Nation: Professor Humphrey Grades His Rival

• Share

THE man whom Richard Nixon defeated is a professor these days, and he tends to grade the world around him. Last week TIME asked Hubert Humphrey to appraise Nixon's performance as President. He gave Nixon a B in international affairs, but in domestic matters, Humphrey said the President is "in real danger of winding up with a failing grade." Other Humphrey observations:

> On Viet Nam: Do I approve of what he's done in Viet Nam? Of course I do. It's what I advocated during the campaign—troop reductions at a sensible rate. We are on the right course.

> Arms and the ABM: I don't think Mr. Nixon's policies on arms talks are in solid form yet. I'm opposed to the deployment of ABMs. It could pollute the atmosphere as far as arms negotiations are concerned. But the most important issue is MIRV, because it's offensive, not defensive, weaponry. ABM is chasing rabbits when the tiger—MIRV—is on the loose.

> Foreign Policy: I think on balance he's done well. He has proceeded cautiously and constructively. Certainly nothing very daring. He has shown prudence and a moderate tone. He has committed no major blunders.

> Domestic Affairs: There is nothing new, nothing startling in Nixon's welfare program. The ideas are largely progressive, but it will be essential for all of us to see what follow-through there is. In the anti-inflation fight, the Administration hasn't come up with the necessary weapons. The Nixon policy of letting the market forces work their own will is tepid, tired, timid and ineffective. It's going to be a tough time this fall and next year in labor contract negotiations. And not a single move has been made which has been particularly helpful to the cities.

> Civil Rights: I am reasonably satisfied with the Nixon performance on civil rights. Civil rights has a built-in momentum of its own.

When it came to discussing Nixon's chances for re-election in 1972, however, Humphrey put aside his professorial mien and became the partisan politician. "If the war is over," he said, "if some foreign policy solutions have been found, if inflation is rolled back, Nixon might be very difficult to beat." Humphrey made it clear that he expects no such miracle: "Nixon is coasting. He is in trouble. He is taking aspirin for relief when he should be taking something stronger for a cure. A President needs long-range vision, not a daily balance sheet." Hubert Humphrey's vision is clearly long-range enough to extend to the possibility of a rematch in 1972.