New York, May 12—When, late in the evening of primary day, it became clear that Ronald Reagan was going to win in Indiana, John Chancellor of NBC zoomed in on him and asked how he could account for the strange unity of criticism coming at him from Nelson Rockefeller, representing (at least, traditionally) the left end of the Republican spectrum, and Barry Goldwater, representing the right end of the spectrum. There was as much fatigue written over Reagan’s face as there was glee over Chancellor’s, who rightly calculated that there was very little Reagan could answer under the circumstances that would dispose of the diplomatic ambush. The author of the Eleventh Commandment managed a smile, and said: “I’ve never believed in divisiveness within the Republican Party, as you know, John. I think everybody would agree that I did my very best to knit the party together in California in 1966, after the chaos of 1964.”
Churchill could not have done better, and, as a professional, I have to admire the smoothest fico of the season. But O my lords, O my lieges, what on earth are we doing? Put together everything said against the Republicans by Humphrey, Carter, Jackson, Udall, and Bella Abzug, and you cannot match the destructiveness of the criticism being leveled against Republicans by Republicans. Both Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan are in part responsible for this. I am required to say, because my affection for Goldwater would not permit me to dissimulate, that I think he has been the principal aggressor this time around, and for reasons I cannot fathom.
Comments