Nixon Would Run With Lodge

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30390, 14 March 1964, Page 13

Nixon Would Run With Lodge

(NZ. Press Association—Copyright) NEWARK (New Jersey),March 13. Mr Richard Nixon said last night that he would be willing to reverse the 1960 Republican ticket and run as the vice-presidential candidate with Mr Henry Cabot Lodge as the candidate for the presidency.

The former VicePresident said the result of the New Hampshire primary was a “very spectacular” victory for Mr Lodge, who was his vicepresidential running mate when he was defeated four years ago by President Kennedy. Mr Nixon said, however, he was not an active candidate for any post and the New j Hampshire results had not changed his plans. Virtually Eliminated James Reston, the head of the Washington bureau of the “New York Times.’’ reported yesterday that both Senator Barry Goldwater and Governor Nelson Rockefeller had been virtually eliminated from the race for the presidential nomination. Reston said "political professionals” in the capital believed that as a result of the New Hampshire primary the chief contenders were Mr Lodge, Governor William Scran tan of Pennsylvania and Mr Nixon. Most observers were aware thbt neither Senator Goldwater nor Governor Rockefeller had impressed the voters of New Hampshire, and it was obvious that the people were looking around for another candidate. Convention Strength The big question now was where would the Goldwater and Rockefeller strength go if neither of them gained a majority at the Republican Convention in July. Senator Goldwater was expected to attain sufficient strength in a deadlocked convention to transfer sufficient votes to decide the issue for a man of his choice—probably not Mr Lodge but either Mr Nixon or Mr Scranton. He was known to like Mr Scranton but to feel doubt whether the Governor was sufficiently well known nationally to win. Although he had criticised Mr Nixon, he also had said that “maybe a guy Who lost by only about 100,000 votes deserves another chance.” It was not clear where the

Rockefeller strength would go. Sources close to the Attor-ney-General. Mr Robert Kennedy, said yesterday that Mr Kennedy is inclined to accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for Vice-President it President Johnson asks him to do so. The sources emphasised however, that Mr Kennedy had done nothing and would do nothing to campaign actively for the nomination without Mr Johnson's approval. They discounted reports of a feud between Mr Kennedy and Mr Johnson.