Divorce Factor Against Rockefeller In Primaries

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30396, 21 March 1964, Page 2

Divorce Factor Against Rockefeller In Primaries

f»»

SUSAN VAUGHAN]

About pine months ago; when Nelson Rockefeller was first being seriously mentioned as the next'American President,, his wife, Margaretta, said, she was-not sure whether she wanted her husband to get the job.

“I doh ? t know whether one would want the man one loves to have such' awesome responsibilities,” she said. - ; ••

Now the matter appears to be only academic. The result of the New Hampshire primaries would seem to indicate that Americans are not interested in Rockefeller as a Presidential candidate, And one of the reasons, sadly enough, is Margaretta. Margaretta is Rockefeller’s

Second wife. She left-her husband and four children for him, and this, it appears, is something. the . American people do not tolerate. Divorce is. tolerated—one out of 10 marriages in America ends in divorce—but not leaving children without a mother. Qne of the children is only four.

- Protests at Divorce Rockefeller is himself, a divorcee. There was a'political storm when his -marriage to Mary Rockefeller broke up, but It soon died down. Perhaps encouraged by this, Rockefeller felt that Ms subsequent marriage to Margaretta

would also be accepted by the electorate.

But not so. His poll rating slumped. Protests were heard everywhere. They were particularly vehement in the Middle West, where America’s Clubwomen lined up in opposition, New Hampshire has shown, disregarding the many other issues involved, that the pollsters were right. In every other respect, Margar.etta is a superb politician’s wife. At 36- she is lovely, friendly gracious. The Duchess of Windsor has said: "She is an extraordinary person, very charming.” Since her schooldays she has had the nickname "Happy” because, as a friend explains "She just makes everyone happy.” How does Rockefeller stand now? As Governor of New York State and a. multi-mil-lionaire, he is not likely to give in easily and will be trying his hand at subsequent primaries. Precedent He will be just a little encouraged by one small precedent. The only, time when the romantic interest of a Presidential candidate- figured.in a White House campaign wks in 1916.

The previous year President Wbbdrow Wilson bad married a widow less than 18 months after his wife’s death; Wilson did Win, although only by a marginal vote. The parallel is by no means exact, but a politician in difficulties will accept any comfort. There is another factor. In June Margaretta is expecting her first Child as Mrs Rockefeller. The appeal of this event to an emotional electorate is uncertain.—(All Rights Reserved.)