Evening star., 1960-06-10

occur to me, however, that per-
haps this might be one way 1t
could be handled.
The Governor has suggested
that he does not know where /
stand on these basic issues. ]
know, of course, he is a busy
man and he hasn't had an op-
portunity to read my press con-
ferences, and 1 have not had
the opportunity to read his.
Suggests TV Questioning
On the other hand. he is the
man who is entitled to know
where any candidate for the
presidency stands on any issue
So it occurred to me that one
way we could resolve this prob
lem would be for the Governor
to meet with me and to qles-
ton me on all the issues in
which he thinks Cd he dis
agrees with me, or 90 on all
the issues where he might be-
lieve my position is not clear,
and would say if he isn't will
ing to do that / would be very
willing and happy to sit down
before teleVision cameras and
have what we call in televiSion
a discussion in depth in which
he can ask any questions on any
issues before the American
people. :.
@. Isn't it in effect chal-
lenge to him to accept that
solution?
A. am not putting it as a
challenge. I am only suggest
ing that a debate would not be
proper in view of the fact he
is not q candidate. I do think
that. being chairman Of the
delegation, he Is entitled to
know where every other can
didate stands on every issue,
and I am suggesting would be
willing to sit down with him
and be examined in depth on
all the issues before the coun-
try today.
@. If you invite him to come
into a studio ana ask questions
about your position would you
like to turn that around and
ask where he stands?
A. No. 1 would say that 1
would not consider 1t proper to
do that, to ask the Governor
where he stands, unless he were
an announced candidate for
the presidency. Then. Of course.
I would have a responsibility
as a potential candidate to
bring out his views, but I think
what is at issue here is not
the Governors views, since he
isn't a candidate, but my views,
and I would be very happy to
present them that way.
I think the Governor might
well consider presenting his
views as chairman Of the dele
cation to the platform COM
mittee Of the Republican con-
vention. I think it is very i'm
portant, and I note that he has
indicated that he feels he
should not go for fear that that
would stimulate a draft for the
vice presidency. In my view I
think I can assure him tnat !
think that his oft-expressed
desire that he not be drafted as
a candidate for Vice President
will be respected-certainly by
me. Certainly by me.
Urges Convention Role
Now may I speak very prac-
tically about drafts. And in
cidentally there is none in this
room. An individual is never
drafted for the presidency or
the vice presidency unless he is
willing to be. And the Cover
nor, therefore, I think, can
come to Chicago with safety
without being concerned about
this and I would hope he would,
because he does think very
deeply and constructively and
I think it would be healthful
for him to bring his views to
the platform committee.
Q. Have you picked up any
reaction from other party lead
ers to his TRADE yesterday?
A. The answer is no. We
have had q very busy day today,
including q tie vote.
@. AS a result of his state
ment yesterday do you now