Republicans: Anchors Aweigh

(7 of 10)

As for the vice-presidency, Reagan insists that the governorship "offers a greater opportunity" to him "than there is in that other office." However, his protestations leave many professional observers unconvinced. "That's par for the course," chortled an elderly party in a Washington steam bath last week. That comment came from white-thatched Earl Warren, now Supreme Court Chief Justice, who, as Governor of California in 1948, gave up his dreams of running for President and accepted second spot on a ticket headed by New Yorker Tom Dewey.

Undoubtedly, Reagan's denial of interest in the vice-presidency is reinforced by his belief that he can win the top spot. His delirious reception in South Carolina two weeks ago, the apparent readiness of Southern Republicans to jilt faithful old Dick Nixon if the charismatic Californian will only whistle, and his high popularity back home support that conviction. So do his conservative friends, who think a Rockefeller-Reagan ticket would be just fine—the other way around.

Reagan at the top of the ticket becomes more of a possibility when it is realized that the South and West will have more votes than the Midwest and the Northeast at Miami Beach (682 to 634). But he would have drawbacks. Said a former Goldwater stalwart in New Hampshire: "Reagan might be nice, but he will have a big liability from the nut faction—they'll all attach themselves to him and hurt his image. Unless we win over the independent, we'll be in trouble again."

In the cities and suburbs, Reagan would undoubtedly command a strong following among the lower middle-class white voter who, as Scammon notes, "doesn't want a wave maker. This is the virtue of Reagan. He'll stand firm against hippies and blood for the Viet Cong. He'll protect you against dirty new things you don't like such as four-letter words and colored people moving into the neighborhood." But his appeal to independents and middle-class Democrats would be limited.

Personality Issue. In any case, Nixon is still the man to beat at the convention. In a poll taken last spring, G.O.P. county chairmen overwhelmingly endorsed him, 1,227 votes to 341 for Romney, 233 for Reagan, 119 for Percy and 67 for Rockefeller. He is the favorite of grass-roots party workers, and even those who concede that he might not be the ideal standard bearer say nonetheless that they will vote for him in Miami Beach in deference to his experience and unflagging service. Nixon himself rejects the idea that any man should get the nomination in payment for his party labors, insists that it should go to the strongest candidate. And who might that be? Says Nixon: "In a World Series game, they often call on the seasoned hitter whose re cent batting average isn't so good, but who is reliable in a pinch. The next President must have that same judgment, coolness and poise. It can't be his first World Series."