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OCR Page 1 of 61Politics
and People
L.
OTTEN
'Twas Ever Thus
The "Congress is blocking my program"
The House Ways and Means Committee
WASHINGTON-Presiden Nixon, in a 20-
argument carries a connotation of Presiden-
has reported a trade bill that goes far beyond
tial infallibility that most voters reject. Con-
page message, calls on Congress to step up its
original White House recommendations in
legislative pace and productivity.
gress may be wrong on some matters, they
protecting domestic industries. The Presi-
reason, but the President is probably wrong
dent's message last week merely reiterated
Vice President Agnew criss-crosses the
on others.
his original proposals; it was masterfully am-
country blasting away at "goldbricking"
This reaction is almost inevitable when the
biguous in suggesting a course of action for
Democratic lawmakers who do too little on
the President's program, and "radical liber-
President-Mr. Nixon or any other President
members faced with the very specific choice
-is so often attacking the Congress not just
of voting for or against the Ways and Means
als" who would go too far. An endless cara-
for doing too little, nor just for doing too
Committee bill. But if some bill doesn't fi-
van of Administration officials and other GOP
much, but attacking it for simultaneously
nally pass, the President's straddle will cer-
campaigners echo the Nixon-Agnew line.
doing too much in some areas and not enough
tainly not stop Administration stump-speak-
It's hardly novel, of course, for the party
in others. This line tends to blur the com-
ers from reminding oil and textile areas of
in the White House to run against the record
plaint, to say the least.
how the Democratic Congress refused to help
of a Congress controlled by the other party.
them.
The tactic has proved a slippery, treacherous
As did previous Presidents, for instance,
one in the past, however, and it will be inter-
Mr. Nixon asks Congress to stick precisely to
Finally, any President is forced to gloss
his proposed budget on almost every major
over the extent to which Congressmen of his
esting to see what success the Nixonites have
item-he has vetoed several spending bills be-
own party are responsible for the sabotage of
with it this fall.
cause they exceeded his budget plans for hos-
his program. Mr. Nixon right now is leaning
Harry Truman's campaign against a GOP
pitals and urban programs, but has simulta-
on the Senate to pass his family assistance
"do-nothing" Republican Congress won not
neously fought fiercely to prevent Congress
program, and Congressional failure to act
only his own reelection in 1948 but also
would certainly be part of the GOP attack
from cutting his plans for military spending,
brought notable Democratic gains in both
supersonic transport development, easing
this fall. Yet it's undoubtedly true, as Demo-
Senate and House. In contrast, the Republi-
cratic leaders keep saying, that the major op-
school integration. Each Administration posi-
cans got nowhere in 1956 with an attack on
tion, to spend or not to spend, may be emi-
position has been coming from conservative
the Democratic-controlled Congress. In both
Republicans. Ways and Means Chairman
those cases, the President himself was on the
nently sound, but the overall effect can't help
Mills is adamantly blocking the President's
but confuse the average voter who hears Con-
ballot; the device has proven even less relia-
revenue-sharing scheme; it might barely be
gress berated one week as wildly extravagant
ble in off-year elections. The Republicans
tested it again in 1958, and suffered dismal re-
and the next week as foolishly penny-pinch-
possible to circumvent him if John Byrnes,
the committee's ranking Republican, weren't
verses. John Kennedy had a Democratic Con-
ing.
just as stoutly opposed to the plan and stand-
gress in 1962 but accused many individual
Mr. Nixon's legislative message last week
ing shoulder-to-shoulder with Mr. Mills.
GOP lawmakers of blocking his program;
criticized Congress for stalling his anti-pollu-
All this, though, is the logic of the situa-
even with the help of his performance in the
tion program; yet the White House has thus
tion, and political campaigns aren't always
Cuban missile crisis, he came off with just
far been notably silent as to whether it favors
run and won on logic. Presidential attacks on
about a draw.
or opposes a proposed Senate bill that would
opposition Congresses rank with box suppers
*
require the auto industry to start installing by
as traditional campaign devices, and there's
1976 engines that are practically pollution-
no reason why Mr. Nixon and his supporters
Several factors make the attack on Con-
free. The President chided Congress for inac-
shouldn't see if they can get any better re-
gress or Congressmen a very tricky tool for
tion on his bills for job safety, better enforce-
sults than did most of their predecessors.
the President and his lieutenants. Voters
ment of the equal employment opportunity
rarely perceive a "Congress" as a collective
laws and consumer protection, but his spokes-
entity; they see only their own individual Sen-
men still oppose as too far-reaching bills now
ators and Representatives, and usually al-
making their way through Congress in these
ready have their own opinions on the merits
areas. The Administration men may be cor-
or demerits of these men. Often, the lawmak-
rect, but again, it sure can confuse the public.
ers the President singles out as balking his
program are pretty accurately reflecting
their own constituencies, and the Presidential
attack merely makes them greater heroes at
home. Presidential purges can succeed only
against lawmakers out of step with their con-
stituencies, and this year's GOP campaign
will naturally try to find and focus on such
cases.
Many people, though, rather like the idea
Street
JOURMAl
of Congressional delay on Presidential pro-
grams. Pollsters consistently turn up sizable
blocs not merely unconcerned about the dan-
gers of divided Government-President or
9/16/70
Governor of one party, legislature of another
-but actively seeking such a split because
"that way, each party checks the other."
Large numbers of Americans go even further
and tend to believe that the less legislation
the better: Fewer newfangled ideas tried out,
fewer restrictions on business and individu-
als, less taxpayer money down the drain.
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