Forum, Feb. 24, 1975

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To the Editors:

I could not let the Feb. 17 issue of your magazine pass out of mind without commenting.

Candidate Jackson has a distinct advantage at this point. He can speak in generalities: "taking inventory of resources," "thinking of new technologies," "seeing an America fully employed," "building a new America," "not corrupting the atmosphere and the water and the land in the name of growth," etc.

The President, on the other hand, must talk of specific programs, recommendations and action. He must deliver—not with generalities, but with real specifics. Not all these programs are going to be popular. There will be criticism of specifics. Specifics can be argued and debated, but this is not so with generalities.

As we move into the 1976 campaign period, I hope people and the press will carefully consider presidential candidates on the basis of performance. President Ford has had to formulate a program and make some hard and tough decisions. He has performed. At this time, the Democratic majority in both houses (including a majority of those you list as potential presidential challengers) has failed to come forward with any program. Leadership requires courage; crisis requires action. The President has provided both.

Senator Jackson concludes his interview with your magazine by observing: "People are really looking for answers." On this point, I would heartily agree. The President has provided an answer. The Senator and his colleagues should support that answer or quickly offer one of their own.

Mary Louise Smith, Chairman

Republican National Committee

Washington, D.C.

The seemingly widespread criticism that Congress is not acting fast enough on economic and energy programs is unjustified. Of course, it is easy for President Ford—one man—to put his hundreds of bureaucrats to work and come up with a program. It is another thing for the Congress—the people's branch —to determine the true feeling of the American people and then vote on specific issues.

The American people can rest assured that their House and Senate are moving. We Democrats in the House have drawn our own alternative program, and action will come by the end of March in six major areas. Speaker Albert, in addition, has sent President Ford's energy proposals to four committees, which will report to him this week.

No one should be misled by the President's flying circus and media blitz into believing that all his solutions are what is best for this nation. We will put his theories to the test before the toughest of juries—the American people—before we write a law that affects the lives of them all.

President Ford's proposal to put a $3 tariff on oil is unanimously regarded by economists to be inflationary and would deepen the recession. No program at all is better than a bad program.

Thomas P. O'Neill Jr.

Majority Leader

House of Representatives

Washington, D.C.

Rape the South