Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-10-01
Rockefeller Woos
The COPS KeyMen

to his early August telegram to
House Republicans, urging them
to overturn a limiting amend
ment on the foreign aid bill. The
strong implication of the Rookie
Teller wire was that he was sup
porting President Kennedy's pro-
gram Of long-term financing of
the aid program through Treasury
borrowing.
A Strong Response
The response was so strong
that. within a few days. the Gov
ernor, with the concurrence of
his political advisers, sent a sec
ond telegram, this to House Re-
publican Leader Halleck, declar-
ing against "backdoor spending"
and favoring annual appropria-
tons for foreign aid. Mr.. Rookie
feller's supporters in Congress
were dismayed, some even furi-
iouS. One, when he had cooled
off bit. shrugged and said: 1T
was his decision. He didn't do it
to please us. He wanted to get
back in the club"
Reading through some Of the
kilograms the House Republicans
sent Mr.. Rockefeller after his first
wire produces an understanding of
why he changed. Representative
Frank Bow Of Ohio told the New
Yorker. Your position elm
mates you from consideration in
any position Of leadership in the
Republican Party"
Representative Clarence Brown
of Ohio urged Mr.. Rockefeller to
support the city manager of New
burgh. N. Y, lin his efforts to
place its relief program on
more sound economical and proper
basis for the protection of tax
payers of that community and
your State. am making this sug-
gestion, for I am sure you are just
as much interested in having
members Of Congress advise you
on what you ought to do in your
State as we members of Congress
are interested in having your ad-
wise on what should be done in
connection with Federal legisla-
ton"
":ou Toke Core of Albany -.
Representative James B. UT of
California put it this way: You
take care of Albany. I'll take care
of Washington.
None of this was calculated to
make the Rockefeller forces feel
too comfortable about 1864. And,
a few days ago. the Governor told
the American Municipal Associa-
ton meeting in Seattle that the
scope" of Federal aid to educa-
ton should be confined to school
construction where there is
proven need"
Strictly speaking, this is con-
sistent with the views the New
York chief executive has ex-
pressed on the issue, but the shift
is in emphasis and it is signifi-
cant. Mr.. Rockefeller has been
steady advocate of Federal school
aid. and he has frequently en-
phasized that Federal funds for
school construction are essential.
In February, 1860, he told the
American Association of School
Administrator in Atlantic City,
the Federal Government had a
clear responsibility" for increas-
ing school aid, and he added that
equalized assistance would give
teachers in poorer States the
same break they received in richer
States.
But, where. in 1860, the Gov
ernor was streSsing the need for
the Federal Government to act
in the educational field, in 1861
he was emphasizing the need to
limit Federal assistance to edu-
cational institutions.
The Welfare Question
Mr.. Rockefeller had been a con-
sistent opponent of efforts by
conservative Republicans to re-
strict welfare programs in New
York State, but when the New
burgh controversy blazed into the
open and conservative support
for the restrictive effort in the
city became evident, the Governor
heSitated.
Although the State Welfare
Board and the State attorney
general eventually called for ac-
ton against the Newburgh pro-
gram. Mr.. Rockefeller himself
kept pretty aloof from the con-
troyersy.
The consensus is that the Gov
ernor is playing his presidential
politics intelligently in making
the pitch for the hard-core con-
sentative Republicans with an eye
toward 1864. If he can combine
a smashing State victory next
fall with consolidation of con-
sentative party backing, then he
will be in a nearly unbeatable
position to run s2uls, President
Kennedy.