Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Friday
March 3 ?
1978
Garbage man
H. R. Haldeman, who was Richard M. Nixon’s White House chief of
staff, presently is assigned to the sewage treatment plant of a federal
prison camp. Considering the garbage Haldeman has turned out in
book form, sewage treatment would appear to be his true calling.
Haldeman is serving a sentence for conviction on charges of conspiracy,
obstruction of justice and perjury. In the course of the Watergate hearings,
Haldeman testified under oath that neither he nor Nixon had any advance
knowledge of the break-in that led to the former president’s downfall. When
the truth was known, Haldeman swore, the public would be convinced of
Nixon’s innocence.
Now, for a price, Haldeman squeals that Nixon engineered the break-in of
the Democratic National Committee’s Watergate offices. He says Nixon was
obsessed with the urge to damage Lawrence O’Brian, who was then Demo
cratic Party chairman. According to Haldeman, Nixon wanted to “get the
goods” on a large legal retainer that O’Brian supposedly received from the late
billionaire recluse Howard Hughes.
Like others of the Watergate crowd before him, Haldeman has further
dishonored himself by his writings.
The question remains: When is a peijurer to be believed — when he’s lying
to save his skin, or when he’s lying to make a buck. The best answer may be
never.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat
Jim Crawley
April Fool’s Day at the polls
Controversy lias always surrounded the
College Station ward system. The two-
year-old system has been through more
legal hassles and attempts on its life than
even the recent utilities dispute between
the twin cities.
Two years ago, the citizens of College
Station were to decide on the manner in
which councilmen in the city would be
elected. The original proposal of the coun
cil was a ballot containing three choices.
One, to keep the old, at-large system.
Two, to split the city into three wards and
elect three otheTs at-large. Three, to
create an all ward system'
After receiving council approval for the
best-out-of-three ballot it was discovered
that the ballot failed to meet the require
ments set forth in the city charter. The
ballot would have to be a simple yes-no
propositon, not a multiple choice ques
tion.
After some quick maneuvering the
council substituted a proposal which al
lowed the voters to choose between the
at-large system and the ward system. It
was suggested that the residents of the city
would oppose any ward system that placed
David S. Broder
VVASHINGTON — Patrick Anderson,
who wrote a book (“The President’s Men ”)
on White House assistants and in 1976
served as a speeehwriter for Jimmy Car
ter, had a consoling thought for Hamilton
Jordan. Deep as Jordan’s troubles seemed
last week, they were not as serious as
those of Harry Hopkins, the Roosevelt
aide Anderson described as “the most inf
luential and admirable" of all the presiden
tial assistants of this century.
Hopkins, who moved into the White
House with his young daughter after his
first wife died of cancer, was the subject of
endless gossip and criticism. So controver
sial did he become that, at one point, he
hung out a sign saying, "We ain t mad at
nobody — in effect, siting for peace.
But there was no peace for him, and
Anderson cites him as a prime example of
the general point he makes in his book: "A
President s trusted aide can attain power
and glory, but the power is precarious and
the glory may become tinged with notori
ety, for there are many dangers inherent
in his position.
Last week, Hamilton Jordan learned
again of those dangers. For the second
time in a few months, he was the central
figure in an unpleasant public encounter
with an offended woman. The first in
volved personal remarks he allegedly
made to or about the wife, of the Egyptian
every councilman, except the mayor, into
a separate ward.
On election day, the voters of College
Station passed the ward system by a mere
29 votes. This prompted outcries of “foul.
Many politicians believed the ballot was
too complicated for the voters to under
stand.
This began a legal battle that lasted into
fall of 1976. A group of citizens, headed by
former mayor D.A. Anderson, filed a peti-
politics
tion calling for the election results to be
overturned. The ensuing court battle in
volved both city officials and Texas A&M
students.
The battle was characterized by confus
ing battle lines. Many of the councilmen
were in favor of the lawsuit filed against
the city. Several students joined the suit
when it appeared the city was not defend
ing itself.
The petition form used by Anderson was
originally formulated by Mayor Lorenee
Bravence. Although the mayor did not
sign the petition which named him and the
City of College Station as defendents, he
did admit that he suggested and ty ped the
original used by Anderson.
When the case came before State Dis
trict Judge W.C. Dav is, of Bryan, the city
failed to defend itself. The city attorney ,
Neeley Lewis, spend most of the trial as
sisting Anderson with Anderson s pres
entation. Three Texas A&M students —
Robert Harvey , Mary Ellen Martin and
Jerri Ward — filed a "friend of the court
brief in favor of the ward system. Dav is
ruled in favor of the ward sy stem.
Since then rumors have been flying
back and forth through the city concerning
a new referendum on the at-large system.
The charter requires a two-y ear wait be
fore the same issue can be voted on again.
That time limit ends this year and the
council has scheduled another election on
the ward system. Most members of the
council believe the ward system will be
overturned this time around.
What will happen this year on April
Fool’s Day when the voters of College Sta
tion go to the polls? Will the voters return
the city to the virtues of the at-large sy s
tem or will they keep the ward sy stem?
The question brings an emotional re
sponse from many residents. Many stu
dents think that the wards are the only
way a student can be elected to the city
council. Many non-student residents are
against splitting the city into wards. City
officials see the dollar signs flowing out of
the city treasury because of the higher cost
of conducting ward elections.
The ward system is similar to the dis
tricts used by large cities to div ide their
council seats. The problem cited by most
opponents of the ward sy stem is that (Col
lege Station is not a large metropolitan
city . With nearly 40,()()() residents, each
councilman represents only 6,500 resi
dents.
The six wards were constructed so that
each region has a similar population and
mixture of races and students. Other fac
tors included the location of the sitting
councilmen.
The ward system may be seeing its last
election on April Fool s Day. But, then
again, who knows?
on s price oi independence
ambassador. The second involved a bar
room scene with a woman who alleges he
spit his drink at her and who, in any case,
undeniably hauled off and slapped him.
In both instances, Jordan affirms that he
was not the guilty party. The President
and his associates in the White House take
Commentary
Jordan s word for it. His power has risen
inside the White House even as his notor
iety has grown, and he is today, beyond
much challenge, the most important of the
President’s policy and political advisers.
H e is also 33 years old and recently sepa
rated from his wife. His father, who had
been ill with cancer, died last week of a
stroke,
I do not know much about Jordan’s so
cial life or conversational habits. And I can
only guess at the personal pressures under
which he has been operating. My dis
cussions with him over the last five years
have been in the line of business.
I do know a couple of other things about
him, however. He has one of the best
political minds I have ever met — a keen
sense of public moods and good judgment
about the effect of alternative strategies
and policies. His assessments of Carter s
situation and prospects — minuses as well
as pluses — have been unfailingly honest.
Second, in an administration where
public relations and polls are given
perhaps excessive weight, Jordan is one of
the handful of people with access to Jimmy
Carter who really cares about the ultimate
objectives of politics. The pursuit of peace
and social justice are not just slogans with
him.
He also happens to be a man whose loy
alty to Carter is unquestioned by the Pres
ident. From all accounts, Jordan uses that
position of trust to give Carter very frank
advice.
His personal memos to the President, I
am told by those who have seen some of
them, are models of direct, unhedged,
non-bureaueratic prose. He is willing to go
toe-to-toe with the President when he dis
agrees with Carter’s proposed course of ac
tion.
The presence of someone with those
characteristics in any White House is very
much in the national interest. But there is
no question — even in the minds of White
House colleagues who defend him — that
Jordan’s reported escapades have become
a political embarrassment (and maybe
more) to Carter.
Jordan himself could probably walk
away from the job with few regrets. Four
y ears ago, when he was the second most
powerful man in Georgia gov ernment at
the age of 29 (as executiv e assistant to the
gov ernor), he walked out to start running a
longshot s presidential campaign.
His own casualness about the trappings
of power makes him scornful of the
power-and-status-conscious society of
Washington, D.C. He has gone out of his
way to show his scorn — by declining to
conform in dress, manners or behav ior to
what is expected of a presidential assistant.
To some this is just personal affection: to
others, it has become a sy mptom of either
hostility or of self-indulgence. In either
case, it is taken as indicating a serious lack
of self-discipline.
Jordan has a right to live his own life.
But more than a year ago. Bob Strauss,
who shares with Carter a paternal affection
for Jordan, gave him some adv ice.
"You are living in a company town,
Strauss said, "and if y ou're going to thumb
your nose at the standards of this town,
you better live like a saint. Cause if you do
one thing wrong, they'll never let you
forget it, and they 11 hound you out of
town, like you were the devil."
It was good advice then. And it is even
better advice today .
(c) 1978, The Washington Post Coni-
))ant/
Letters to the editor
T ranscendental
meditation not
religion
Editor:
Some students have taken it upon them
selves to remove many of the posters an
nouncing an introductory lecture to tran
scendental meditation (TM). Is this be
cause they have been misinformed about
TM? If so, let me attempt to clear up any
misconceptions they may have. I talk only
from what I understand of, and have ex
perienced in, TM. I have been a meditator
for five months.
Misconception: TM is unnatural.
What is TM? TM is a simple mental
technique for relieving both physical and
mental stress. This allows the system to
function with the least possible effort, and
consequently allows the person to enjoy
life to a greater degree. TM is capable of
relieving all mental and physical stress.
Stress on any system is not natural. Can
TM be unnatural?
Misconception: TM is a religion.
I believe TM is a religion to TMers in
the same sense as football is a religion to
football players. To get the maximum ben
efit from either, one must put forth a
maximum amount of effort. I believe an
absolute atheist can gain as much from TM
as any Christian.
Misconception: The purpose of the
Texas A&M International Meditation So
ciety is detrimental to students.
TM has a religious origin. In some areas
it may even be taught as a religion. The
Texas A&M International Meditation So
ciety (IMS) in no way promotes TM as a
religion. Article II of the IMS constitution
states, “The objectives of this organization
shall be to present introductory lectures
on the transcendental meditation program
and provide follow-up programs and ac
tivities.
I hope this letter sheds light on the be
liefs of some misinformaed students.
— George E. Sofka
President — Texas A&M IMS
‘Stone’ rehashed
Editor:
Thank you very much for the very good
and informative piece on the Austin-based
group, “Kiwi.” They shold be a welcome
change from the mediocre Hollywood
productions which “Aggie Cinema” dishes
out to us every weekend. We could also do
without the very loud local bars and discos
if more such groups would be invited.
By the way, why must you pay someone
(assuming you do) to rehash an article from
the latest “Rolling Stone?” I was referring
to the critique on Jackson Browne.
— I.A. Chisti
Top of the News
Campus
Handicapped can register early
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Texas A&M University students who are handicapped, temporarily
handicapped, or have some type of mobility problem can take advan
tage of an early preregistration program offered for the fall semester.
The early preregistration, to be held April 19-20, will allow students
the special schedule they need. Handicapped students should contact
Donnie Albrecht, assistant director of student activities, at 845-1134,
by March 22, if interested in the early preregistration. Information i
the program can also be obtained from the Texas Rehabilitation
Commission at 846-4741.
Deadline set for Basic Grants
All undergraduate students are reminded that March 15 is the last
date for receiving applications for Basic Educational Opportunity
Grants for the 1977-1978 academic year. The application must arrive
at the Basic Grant Office, P.C). Box B, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 on or
before March 15 to be processed for this 1977-78 academic year.
State
Texas may get parimutuel betting
Beside choosing candidates, Texas voters in the May primaries will
have a chance to express their feelings on legalizing horse race bet
ting. Leaders of a group supporting parimutuel betting said Wednes
day they have more than the required 75,000 petition signatures
needed to place the issue on the May 6 Democratic primary ballot.
Douglas McCrary of Calvert, president of the Texas Horseraeinj!
Association, said more than 95,000 Texans will have signed the peti
tions before the March 13 deadline. Allen Wisenbaker of Longview,
president of the Texas Thoroughbred Breeders Association, said the
Republican party already had agreed to place the local option re
ferendum on its primary ballot. The racing promoters said a signifi
cant margin of voter approv al would prompt the legislature to pass
their proposal to authorize local option elections on the issue.
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Nation
Civil Service may get overhaul
President Carter Thursday proposed a major plan which would
make it easier to fire incompetent federal workers, end some automa
tic federal pay increases and limit job preferences for veterans. The
plan, outlined by Carter himself at the National Press Club, would
overhaul the 95-year-old Civil Service Commission. The president,
in sending the plan to Congress, said much of the public s criticismol
federal workers is unfair. In addition to weakening ironclad job pro
tection for many federal workers, the plan would cut ofl automatic
pay hikes for many high-lev el government officials who get those
hikes whether thev are merited or not.
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Hijack attempt in Pakistan foilei
Three passengers foiled a hijack attempt aboard a Pakistan Interna
tional Airlines jumbo jet Thursday , but were injured when a hand
grenade held by the would-be air pirate exploded during the strug
gle, airline sources said. The lone terrorist who tried to hijack the
Boeing 747 with 350 passengers and a crew of seven had a hand blown
ofl when the grenade exploded. He was knocked unconscious by the
blast. The plane landed safely at Islamabad. Airline sources said
Abdul Malik, a retired Pakistani army officer, grabbed the hijacker
near the cockpit door when the man announced the plane was being
eommandered. Malik was aided by two other passengers.
Thieves take Chaplin s body
Grave robbers have stolen the coffin containing the remains ol
Charlie Chaplin, Swiss police announced Thursday. A statement b\
the state police headquarters said the coffin was dug up and taken
away Wednesday night or early Thursday. Chaplin died on Christmas
Day at the age of 88. Thursday evening, police said neither they nor
Chaplin s family had received any telephone calls from persons claim
ing to be responsible. Police did not rule out the possibility of a
ransom demand for the return of the coffin and Chaplin's remains.
Weather
Cloudy, windy and colder today, tonight & tomorrow. High
today mid-40’s, low tonight upper 30s. Thirty percent chance
of rain today. Winds from the north at 15-20 mph.
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Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congrcsx
Editor Jm
Managing Editor Man Alitv Wnih'
Sports Editor hiilW
News Editors Marie llonirxrr. Cirnl^
Assistant Managing Editor Olriiiu "I" 1 '
Cit\ Editor KuiviiM
(.ampiis Editor Ki*T^
Ke|>ortcrs I.i/ Nexvliu. IXmillbtf
Mark Patterson. Lee Hoy ^
Welch. Jim Crawley Vml\ ffik
Paige Beasley . bs''
Photographers Susan \\ eMi. ken IM**
Cartoonist . . Dinijd^
Slutlenl Vublieations Board. Boh C. Cip*'
/or Airedondo. Dr. Chint Haller. />» . ('ImdiM Vii'tJ*
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Tublietitions: Donald C. Johnson.