Evening star., 1960-03-31
BY CECIL HOLLAND
star stan Writer

One of New York Gov. Mel
son A. Rockefeller's strongest
congressional supporters snort
ed:
Hes not going to be talked
into it,"
That was the reaction of New
York Representative VAIN
wright to pressure being
exerted on Gov. Rockefeller to
accept second place on the
Republican presidential ticket
with Vice President Nixon.
Mr.. Wainwright said he was
sure the Governor would stand
by a decision he announced last
December in taking himself out
Of a contest with Mr.. Nixon for
the presidential nomination.
At the time he said he would
not accept second place on the
ticket.
Political speculation about
Gov. Rockefeller and a need
for him on the Republican
ticket has reappeared in recent
weeks. 1t was heightened by
President Eisenhower's press
conference remarks yesterday
that the New York Governor
would be acceptable to him as
the party's vice presidential
candidate.
Indication of Concern
While the President qualified
his Endorsement of Gov. Rookie
feller by saying that many
others also would be acceptable,
his remarks underscored the
concern that has been ex-
pressed privately in Republican
circles for several weeks over
Mr.. Nixon's chances of winning
the election.
Just why this concern should
have developed among Repub-
licanS is not clear. But one
thing that seems to have fig
ured in it is the Vice Presi-
dents declining popularity as
measured by polls of public
preference.
One such poll was that of
Louis H. Bean, credited with
forecasting President Truman's
1948 victory, who reported that.
as of now, Adlai E. Stevenson
would get 81 per cent to Mr..
Nixon's As per cent of the vote.
Discussed for Some Time
But even before the results
of this and other polls were
published. and much before the
Presidents comments, there
was discussion in Republican
circles here about the need for
Gov. Rockefeller on the ticket.
The talk seemed to be due
in part to the Vice Presidents
pre-convention strategy - his
failure to set up any organiZa-
ton which would bind together
various elements of the party
and permit consultation on a
broad basis.
Mr.. Nixon is unopposed on
the Republican side in the April
5 Wisconsin primary, but the
Democratic battle between SEN
etors Kennedy of Massachu-
setts and Humphrey of Mime
sota is reported to be drawing
the votes Of many State Re-
publicans.
One Republican source said
the Vice President may poll no
more than IS per cent of the
primary vote. If that's the case,
1t was added. the Vice PreSi-
hent is indeed in serious trou-
BILE" This view, it should be
added. is not accepted at all by
the Nixon camp.
Favor Place on Ticket
AS for Gov. Rockefeller's being
on the ticket, nearly all Re-
publicans would like to see
this come to pass. But very few
expect it will-least of all the
strong Rockefeller supporters
who want their man to have
the presidential nomination
now or later.
The reported move by former
New York Gov. Thomas E.
Dewey to sponsor a draft of
Gov. Rockefeller for sec
ond place on the ticket with
Mr.. Nixon has found no strong
outward support among Capitol
Hill Republicans. One Repub-
lican leader said this was the
wrong approach and one that is
sure to meet with a chilly re-
ception in Albany.
If the Republicans really