New York, August 4—The first item on the news over the radio this morning is that the New York State Young Americans for Freedom have met and resolved to support the nomination of Ronald Reagan, but to oppose Richard Schweiker as his running-mate. This also is the position of Congressman Robert Bauman of Maryland. It is a position which deserves to be treated as something more than mere pique. And, in the days ahead, it may rise into prominence as the crystallizing sentiment of Reagan backers. The implications of this position are complex and fascinating:
1. In the first place, we are reminded that there is no such thing as an absolute right of. a candidate to designate his running-mate. If there were, then Mr. Ford’s hold over the Presidency would not have that slight feeling of illegitimacy that now encumbers it. Mr. Ford is thought of as not-quite-a-President for the simple reason that he was never confirmed by a Republican Convention. If the Convention confirmation were constitutionally perfunctory, then it would not have mattered that Gerald Ford was merely the designee of Richard Nixon. He would have had the equivalent backing, even as now Rockefeller would be considered legitimately the Vice President.
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