THE ADMINISTRATION: A Sure Touch in Ford's Second Week

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Next day House and Senate leaders, Cabinet members and reporters crowded into the Oval Office for Ford's announcement of his vice-presidential nominee, Nelson Rockefeller (see cover story page 14). The President had carefully touched all political bases beforehand, personally notifying the runners-up, Republican National Chairman George Bush and NATO Ambassador Donald Rumsfeld, telephoning former President Nixon in San Clemente and the congressional leadership. At 10:04 a.m., Ford and Rockefeller entered the room and clasped each other's waists as the President introduced his nominee, saying that "it was a tough call for a tough job." The low-key presentation was far different from the East Room extravaganza that Nixon staged for the announcement of Ford as his nominee for Vice President.

Will Run. The choice of Rockefeller set off speculation that Ford would run for President in 1976 and Rockefeller would be his running mate. Rather than discourage such talk about his future, Ford disclosed through Press Secretary J.F. terHorst that he "probably" will run in 1976, though he gave no indication as to whether Rockefeller would also be on the ticket. The declaration was a striking break with the tradition that a President wait until election year to reveal his intentions. An aide close to the President explained that Ford's competitive instincts led him to emulate Presidents Truman and Johnson, both of whom inherited the presidency, and "make it on his own." He may also have wanted to assure Republican conservatives, some of whom only tolerate Rockefeller, that Ford intends to head the ticket. Whatever the case, the declaration erased any weakness he might have had as a possible lame-duck President in his dealings with Congress and the Republican Party.

During the week, Ford went out of his way to invite a wide spectrum of Americans to the White House. He listened to the views of 16 members of the congressional Black Caucus and assured them that social-welfare programs would not be the only targets of his spending cuts. Later, as token of his resolve, he signed two important pieces of domestic legislation into law. One authorizes $11.9 billion to house low-income people; the other provides $25.4 billion in aid to public elementary and secondary schools. Said Ford: "I suspect this is the first federal aid to education bill ever signed by a lefthanded President." The President also signed a bill that revived the Cost of Living Council to monitor wages and prices.

On another day, the President surrounded himself with some of the most outspoken women in Congress, among them New York Representatives Bella Abzug and Shirley Chisholm, as he signed a proclamation making Aug. 26, the 54th anniversary of women's suffrage, Women's Equality Day. He also urged that the remaining states ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution. Quipped one of the women at the gathering: "It looks like a chorus line." Responded Ford: "You girls are the Rockettes." It is a measure of both the times and Ford's style that he got away with it; even Bella grinned.