THE VICE PRESIDENCY: Let Dick Do It

THE VICE PRESIDENCY Let Dick Do It John Adams, the first Vice President of the U.S., was sure he occupied "the most insignificant office that ever invention of man contrived." When Theodore Roosevelt was nominated for the post in 1900, he wrote that he had been "forced to take the veil." Woodrow Wilson's two-term Vice President, Thomas Riley Marshall ("What this country needs is a good five-cent cigar"), often told a story about two brothers: one was elected Vice President, the other ran away to sea; neither was ever heard of again.

Richard Milhous Nixon, the 36th Vice President of the U.S., also takes a modest view of his job. "Vice Presidents should be seen and not heard," he says, and during his six months in office the public has heard him seldom indeed. When 1954 congressional elections draw near, he will stump for Republican candidates, but meanwhile he wants to remain inconspicuous. He turns down all offers of paid speaking engagements (at fees up to $2,500 a session), keeps his press conferences off the record, abstains from public pronouncements.

Handshakes Across the Sea. But while avoiding the public ear, Nixon has quietly made himself an exceedingly useful Vice President. Besides performing his ex-officio functions of presiding over the Senate (a highly important job in a Senate that is exactly 50% Republican) and attending the weekly Cabinet and National Security Council meetings (he presides in the President's absence), he has taken on numerous unofficial chores. He fills in for the President at ceremonial and social functions, serves as greeter for all sorts of visitors, from high-school kids to foreign chiefs of government.

Last week the White House announced that Nixon will do some handshaking abroad next autumn: "[He] will visit the Far East and South Asia . .. accompanied by Mrs. Nixon and representatives of the Department of State ... to become acquainted with leaders of the countries visited, to hear their views, to gain first-hand impressions, to carry the sincere greetings of [the people and President of the U.S.]." Among the stops tentatively planned: Korea, Japan, Formosa, Indo-China. the Philippines, Indonesia, Siam, possibly India and Pakistan.

Vein of Iron. Nixon's most important unofficial task is liaison between the White House and Capitol Hill. To that chore he brings six years' experience as Representative and Senator from California. He tries to explain and sell Administration policies to individual Senators and Representatives, smooth ruffled congressional feathers, build up good will for the Administration. Much of his diplomacy is conducted at the breakfasts he holds for groups of Congressmen. Still fairly young (40). Nixon pays particular attention to the younger men in Congress.

One of his continuing problems is Investigator Joseph R. McCarthy. Among Nixon's missions last week was warning McCarthy against subpoenaing Central Intelligence Agency officials (see above). Temporarily at least, Troubleshooter Nixon got his point across.