Republicans: Let's Go!

Cried Kentucky's Republican Senator Thruston Morton to some 200 members of G.O.P. national committees in Washington last week: "Get off your various-shaped duffs and let's go!"

This might never become the official G.O.P. campaign slogan, but there was certainly little time left for Republican chair warming. With the national elections only ten months ahead, the party treasury was still $225,000 in the hole. Republicans must scrape at least $12 million more to finance the upcoming campaigns. It could well be worth the price. With the civil rights issue still percolating in the South, and John Kennedy's charismatic control over the big-city Democrats gone from the North, Republicans figure 1964 might be ripe for winning a hefty share of the 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats that come up in November.

Worst Grade. But how to beat Lyndon Johnson? In current opinion polls he is running better than two-to-one ahead of any and every G.O.P. contender. Still, Republicans had a new poll of their own that gave them hope. They had asked people across the U.S. to check a series of phrases they thought best fitted the President. Johnson did pretty well in such categories as "has warm personality" (35% thought he did), "has good judgment" (26%) and "is dignified and statesmanlike" (24%). But Lyndon's worst grade came under the heading, "has strong convictions": only 11% thought that one fit.

Thus, in a speech to committee members, National Chairman William Miller (who reaffirmed that he will step down from his job once the G.O.P. nominates a candidate in July) blistered Johnson for his tendency to "ride at least two horses—even three, if that can be managed." Miller recalled that in 1960, while Johnson was running at the same time for Vice President and for re-election to his Texas Senate seat, he supported two conflicting platforms—one from the national Democratic convention, the other from the Texas state convention.

Two Faces. Insisted Miller: "His vice presidential platform favored sit-in demonstrations. His state platform called for 'enforcement of laws designed to protect private property from physical occupation.' His national platform supported federal aid for education. His state platform opposed 'the entry of the Federal Government in the general field of public education.' His national platform favored school desegregation. His state platform pledged 'to protect the decisions of the people of local school districts in the operation and control of their schools.' "

And so, concluded Chairman Miller: "When the eyes of Texas were upon him, Lyndon Johnson's position on many issues was vastly different from that which he took when basking in the gaze of New York or California. In 1964 the eyes of all 50 states will be upon President Johnson. He will find it infinitely more difficult to run as both a liberal and a conservative."