Nation: Apollo's Return: Triumph Over Failure

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Sophisticates. The contest was irresistible to the world. The total and instant access to bad as well as good news of U.S. space shots underscored the openness of American society. Hundreds of millions followed the suspsnse story on television, radio and in the press. Even sophisticates who have become ostentatiously blasé about space—if not downright hostile—succumbed. ."I watched the idiot box," wrote Columnist Max Lerner, "as if, by sheer will, I could mesmerize the TV reporter into telling us that all was well in the best of all possible spaceships, on the best of all possible moon probes. I couldn't and he didn't."

In office-building elevators, in restaurants, on the streets, the question was everywhere: "How are they doing?" A Chicago cab driver taking a fare to O'Hare Airport near the end of Apollo's ordeal suddenly turned off the expressway and drove to the nearest tavern so that he could watch the return on TV. The passenger protested, but decided to watch also.

Any place with a television set became a magnet, even after the safe landing seemed likely. In Atlanta, a drive-in near Georgia Tech set up five television viewing rooms. "You can't get in any of them," said the manager.

Covered Wagons. People already disenchanted with the space program grumbled that no one was paying comparable attention to the many men who were in equal or greater peril of their lives in Viet Nam. Yet no amount of skepticism could dilute the week's emotional response. For many, prayer was the natural recourse. Houses of worship all over the world conducted special services. "We share the universal trepidation," said Pope Paul, "for the fate of these heroes." In Jerusalem, Orthodox Jews at the Wailing Wall made special devotions that included a passage from Psalm 19: "Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." In India, more than 100,000 pilgrims attending a Jain religious festival offered special prayers.

Richard Nixon shared the week's mood. While the astronauts were still in danger, he immersed himself in their plight, received frequent briefings, and visited the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland to get fresh information firsthand. The President discussed with Michael Collins, the former astronaut who is now Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, the inherent risks of challenging frontiers. Said Collins later: "He talked about the covered wagons going across to California. Those were brave people then and there were a lot of graves along the way. But they went ahead."

Hamburg Calling. A major presidential television address on Viet Nam troop reductions was put off until this week. After splashdown, Nixon lighted up a victory cigar, then declared a national day of thanksgiving and prayer. At week's end he jetted off to Houston to hand out medals to NASA ground personnel, then took Mrs. Haise, Mrs. Lovell and the parents of John Swigert for a rendezvous with the Apollo crew in Hawaii. Of the safe return, Nixon said: "There is no question in my mind that for me, personally, this is the most exciting, the most meaningful day I have ever experienced."