“Mansfieldism” is what it’s called, and it’s back in town, this time sponsored by the No. 2 ranking GOP senator, Ted Stevens of Alaska. Angry at Western Europe’s decision to go ahead with the Soviet gas pipeline, Stevens says he may introduce a resolution to bring home some of the U.S. troops stationed in Europe. It’s time to reexamine our commitment to Western Europe, says Stevens, in light “of the willingness [of Western Europeans] to become increasingly dependent on the Soviets.” Stevens got at least tacit support from much-respected Democrat John Stennis, of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and two members of House Armed Services Committee, William Dickinson (R., Ala.) and Bill Nichols (D., Ala.). Asked Nichols: “[Is it] time to whistle up the dogs, put the chairs in the wagon, and tell the troops to come home?” Importance: Stevens voted against then-Sen. Mike Mansfield’s two resolutions in 1974 to withdraw U.S. troops from Europe; Stennis has always been hard-liner on defense matters. … A second major problem on Reagan’s horizon is pointed up by Christian Science Monitor in review of this fall’s gubernatorial races. Monitor sounding indicates Democrats have 2 to 1 edge in the 36 governors’ races this year, and they start with a 27 to 23 lead. This could put serious crimp in Reagan’s New Federalism, where cooperation and support of the governors is essential. Particularly gloomy is major hole in Midwest where GOP Govs. Bob Ray (Iowa), James Rhodes (Ohio), William Milliken (Mich.), and Albert Quie (Minn.) are stepping down or ineligible for re-election. . . . Washington Post’s David Broder is critical of congressmen who continue to criticize and deride the New Federalism. These congressmen, he says, “remain hostile to what is quite evidently a public desire to move power out of Washington and into the states and communities. I guess the voters will just have to keep hitting them on the head until the message sinks in.” . . . One set of figures you’ll be hearing more about (but maybe not on network news), dug out by economic columnist Warren Brookes. What percentage of federal budget did John Kennedy spend on defense, what percentage on human resources, as compared to Reagan figures? JFK defense—47.8 per cent; human resources—25.1 percent. Reagan defense- 26.2 per cent; human resources 53.2 per cent. . . . Does Reagan still speak effectively to the people? A Cable News Network test of opinion in Columbus, Georgia before and after Reagan’s Caribbean basin speech found 35 per cent in favor of more aid to Caribbean before speech, 64 in favor after it. . . . But Reagan has definitely lost support of Dr. Bob Jones of Bob Jones University, who claims that Reagan betrayed his trust by taking on “Mr. Bush, a devil, for his Vice President.”
Political niblets: First poll since Ed Koch’s announcement that he’s in the race shows him leading Lt. Gov. Mario Cuomo by 41 to 16: both after Hugh Carey’s job. . . . Former Hartford Mayor Ann Uccello, who made Lowell Weicker’s first nominating speech in 1970, has switched support to Prescott Bush in Conn, senatorial contest. . . . California State Sen. John Schmitz (running for Senate in Calif.) has been bounced from John Birch National Council, for extremism. … St. Louis Post-Dispatch says former Sen. Adlai III is running far behind GOP Gov. Jim Thompson in Ill., in terms of both fundraising and organization. … In neighboring Michigan, a newcomer in gubernatorial race is Republican Dick Headlee, who led recent successful campaign for a tax limitation amendment.
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