The States: Support & Concern

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Viet Nam was not on the agenda, but the war managed nonetheless to dominate conversation at the annual Western Governors' Conference in Las Vegas last week. While most of the twelve Governors present—six Democrats and six Republicans—endorsed the Administration's basic policy, many of them expressed misgivings over the conduct of the war and the future of the Saigon government. Most expressed concern about Viet Nam's repercussions on the November elections—in which nine of the governors will appear on the ballot.

Nevadans, said Democrat Grant Sawyer, host to the conference, favor a strong military posture, but are "upset over the possible fall of the South Vietnamese government that we have supported, and feel that if the government changes and we are asked to withdraw, our position there will be untenable." In neighboring Arizona, reported Democrat Samuel Goddard, public opinion reflects a similar blend of support and concern.

In Montana, said Republican Tim Babcock, there is "worry about the inconclusiveness of the war. I think we can win it, as I have great faith in our military, but I think more of the decisions should be made by the military." Republican Clifford Hansen of Wyoming saw the war as a clear-cut responsibility. "We have to discharge our duty there, and will," he declared. "Our duty is plain—to continue to support the objective of stopping Communist aggression, and to safeguard the freedom and independence of South Viet Nam. We should continue to support the President as long as he holds to those objectives." Nonetheless, added Hansen, people in Wyoming also are "deeply concerned" about the political conduct of the war.

Republican Robert Smylie of Idaho urged greater "candor" in the Administration's discussions of its objectives. "There is a growing disillusion over our progress in Southeast Asia," he said. "There is beginning to develop a great crisis of confidence over our ability to achieve our objectives."

Oregon's Mark Hatfield, who is almost certain to be the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, has in the past echoed much of fellow Oregonian Wayne Morse's condemnation of the war. "There is great confusion about our objectives and goals," he said, agreeing with Smylie, "and there is consternation over the politics and the social and economic problems involved. People believe we have been led along a path by the Administration's telling us that a military victory is possible, when they are realizing that there are complications in the form of an instability in South Viet Nam that cannot be solved with guns."