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^W*-alioc\
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Tuesday
January 23, 1979
Reagan’s record, not age, deserves test
By ARNOLD SAWISLAK
WASHINGTON — If Ronald Reagan is
elected president in 1980, he would be
take office only 18 days before his 70th
birthday.
He would be, by two full years, the
oldest man ever to assume the presidency.
He would be only the third man (joining
William Henry Harrison and James
Buchanan) to enter the White House aged
65 or older. He would be older at the start
of his term than any president except
Andrew Jackson or Dwight Eisenhower
was at the end of his time in office.
Interesting bits of trivia perhaps, but
are they politically relevant? Does Ronald
Reagan’s age bear on his ability to serve as
the president?
In the already septic atmosphere of
American political debate, Reagan’s age
may not be openly discussed on its merits.
More likely, it will be the stuff of rumors
and whispers about his physical condition
or his mental acuity. That is one reason for
this effort to venilate the subject directly.
The question of health is legitimately
raised about all prospective presidents. To
the untrained eye, the lean and active
Reagan appears to be in the pink, with a
better health record in his late 60s than
either John F. Kennedy or Franklin D.
Roosevelt had when they ran for the office
as far younger men.
Reagan says he has a yearly physical
checkup and is “perfectly willing to make
my (medical) records available to anyone
who wants to see them. Most candidates
do this and it usually takes care of the
health issue.
But that will not answer all the
questions for Reagan. In a country where
many persons are required to retire at age
70, there will be those who question the
capacity of any septugenarian to assume
the physical and mental burdens of the
presidency.
One response is that the American
fixation on youth is ridiculous, especially
in the selection of national leaders. David
Ben Gurion and Golda Meier in Israel,
Konrad Adenauer in West Germany,
Charles DeGaulIe in France, Winston
Churchill in Great Britain, Josif Tito in
Yugoslavia and Mao Tse-tung in China are
just a few examples of political leaders of
other countries who have functioned
capably despite what we regard as
advanced age.
Actually, an American presidential
campaign is itself a kind of physical and
mental test for candidates. Any person
who remains healthy after no less than a
full year of fast food, motel beds, drafty or
overheated meeting rooms and cross
country jet jumps surely has demonstrated
some kind of fitness.
In a sense, the issue of old age is the flip
side of the question raised when Kennedy
undertook to become the youngest man to
be elected president. Even though the
Constitution sets the lower age limit for
becoming president at 35, there were
those who claimed Kennedy, at 43, was
too young for the office. The voters in 1960
decided otherwise.
Given a clean bill of health, Reagan’s
age is no more relevant to his capacity for
presidential service than was Kennedy’s.
It sometimes seems too much to ask, but it
would be nice if Reagan and everyone else
who runs for public office were judged on
the basis of their records, their ideas and
their characters.
Behind the scenes in Washington, Austin
White House readying for Nixon visit
By HELEN THOMAS
UPI White House Reporter
Backstairs at the
WASHINGTON
White House:
Former President Richard Nixon’s re
turn to the White House is shaping up as a
headline event. He has been invited to the
state dinner honoring Chinese Vice Pre
mier Teng Hsaio-ping on Jan. 29.
Insiders say there was no controversy
among President Carter’s senior advisers
when Carter decided to invite Nixon.
Here’s Treasury Secretary Michael
Blumenthal’s prescription for having time
to think and not becoming a Cabinet
workaholic, as told to Fortune Magazine:
“In both business and government,” he
said, “it is very important to know how to
select the critical issues, to let the others
go and to make time to think. In
government, that’s very, very difficult
because of the ceremonial pressures on
you. The only way to do it is to hold rigidly
to a certain schedule and to take regular
vacations.
Clayton facing dissidents
Nixon undoubtedly wants what all past
presidents have wanted — to be treated as
elder statesmen whose advice is sought
from time to time on foreign policy. This is
a role Nixon denied Lyndon B. Johnson
when Johnson retired from the presi
dency. But it is a role accorded Dwight D.
Eisenhower by both John F. Kennedy and
Johnson.
Whether Carter will begin consulting
Nixon on foreign affairs remains to be
seen. White House aides say they do not
expect the former president to steal the
show but observers do expect Nixon’s
re-entry into the White House will take
some of the spotlight.
The Chinese preparing the way for the
visit had asked to see Nixon. Carter’s aides
said they thought it was better that the
meeting take place at the White House
rather than at Nixon’s home in San
Clemente, Calif.
Mrs. Nixon is passing up a chance to
return to the White House, apparently not
feeling up to it. Since her stroke in July
1977, the former first lady has had to limit
her plane travel. There is also a question of
whether she is reconciled to facing
Washington again at this time.
She will be coming East in March when
she goes to New York to spend some time
with her eldest daughter Tricia Cox, who
is awaiting the birth of her first child.
By ROLAND LINDSEY
UPI Capitol Reporter
AUSTIN, Texas — A La Grange legislator’s decision to campaign for speaker
may not be able to derail Speaker Bill Clayton’s bid for a fourth term in 1981, but
it may make the speaker reluctant to deal harshly with dissidents and more
cautious in his leadership policies, some representatives contend.
Rep. John Wilson, D-La Grange, announced last week he would campaign for
the speakership in 1981, and Clayton immediately responded by announcing his
candidacy for a fourth term and claiming written pledges of support from 90 of the
150 House members.
Clayton, elected Jan. 9 to an unprecedented third consecutive term as speaker,
declared the race is over two years before election day — “I don’t see that there’s a
race to it.’’
But Wilson, who concedes he has no written pledges of support and only a few
oral commitments, is not ready to give up.
He says he has no intentions of allowing the speaker race to disrupt this year’s
session, but obviously would benefit from any troubles Clayton might encounter.
“Pledges a lot of times are conditioned on a series of events happening, ” Wilson
said. “I would assume some of Bill’s pledges are that way. I think by the end of the
session we’ll have an idea whether I am a serious candidate or not, and I may have
to re-evaluate my position.
Rep. John Bryant, D-Dallas, perhaps Clayton’s most persistent critic during the
past four years and a leader in the organization last summer of a group called the
Sam Houston Caucus which tried unsuccessfully to dilute the speaker’s power,
said Wilson’s candidacy may influence Clayton’s tactics this year.
“I think it would make Clayton a little more cautious perhaps,” Bryant said.
“It’ll be fun to watch. I know if I were him and a guy whose philosophy is not far
from mine was out there against me, I’d be more careful. There are a lot of
opportunities to make enemies.”
Another Sam Houston Caucus member, who asked not to be identified, said he
does not think Clayton’s support for a fourth term is as solid as the speaker claims.
“I think he’s been hurt some by the way he has run the House,” the
representative said. “They voted down the Sam Houston Caucus, but the
discontent is still there and it can grow if the team lets it grow. ”
Clayton’s problem, most House members agree, will be to appease his critics as
much as possible to discourage any movement against him, while at the same time
keeping members of his “team” in line and in control of the House operations.
“I will not start before 7:30 in the
morning and I rarely go past 7:30 in the
evening. I do not accept more than one or
two social engagements a week, at most. I
reserve Sundays strictly for myself, and I
take at least four short vacations a year. It’s
during the evenings, on Sundays and on
those vacations I reflect on things.”
The president is keeping up his jogging
routine, and he is looking much leaner.
The White House physician. Dr. William
Lukash, thinks it is great for him
healthwise, but reporters who see Carter
in white shorts and a red sweat shirt
wonder if it can be much fun. He runs
with such dogged determination, and
seems to huff and puff at times.
The 54-year-old president not only
appears thinner but older. His hair is
noticeably graying now, as is inevitable in
the presidency.
Carter rarely has an on-the-record
appointment in the afternoon anymore.
Most of the appointments list that is put
out for the press includes only morning
appointments.
In the past. Democratic congressional
leaders would talk to the press after
breakfast sessions with the president. But
the White House apparently has decided
it would prefer to have the leaders brief
reporters on Capitol Hill. So one more
avenue for reporters to talk to presidential
visitors has been blocked off.
It is difficult to understand why, since
the party leaders have usually emerged
from such sessions singing the praises of
the president and pledging to work for his
programs.
Letters to the editor
Women overlooked for Corps units
Editor:
To begin with, there will be many read
ers who will misunderstand what I am
about to say. I would urge those such Ag
gies to reread this letter, and try to be
openminded.
This past Tuesday, Jan. 16, A&M was
represented at the governor’s inaugura
tion. The Ross Volunteers, the Aggie
Band, and the Parson’s Mounted Cavalry
were all present and representing A&M.
These organizations took pride in the fact
that not only did they symbolize TAMU,
but they represented a special fraction of
Slouch
by Jim Earle
the university, the Corps of Cadets.
The only problem I can see with this
type of representation is the fact that no
women were present among the ranks of
any of these three organizations. Women
are eligible to apply for these or-
ganizaitons, but their applications are not
by any means taken seriously.
I have always been under the impres
sion that women have officially attended
this university since 1965. In addition, it is
my understanding that women have been
members of the Corps since the fall of
1974.
I am sure some will say “if women have
to be represnted, then so should gays,
foreign students, non-regs, etc. Well, I
also believe that at a state function more of
the student body of Texas A&M should be
represented. As far as representing
“everyone,” I think we have to be realistic!
Yet, the onlooker at the inauguration
would not be aware, without prior
knowledge of A&M, that women at
tend this university.
ARE WOMEN AT TAMU GOING TO
CONTINUE TO TAKE A BACK SEAT?!
— Melanie S. Zentgraf, ’80
by courses available in the subject at Texas
A&M.
The academic and scholarly credentials
of those who have in the past taught such
off-campus courses do not compare fa
vorably with the credentials of A&M
professors who teach in corresponding
areas.
I have nothing but approbation for those
who wish to strengthen their faith by
greater exposure to its authorized advo
cates, but such experiences should not be
mistakenly considered the equivalent of
university courses in which the professor
is expected to pay allegiance to the canons
of objectivity, neutrality, pursuit of
knowledge as such, and the academic
standards and values of the community of
scholars rather than the sectarian views
and values of a particular religious
denomination and faith.
—W. David Maxwell, Dean
College of Liberal Arts
Uplifting strength
Class—not equal
“WHAT A RELTFE* a ottv ACCUSED ME OF COMMITTING
POGONOTROPHY!”
Editor:
Having noted the ad concerning the
“Bible for Credit” course offered by a local
chruch, I believe it only fair to warn our
students that:
Credit for the course cannot be received
by students concurrently enrolled at Texas
A&M unless prior permission is received
from the student’s academic dean.
Examination of the syllabus provided for
the course suggests that the education
received is not equivalent to that received
Editor:
We felt that a few words of appreciation
were due to 12 special guys from the 2nd
Battalion. If it weren’t for them, six not
very strong females would have remained
stuck in the mud at the Quonset huts last
Friday night.
We only mentioned our plight to a few
guys and at the end of the dance, 12 C.T.s
braved the mud and lifted of Thelma Lou
(a maverick) out onto the road.
Thanks guys! It was terrific of ya’ll to
help. And who said chivalry was dead?
Certainly not these Aggies!
—Judy Bruce, ’81
Margo Giebelstein,’82
Margaret Hennen, ’82
Top of the News
CAMPUS
Evolution, special creation debatt
deaf childre
ost handier.*
do much sx
hiking. Brit
Dr. Mike Singer, population biologist at the University of Texas a these activiti
Austin, and Dr. Gary Parker, chairman of the biology departmenti our two-wee
Christian Heritage College in San Diego, Calif., will debate oijsponsored L
evolution versus special creation, sponsored by the Great Issuesatigue for Crip]
p.m. Thursday in Rudder Auditorium. Admission is 50 cents iech also spoils
students and $1 for others. diabetic chi
It training pr
unes Hannigi
lege Station
■;
STATE
Presnal gets top committee spot
Bullock lawyers seek remedies
State Rep. Bill Presnal, D-Bryan, has been named chairman oftk(|
Appropriations Committee by Speaker of the House Bill Clayton[
Clayton said Presnal would serve as chairman during the next t
years of the 66th Legislature. Presnal is serving his fifth term in (if'
House. He served on the Appropriations Committee last session. y ex ls a&M
it prime-tiim
In a press re
nations of go
irOceeds froi
Comptroller Bob Bullock said Monday he has asked his attomeyips^t KAMU
to study what remedies are available to respond to a Travis CounhStation perse
Grand Jury report accusing him of hampering its investigation infcibe and auct
allegations of misconduct in his office. The grand jury report sr>sale. Viewe
Bullock and his staff had refused to make available audit informatio: U telephone
had destroyed airplane flight logs needed by the grand jury, andh Mei will pick
refused to require high level administrators to document traveAccording to
vouchers to verify expenses for lodging meals and taxis. : conventionr
Hception oi
st $25.
terns donate*
ha\ e incluch
Hriters, toa
dajor gifts, tl
Citizen complaint sessions planneivX^Z^:
JUfl?'
The chairman of the House Human Services Committee ii.Vithin the m
Washington, Rep. Craig Washington, D-Houston, said Monday hi) volunteers
will ask his panel to set aside at least one meeting each month toheai nts throughc
citizen complaints and comments about the performance of state contact Jear
agencies within the committee’s jurisdiction. The Department ofi
Human Resources, the Commission for the Blind, the Commission
for the Deaf, and the Governor’s Commission for the Visually,
Handicapped are included in the committee’s jurisdiction.
NATION
Derailment causes evacuation T*
A Union Pacific freight train carrying flammable phosphors
derailed and burned Monday at 4:15 a.m. about 12 miles southeastof.
Laramie, Wyo. A cloud of toxic gases caused the evacuation of several
area ranchers. The train’s four-man crew suffered minor injuries. I
Tenement fires may be related ~
A fire killed seven people in a tenement house Monday two miles
from a Hoboken, N.J., dwelling where up to 21 people died ini:
similar fire Saturday. An investigator said the two fires appeared to be
related because both started with flammable liquid being poured oa
the stairwell of an aging tenement occupied by large Hispanic
families.
Fire halts oil pump station in Gulf :
A fire Monday injured one man and shut down a Gulf of Mexico
offshore oil pumping station off’ the central Louisiana coast. Shell Oil -
Co. said the fire occurred on one of its platforms 80 miles south of “
Morgan City. Crewman L.P. McCaskey of Hammond, La., was flown
by helicopter to a Morgan City hospital and listed in satisfactory
condition. Two of the four pumps on the platform were damaged
beyond repair. There was no indication how soon they could be
replaced and the unit returned to service.
WORLD
Beirut bomb kills PLO leader
A large remote-controlled bomb Monday killed Abu Hassan
Salameh, one of Palestine Liberation Organization chief Yasser
Arafat’s top lieutenants. Four guards and about six passersby were
also killed. Salameh, security chief for Arafat’s Al Gatah guerrilla
group was high on Israel’s most-wanted guerrilla list and was believed
by the Israelis to be one of those responsible for the 1972 Munich
massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes.
This S
good ,
Shah goes to Morocco
Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi of Iran left Egypt Monday at 4:15
a.m. and flew to Morocco as part of an extended vacation from which
he may never return to his kingdom. The shah was accompanied by
his wife Empress Farah and a 20-member entourage.
WEATHER
Acclaimi
of magical eff
the last 12 ye,
Partly cloudy, windy, and cooler with a high today of 58 anda j|| US j 0 n. Spem
low of 25. Winds will be north westerly at 30 mph and gusty and his family
The temperature at 9:00 was 47. We have a 35% chance ot more than 68
ram.
The Battalion
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MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress THIS PR0GF
Editor P EXPERIENC
Managing Editor Ui
Assistant Managing Editor .Andy
Sports Editor David
City Editor Scott Pi
Campus Editor Si
News Editors Debbie
Beth Calhoun
Staff Writers Karen Roge
Patterson, Sean Petty,
Blake, Dillard Stone
Bragg, Lyle Lovett
Thi
8 P.M
Ticki
Cartoonist Doug(
Photo Editor Lee Roy Lewi
Photographer Lynn
Focus section editor Gan
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are
those of the editor or of the writer of the
article and are not necessarily those of the
. University administration or the Board of
Regents. The Battalion is a non-,
supporting enterprise operated bijs 1 '
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Editorial policy is determined hijthtl