Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-04

AlC olOIy Va 1lOW VIC 0IdNC
Department achieved full
coverage for Vice President
Nixon's long African journey
with special attention to the
American Negro press has now
begun to appear. Like so much
else. it ali boils down to the
economic factor
What the departmentetid
was to order the journey, press
included. stamped an inter-
governmental agency project.
It could then offer it via the
unsupported Military Air
Transport Service at fire-sale
prices which were less than
one-half the estimates fur
nished State by the CONNER
cial airlines. &C
State helped out in other
ways. 1t cut the per person
cost by assigning six members
Of the United States Informa-
ton Agency to the press plane
and a departmental press off,
Ger. This officer was in addi-
ton to Nixon's personal press
spokesman, Bill Henry, who
took leave from his Los An
geles Times column and radio
work to make the trip. State
allowed two Negro publishers
to include their wives at the
bargain rate.
In its own announcement
that the trip would be by
MATS. State asserted that no
commercial airline could enter
part Of the area Nixon pro-
posed to cover. This is fatty
contradicted by Trans World
Airlines which wanted to char
ter the press plane and gave
State estimates on it.
In the end 80 passengers and
at times "a occupied the press
plane. For their 18,000-mile.
22-day trip they have States
promise that they will be billed
not more than $1,000 each.
The party included. besides
Government employees, nine Ne
groes accredited to Negro pub
locations and II reporters and
photographers from the press
associations, major broadcast
ing and news chains, and news
magazines.
'.M This II was a typical ma
tional news story group. and
most Of them. If not all. would
have made the trip without
regard to cost. Indeed. Nixon
was a special news response
bility at the time because the
President was ailing with his
cough and cold.
In discussions Of how the
party was put together, the
State Department officials who
did the actual work differ. One
says they had trouble UP to
the last minute getting people
to go even at the cut rate
Another says the plane fillec
rapidly and had to be limited
on a first-come. first-servec
basis.
State denies it solicited the
Negro press, insisting that tbs
large proportion resulted from
the fact that the Vice Presi.
dent would visit the newly
created free Negro state o.
Ghana. Most Of this grouI
came from out Of town. anc
State officials admit they die
some long-distance telephon.
ing to reach them.
At the same time. no gen,
eral word reached the pres
corps here or its prominent
members that State had ar
ranged such an attractiv,
travel bargain. For so long
journey the cost is an impor
tant factor for many CORE
spondents who would otherwis'
be tempted.
The Defense Department
ready cooperation in tn
Nixon enterprise represents
reversal Of the rules laid dow
by Secretary Charles f. Wilsol
when he first took office
Neither MATS nor the service,
he ordered. could take re
porters overseas OH route
covered by commercial air
lines.
The intergovernmenta agen
cy gimmick last got general at
tention a few years ago whe
the late Harold Talbot. the
Secretary Of the Air Force. pu
that imprimatur on a Ion
Journey by q Moral Rearma