University of Virginia Library

Lippman Column

Walter Lippmann has presented
a doleful case for Richard Nixon in
his column dated October 6. Too
many people this year find it
convincing.

He states that only the
Republicans have the party unity to
govern successfully. What meaning
does this have when one considers
that Congress will be divided, that
volatile pockets of discontent will
await any new President? Is
electoral opportunism alone going
to hold together the Thurmond and
Lindsay wings?

Lippmann supports Nixon
because he is more closely
identified than Humphrey with the
conservative trend in the U.S.,
implying that riding the tide of
public sentiment is the key to
responsive public policy. In his
deference to so-called conservative
values, Lippmann has failed to see
that discipline, authority, and
self-reliance are the catchwords of
reaction unless they are amplified
respectively by the words
conscience, legitimacy, and
freedom from exploitation. Can
Lippmann legitimately expect the
conservative mind to turn from
perennial negativism to positive
innovation?

Lippmann supports Nixon
because he can repress violence
more comfortably than Humphrey,
if that becomes necessary. Is
repression our answer to the
development of social justice? He
states that Vietnam is not
susceptible to innovative solutions
so it doesn't matter who's in the
White House. But how about the
threat of nuclear war, the demands
of the Third World, the agenda for
East-West relations?

Lippmann can't seem to say
anything positive about Nixon's
talents. He implies that we can wait
four years for the Democrats to
recoup. Like many others he is
tired, more willing to acquiesce in
the safe emptiness of Nixon than to
respond to the challenging
commitments of Humphrey.