatever to Ashbrook’s primary challenge, which had not yet been made or even rumored when the speech was written. ■ To Mississippi on voter-registration drives in the mid1960s. Attended SDS conventions, 1966 and 1967; stayed in SDS when it went militant. Active in Yippies at time of Democratic National Convention in Chicago, 1968. During Chicago Seven trial, bunked in Abbie Hoffman’s apartment. Active in takeover of administration building, University of Chicago, 1969. A PhD (psychology); professor describes him as “an excellent student . . . rather quiet and sedate.” Another, for whom he worked on a project, remembers him as “very sensitive, a gentle human being.” Eager to free “political prisoners,” planted bombs in bank safety deposit vaults in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, then found perfect hiding place: U.S. Army. While on furlough, tipped press about bombs, then went AWOL. Now being sought by FBI, local police. No doubt about it, Ronald Kaufman has all the credentials. Move over, Angela. Those Sunset Years The British have the peerage For duffers on the wane; In France, to be “immortal” Helps mitigate the pain. A widow in the Punjab Leaps on her hubby’s pyre; In major corporations The fuddy-duds retire. An Eskimo who’s had it But who when offered Humphrey Would take him as a gift?
■ If only George McGovern had backed the Dolphins,
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