University of Virginia Library

White House Encourages Byrd

Nixon Blocks Agnew On Garland

By Mike Gartlan
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

The White House yesterday declined
to join Vice President Spiro T. Agnew in
endorsing Ray L. Garland, the
Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate.

This move by President Richard Nixon
apparently bears out reports that the
Nixon administration is quietly
encouraging the Byrd campaign.

Mr. Agnew's show of support came
during a campaign swing through North
Carolina in which he campaigned for his
party's candidates. The Vice President
endorsed all Republicans running in the
South and specified that the endorsement
included Mr. Garland.

Garland Support

The Vice President told reporters that it
would be "fair to say" this meant he would
support Mr. Garland over the independent
candidate, Harry F. Byrd. Jr.

In a news conference yesterday, press
secretary Ronald Ziegler was asked whether Mr.
Nixon agreed with the Vice President's
endorsement. Mr. Ziegler replied, "We are not
getting involved in the Virginia campaign."

Mr. Ziegler said that Mr. Agnew's
endorsement of Mr. Garland should be
interpreted as "a statement of the Vice
President" and not a statement of Mr. Nixon.

Published reports have said that the White
House is quietly encouraging the conservative
Virginian's campaign for re-election. Mr. Byrd
has supported the president on several close
Congressional actions this session.

Opposite Effect

Mr. Garland, however, believes that the
Agnew endorsement has an entirely opposite
effect. The Republican candidate said that Mr.
Agnew's endorsement "should put an end to
the false prophecies of those who would delude
Virginia Republicans into thinking that the
incumbent Senator, Harry Byrd Jr., had the
tacit backing of the White House or that he
might at some future date join the Republican
party."

Mr. Agnew's endorsement is the closest
thing to an encouraging word the Virginia
Republican has received from the Nixon
administration, whose support has been wooed
by the State Republican leadership, including
Governor Linwood Holton.

No Appearance

The Vice President indicated that there were
no plans for him to make a campaign
appearance for Mr. Garland in Virginia. He said
in Raleigh, where he made the endorsement
that the possibility of a campaign visit for Mr.
Garland was "a matter of priorities and
logistics."

The two candidates were in Southwest
Virginia yesterday, apparently trying to solidify
their support and keep it from spinning off to
anyone else in the three-way race.

Near Collision

The two practically met near Bluefield,
Virginia. The Senator spoke at an evening rally
there. He said that he had cast 1,200 votes in
his Senate career and that he would be happy
to let the voters decide their candidate on that
basis.

Mr. Garland at a news conference in
Bluefield, told newsmen, "Byrd is
scrambling...he regards me as his chief
opponent even though he won't say it."