"UNPOPULAR’ PRESIDENT

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31497, 11 October 1967, Page 2

"UNPOPULAR’ PRESIDENT

President Johnson’s handling of the Vietnam war and civil rights had made him unpopular “everywhere” in the United States, Mrs Helga Newson said in Christchurch yesterday.

Mrs Newson, who has just returned from a trip to Norway and the United States, said President John son might lose the election next year.

However, conversations in the United States, lead her to believe that few Republicans were eager to take on the burden of the presidency. Ronald Reagan was greatly respected and admired, and George Romney, the Governor of Michigan, was also favoured. “I would say Robert Kennedy will be President one day. but I don’t think he wants it now." she said. •It’s not just President Johnson’s handling of the war which makes him unpopular. People told me they consider him underhand.

7 Americans earnestly want the war to end but no-one can give a solution They are also still very afraid of com- , munism within their own I country," said Mrs Newson. Americans she met were very alarmed over the recent ■violent outbreaks and demonstrations by Negroes. i “Many say the Negroes (don’t want equality, but I superiority. They want to step iinto well-paid, top jobs, but . will not work for the qualifications. “Southerners, who believe in helping the Negroes but . don’t want to live beside I them, are reacting against [ministers who preach integration. Friends of mine have broken away from their church and formed a new church for whites. They are getting tremendous support,” she said.