Republicans: It's the Right Thing'

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There was little doubt, even in the beginning, that Rockefeller was looking far beyond the statehouse in Albany. His inaugural address, which did not even mention the State of New York until page 4, moved New York Herald Tribune Columnist Roscoe Drummond to remark that it "could as well have been delivered from the steps of the Capitol in Washington." After only six months as Governor—and countless denials that he was interested in anything beyond Albany—Rockefeller admitted publicly that he had the presidential bug. He undertook a series of whirlwind speaking tours to sample political sentiment, began trying to define issues on which he might challenge the strong grip Vice President Nixon held on the party machinery. But Rockefeller found that the men who controlled the Republican Convention were down the line for Dick Nixon. Just when many politicians expected him to fight Nixon for the nomination, he made a "definite and final" announcement that "I am not, and shall not be, a candidate for the nomination for the presidency." And he added: "Quite obviously, I shall not at any time entertain any thought of accepting nomination to the vice-presidency." The Treaty of Fifth Avenue. That should have been that. But Rocky made himself look foolish and indecisive by refusing to give up hope. After the U-2 incident and the breakup of the Paris summit conference, he thought he saw another chance, announced that he would accept a draft if it came. He struck out at both Nixon and the Republican Party for failing "to make clear where this party is heading and where it proposes to lead the nation," outlined his own ten-point program for progress in foreign and domestic affairs. When Rocky threatened a floor fight at the convention, Nixon flew to New York, and after eight hours of give-and-take (during which Rockefeller adamantly refused Nixon's offer of the vice-presidency), the two produced the now famous "Treaty of Fifth Avenue," which incorporated many of Rockefeller's beliefs into the G.O.P. platform. It was bitterly resented by many Republicans, including Dwight Eisenhower.