Nation: THE RENUNCIATION

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The President noted that, during a 37-year career, "I have put the unity of the people first," for "a house divided against itself by the spirit of faction, of party, of region, of religion, of race, is a house that cannot stand." Yet, he con tinued, "there is division in the American house now. There is divisiveness among us all tonight." Said the President: "What we won when all of our people united just must not be lost in suspicion and distrust and selfishness and politics among any of our people. And believing this as I do, I have concluded that I should not permit the presidency to become involved in the partisan divisions that are developing in this political year. With American sons in the fields far away, with America's future under challenge right here at home, with our hopes and the world's hopes for peace in the balance every day, I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes."

Even up to that point, Johnson might merely have been striking a characteristic "above-the-battle" stance. Then came the sentence that prompted millions to wonder if they had heard correctly. They had.

Nothing Quite Like It. Even those who had been forewarned were caught off guard. "I'm stunned," said Connally. "I didn't think it would happen." Humphrey, who heard the speech on the radio at U.S. Ambassador Fulton Freeman's Mexico City home, said: "This is a very sad moment for me." Muriel wept. The next morning, when Humphrey showed up with red-rimmed eyes to address U.S. residents in Mexico, he quipped: "It's smog. I had no idea you were so close to Los Angeles."

There were precedents for the President's action—and yet there had never been anything quite like it. Every Vice President who succeeded o the presidency in this century has renounced a second full term. But Theodore Roosevelt eventually sought another term on a third-party ticket, Calvin Coolidge courted a draft, and Harry Truman (see box preceding page), had served for 7 years before bowing out.

Politicians, uncharacteristically, were at a loss for words. "I don't know quite what to say," stammered Bobby Kennedy. Said McCarthy: "I think I'm surprised." Former G.O.P. Presidential Candidate Alf Landon declared: "I do not recall a more momentous event of this kind in our entire history." Barry Goldwater had a more down-to-earth reaction. "I went and had another drink," he said. "I just couldn't believe my ears." Senate Minority Leader Everett M. Dirksen bitterly noted that the "personal and sometimes ugly" criticism of the President by his fellow Democrats helped drive him to his decision. Said Dirksen: "The harpies of the shore shall pluck the eagle of the sea."

V-J Day. Undoubtedly, Johnson's motivation will be the subject of debate for years to come. Some attributed the decision to his health; one Democrat, in fact, reported that Johnson had been denied renewal of a $250,000 insurance policy if he decided to undertake a national campaign. But Johnson's cardiologist, Dr. J. Willis Hurst, noted that he has been healthy since his 1955 coronary attack, and is now "clearly in the category of a man who has never had a heart attack."