THE CAMPAIGN: Candidate Carter: 1 Apologize'

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As the reporters persisted with their questions, Carter's face reddened with anger, and he began to sweat. Instead of softening his language, he spoke of housing policies in terms of "black intrusion," of "alien groups" and of "a diametrically opposite kind of family." Some blacks began to suspect that Carter was showing signs of being a closet racist, even though his record in private and public life has demonstrated that he is not. Other critics suggested that he was using the offending words to try to win the support of white ethnics.

Carter's rivals for the presidential nomination promptly seized on his gaffe. Udall accused Carter of practicing "the politics of racial division." Jackson called Carter's language "amazing" and said that the Georgian "will be explaining that for the rest of the campaign." Protests poured in from black groups, including the Urban League and the congressional Black Caucus.

Despite the pleas of his staff, Carter refused to retreat at first—thus giving a rare public demonstration of his obsti-nancy under pressure. Asked why he, a man who is generally precise and subtle in his use of language, persisted in using words that offended so many people, Carter became snappish. "You know what 'alien' means," he said, "and it doesn't have the negative connotation you are trying to put on it." Reported TIME Correspondent Stanley Cloud, who has observed Carter closely for several months: "When he is angry, he can be very, very stubborn—very much the south Georgia turtle."

Contrite Retreat. Finally, Carter bowed to the pressure and backed down. At a press conference in Philadelphia, he contritely retreated from his language —but not his stand on public housing. Said he: "I was careless in the words I used, and I apologize for it. It was a very serious mistake." He took a further step toward working his way out of trouble with black voters. He announced that he no longer regards the Humphrey-Hawkins full-employment bill as too costly because it has been significantly amended, and now supports it. The measure would require the Government to reduce adult unemployment to less than 3%—a plan that is strongly endorsed by most black leaders.

Still, that maneuver may not restore Carter to the good graces of many blacks and white liberals. Reported TIME Political Correspondent Robert Ajemian: "A lot of people have been waiting for him to stumble over his own piety. His statement showed a certain insularity in his thinking—a narrow outlook rather than a broad one. If the mistake had come earlier, before his primary victories, it could have been ruinous. Many people are already likening it, despite significant differences, to Edmund Muskie's crying in 1972, or George Romney's 'brainwashing' in 1968." As it is, Carter was badly damaged, and his road to recovery may be long and painful.