University of Virginia Library

Virginians Select
Governor
Tomorrow

News Analysis

By Rick Pearson
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

photo by Chris Dickey

William Battle

Democrats

Bill Battle is a Kennedy man. Bill
Battle is a Byrd man. At different times
during the current gubernatorial campaign,
Bill Battle has had these labels
attached to him. Although even the most
chameleon-like candidate would find it
difficult to promote such conflicting
images, a prospective governor ought to
expect that different people will feel
differently about him.

Therefore, such opinions should not
surprise any politician. Or should they?

The thing that puzzles Mr. Battle is
that these labels have been attached to
him by the same man, Linwood Holton,
his principal rival in tomorrow's election.
Apparently, when Mr. Holton appears
before a predominantly liberal audience,
he has found it convenient to bring up
the issue of bossism and the Byrd
machine. At such gatherings, Bill Battle is
the willing heir of the Byrd dynasty.

However, when the Republican candidate
appears before a conservative group,
press accounts of Mr. Holton's statements
are different. Then, he is quoted as
linking Mr. Battle with John and Robert
Kennedy and the national Democratic
Party that, Mr. Holton says, has repeatedly
"kicked Virginia in the teeth."

Incidents such as these are typical of
the tone of the campaign, not only on the
Republican side but also with the Democrats.
This dominant tone is ambiguity of
position, broad charges and counter charges,
and a frantic scramble to build a
broad base of conservative, moderate, and
liberal voters.

Part of the confusion over exactly
where each candidate stands is due to the
fact that in many areas the men are very
similar. Both men, Mr. Battle and Mr.
Holton, are prosperous attorneys who
have never held any elective office. They
have both been accused of being political
"amateurs," and the charge has not
bothered either of them.

Politically, each man basically represents
the moderate faction of his party.
And on many issues, the two candidates
are in general agreement.

However, the candidates for the
statehouse are also clearly differentiable
political entities. Although the campaign
has not been sparked by an bitterly-contested
issue, several major issues have
developed over which the men differ
significantly, and it is on these factors
that the Virginia voters will have to base
their choice.

Although neither man has served in
any elective position, Mr. Battle served in
the early 1960's as American Ambassador
to Australia. Thus, he is the only
candidate with experience in the executive
branch of government, and his record
as ambassador is enviable.

While in Australia during the Kennedy
Administration, Mr. Battle was the
principal negotiator of four major treaties
and agreements between the two nations.
In addition, American investment in
Australia increased $500 million and
trade between the countries doubled, and
in a gubernatorial campaign in which a
major issue has been the economic
development of Virginia this fact should
be a decisive one.

Mr. Holton's apparently derogatory
remarks that Bill Battle is part of a
nebulous "Kennedy faction" is probably
only a source of pride to Mr. Battle. His
friendship with the Kennedys began
during World War II when the men served
together in a certain famous PT squadron,
and Mr. Battle's admiration for John
Kennedy continued as his friend was
elected President. In the 1960 campaign,
he served as Mr. Kennedy's state campaign
chairman.