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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 1973)
Page 2 College Station, Texas Wednesday, October 24, 1973 THE BATTALIQ, The Last Step Up For Nixon: Surrender By GAYLORD SHAW Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON—At midday Monday, sur rounded by the sounds of miscalculation. Pres ident Nixon slowly climbed the steep steps of the Executive Office Building. Often in the past he had bounded up the steps two at a time. But now he was burdened with perhaps the worst crisis of his presi dency, and he was heading for his hideaway office to search for a solution. From Pennsylvania Avenue, 50 yards across the lawn, the President could hear the blaring of automobile horns as motorists re sponded to a demonstrator’s “Honk for Im peachment” sign. It was a daucous reminder that his earlier decision to seek a compromise on the Water gate tapes — a decision he hoped would bring a national sigh of relief—had instead brought what an aide called “some kind of a night mare ... a fire storm.” “A miscalculation,” his White House coun sel now bluntly calls the decision to force through a resolution of the month-long tapes dispute. Twenty-four hours after his walk up the steps of the office building, Nixon reached another decision. He would capitulate and surrender the Watergate tapes and docu ments to a federal judge — an abrupt turn about announced in court Tuesday afternoon. From presidential aides and other official and unofficial sources, the events leading to Nixon’s turnabout can be reconstructed. The sources indicated these were the major factors leading to the President’s decision: —A warning by leading Republicans in Congress that he faced a serious impeach ment effort and that even some faithful Cap itol Hill followers were reluctant to defend him vigorously so long as he refused to re lease the tapes. —A recognition that the public outcry re sulting from the firing Saturday night of spe cial Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox was much greater than had been expected, and that it was overshadowing his agreement to Batt Commentary King Richard’s Way Two weeks ago, Newsweek Washington correspondent Tommy DeFrank told the tenth annual Texas Junior College Press Conference here that something much bigger than Nixon’s problems with the nation’s obsession with Water gate would surface within the coming year. DeFrank now says that “something” may happen as early as next week, due to Nixon blunders of the past week end. It is because of these blunders that the man who sold the nation on the “Mandate of 1972” should resign his post as President. A resignation by Nixon would be both time- and money saving and would permit the American public to address itself to more pressing problems, such as a settlement to the Mid-East dilemma and solutions to our year-round energy crisis. Nixon signalled the beginning of his own end as far as executive privilege is concerned by his capitulation to court and Senate Watergate committee demands for release of his controversial tapes related to “plumbers” activities. The picture Nixon vividly painted of himself is one of a man acting out of sheer desperation, a person totally in capable of taking care of the nation’s problems and unable to avoid the political pitfalls that have frequented the White House time and again. Elliott Richardson, in exchange for Nixon’s kiss of death, promptly stuck the situation in Nixon’s ear with his Tuesday morning press conference, one that saw Richard son receive a minute and one-half standing ovation from about 500 of his judicial peers. Although he said he could understand Nixon’s motives, he had to endorse the strategy used by his special prosecutor, Archibald Cox. Nixon wrongly expected people like Richardson and ■Cox to simply roll over in their sleep or play blind justice to the shennanigans he was pulling. Among these stunts is the possible acceptance of a $2 million political contribution from the Associated Milk Producers, Inc., for milk quotas imposed Dec. 31, 1970. A copy of a letter sent to Nixon from the group promising such has been obtained by the Asso ciated Press. Whereto from here? The most sensible thing for a man on a sinking ship to do would be to get off, but only after his second Vice Presidential pick, Gerald Ford, is ap proved for office. There is growing sentiment to do this and to expedite the matter as quickly as possible so Nixon can resign, thus allowing Ford to carry on the mandate of 1972. King Richard knows his ruling era has ended. If he doesn’t get out soon, more appropriate measures should justifiably be initiated to effect a hasty “good riddance” and bring back credibility to the whole of our national govern ment. Protect Yourself A recent decision by A&M Press Superintendent Cam eron Beckwith is stimulating increased interest toward a University-wide traffic objective: safety. Beckwith, in what we believe to be an unprecedented action taken by a campus administrator, now has all of his employes arriving 15 minutes ahead of the regular 8 to 5 workday schedule, so unnecessarily adhered to by most TAMU administrators. His personnel begin working 15 minutes earlier each day, leave for lunch 15 minutes earlier and finally, get off work 15 minutes earlier. Although the move was primarily intended to help get the Battalion out to readers earlier, it is serving to relieve traffic congestion in the Parking Lot 7 area and gets leaving workers out of the way before the large mass of University employes leave for lunch. Other department heads should take the hint and work out a logical system for helping to relieve the go-home traf fic problem on campus. It’s not a big issue, but one that could be quickly solved by letting roughly half the University staff work and leave 15 minutes earlier. Who knows, the life it saves could be your own. allow limited access to the tapes. —High level concern that the domestic turmoil was damaging efforts to negotiate an end to the Middle East war and was hurt ing the President’s image as a world leader. Nixon’s decision to turn over the tapes for inspection by U. S. District Judge John J. Sirica was made at about noon on Tuesday and came as a stunning surprise to even some of his closest aides. “I was thunderstruck — I couldn’t believe it,” said one aide, who has in the past prided himself on an ability to read the presidential mind. On Monday, Oct. 15, Nixon had decided he would attempt to resolve the tapes issue, which, according to Haig, “had progressively begun to polarize our body politic.” “Lines were clearly being drawn both within the Congress and . . . within the view point of the American people themselves,” Haig said. So, as time began running out on Nixon to file his notice of appeal to the Supreme Court, he came up with a compromise: He would personally prepare a summary of the nine tapes, have it verified by Sen. John C. Stennis, D-Miss., and turn it over to both Judge Sirica and the Senate Watergate com mittee. According to presidential aides, it was clear by Thursday that Cox would not go along with the compromise, and Nixon de cided Friday morning that “we would at tempt to resolve this dreadfully controversial issue . . . with or without Professor Cox,” Haig said. Cox announced he would not accept the White House proposal. Cox was fired, Atty. Gen. Elliot L. Richardson resigned, and Dep uty Atty. Gen. William D. Ruckelshaus was fired. First reaction was quick. By the time Nixon awoke Sunday morning, his staff had compiled a 26-page special report traca reaction in Congress and in the media, Tl condemnations were harsh, the words port few. By Monday morning, Nixon had a 15-pi{( report disclosing that many of the newspapet that had warmly supported his re-election mu were vigorously denouncing him editorially, Some even called for his impeachment i; resignation — sentiment expressed later Mot. day by the AFL-CIO convention in Mian Beach. By noon on Monday, it was clear to thus close to the President that, as Special sel Charles Alan Wright later said, “Clearly we did miscalculate Friday night” Nixon spent Tuesday morning in his Oh Office and reached his decision about now At 2 p.m., Wright stood before a crowle courtroom and startled the nation by at. nouncing the tapes would be turned over Judge Sirica. THL_B> PEANT *a Listen Up— Bike Registration Help 'Appreciated' Editor: I was stopped and given a tick et this Monday for riding my bike on the mall. I would like to be informed of the following: 1. If an announcement stating restrictions on bike-riding ap peared, where was it? 2. My ticket reads “ride on mall” as one of the violations. What exactly are the boundaries of “the mall.” I was also in violation because I have not registered my bike yet. I realize this is my fault, but I think there should have been an announcement of a deadline for registering bikes. Since I try to UN comply with all the rules the Uni versity sets down, I will pay this ticket and register my bicycle as soon as possible. However, if I am not informed of regulations, I cannot possibly obey them. Some help would be appreciated in this area. Pam Haynes Pictures appearing in the Bi talion on Wednesday Sept. 12 a story ran in the Fridty, St| 14 issue listing a schedule ofity istration dates by campus Itn es. If you’re not reading the day Battalion, we suggest yi start. If you had registered ji bike, officials would have you a pamphlet of currently foced rules. Registration ★ ★ through Sept. 28, as the ita noted.—Ed. ★ Editor: Something needs to be B about the conduct of cerfc people during Midnight Yell Pn tice. 'YOU TELL 'EM, SCOOP! TELL 'EM HOW WE DON'T NEED THEIR LOUSY OILI' Because of the synthetic fc covering the field, fireworks i' not allowed in Kyle Field, seems someone always has shoot some fireworks duringTt This is the quickest way to k one of the best tradition A&M. Aggies don’t need fis works to show the twelfth nis is there. Next time, leave tt fireworks at home and just ji louder. Buck Birdson ’72 ENJOY AN ART MARKET ALL YEAR ROUND At: Little Dickens 804 Villa Maria Across From Manor East New Items Arriving Daily PLUS: 10% AGGIE DISCOUNT! Be the first to have one of our new Peugeot cyles that just arrived." A new shipment of Peugeot bicycles just came in and if you are fast on your feet you can have a choice of style and color. They won’t stay around the shop very long since it seems everyone wants a Peugeot these days. PEUGEOT THE BICYCLE FIT FOR YOU. CENTRAL CYCLE & SUPPLY Sales • Service • Accessories 3505 E. 29th. — 822-2228 — Closed Monday Take East University to 29th St. (Tarrow Street) Cbe Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is ,he '■»<»’■ -y <■/ f"" of the article and are not necessarily those of the University administration or May, and once a week during summer school. the Board of Directors. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise operated by students as a MEMBER University and Community newspaper. The Associated Press, Texas Press Association LETTERS POLICY “ TT TTU 7 “ T - ", r „ , j-. i > j , , _ _ , Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school Letters to the editor Should not exceed pUU words year; $6.50 per full year. All subscriptions subject to 5% and are subject to being cut to that length or less if sales tax. Advertising rate furnished on request. Address: ? -t i • 7 . rr ,,, . 7 , , ... The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit Texas 77843. ' such letters and does not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed and show the address The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for of the writer. reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it or not ■' , j , ’ ., , , . otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous Address correspondence to ElSten Up, The Battalion, origin published herein. Right of reproduction of all other Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas matter herein are also reserved. 77843 Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. —7 . ' 7—",. — EDITOR MIKE RICE Members of the Student Publications Board are; Jim n/r„... Lindsey, chairman; Dr. Tom Adair, Dr. R. A. Albanese, Dr. Managing Editor Greg Moses H. E. Hierth, W. C. Harrison, J. W. Griffith, L. E. Kruse and News Editor T. C. GallucCl B. B. Sears. Photo Editor Rodger Mallison Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Sports Editor Kevin Coffey Service**. Inc, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. ASS t. oport-S JcjQIlOT led JDOriSKie Willie Nelson and friends WAYLON JENNINGS KINKY FRIEDMAN SAMMI SMITH JOHNNY DARRELL BILLY JOE SHAVER THE ABBOTT HOMECOMING j I ! li ' 1 f- JOHNNY RODRIGEUZ % Ft. Worth Dallas Abbott Waco JERRY JEFF WALKER 1 ’7’ 1 *,,, ii , ^ JOHNNY BUSH STEVE FROMHOLTZ ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL Tickets - Budget Tapes I ' Sunday, Nov. 4, Abbot, Texas-10 a.m. Cash situation tight? Well buy those used books! Loupots Across From The Post Office At North Gate