Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-01-04
Nixon Certain
OF Steel Pact
Last Thursday

~~ HIVE S~N
When Vice President Nixon
left for his New Years week
end in California last Thurs
day, he was confident the steel
dispute would be settled soon,
his press secretary said today.
The night before, the Vice
President had met with a COM
mittee Of steel company presi-
dents in New York's Waldorf
Astoria Hotel.
Though all the settlement de-
tails had not been worked out,
Mr.. Nixon was confident an
agreement would be reached,
Herbert G. Klein, his press
secretary, said.
Mr.. Klein said Mr.. Nixon
has been trying since July to
bring about q settlement.
However, he entered the pic
ture only occasionally until
President Eisenhower asked
him to work on a settlement.
Met Mitchell 10 Times
Mr.. Klein said during the
last month Mr.. Nixon and La
Dor Secretary Mitchell met
about 10 times, usually at Mr..
Nixon's Wesley Heights home.
The Vice President, who is
expected to reap political bene-
hts for his role in ending the
strike, met with both union
and company officials.
Some meetings were with
either management or union
representatives. while at others
both parties were present, Mr..
Klein said.
The meetings eliminated with
the New York conference at the
Waldorf. That afternoon-De-
cember 30-Mr. Nixon met with
Roger Blough, board chairman
OF United States Steel, at the
Carlton Hotel here. He also
talked that day with Steel
workers President David j. Nc
Donald and Arthur j. Goldberg,
counsel for the union.
First Plea in July
Mr.. Klein, in response to
questions. said union and man
agement first asked Mr.. Nixon
TO help them reach agreement
while the Vice President was in
Pittsburgh for the All-Star
basebell game in July.
He declined comment when
asked If Mr.. Nixon thought the
settlement would keep steel
prices stable. He did say, how
ever, that Mr.. Nixon would not
have proposed anything that
would be infiationary to a large
degree.
Reaction to Mr.. Nixon's eff
forts in the dispute ran along
party lines.
Senate Republican Leader
Dirksen Of Illinois praised Mr..
Nixon, saying his role in the
settlement should enhance the
Vice Presidents stature imme-
diately IN the eyes Of the coun-
try"
Senator Dirksen's comment
was quickly challenged by Sem
ator Hartke. Democrat Of In
diana, who said: II don't think
Nixon'S stature can be en-
HANGED. I don't think he has
any appeal to the independent
voters"
The effects of the Vice Presi-
dents efforts on the final set
Element are certain to boost his
presidential hopes.
Independent Vote Sought
1t is no secret that Mr.. Nixon
feels he must have the support
OF independent voters. The steel
settlement. it is felt, will in
crease his stature.
In an effort to appeal to those
voters, Mr.. Nixon also is re-
ported ready to take a hand in
Republican platform writing.
II he remains unopposed for
the G. o. P. presidential nom
nation, he will exercise the
privilege-usually reserved to
Presidents running for re-
election-of debating the gen.
eral principles on which the
party will campaign next fall.
the Associated Press reports.
In fashioning the general
outline Of the platform to be
produced at the Chicago con-
vention in July, he can be ex-
pected to try to counter Demo-
cratic charges that he was
favored by "old guard" stand
pat Republicans who drove Gov.
Nelson A. Rockefeller out of
contention for the presidential
nomination.