The Nixon Team

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31862, 14 December 1968, Page 12

The Nixon Team

Although Mr Nixon has introduced to the American people the 12 leading men in his Administration it is still impossible to forecast how the Nixon Presidency will shape the foreign and domestic affairs of the United States. That most of these men are little known on the scene of national politics is no good reason to assume that they are not men of strong views, or, for that matter, to accept Mr Nixon’s assertion that they have the “ extra dimension ” needed for great leadership.

The Nixon team assembles a mixture of liberal and conservative Republicans—but‘nothing like the range of opinions and political backgrounds by which Mr Nixon hoped to gather wider support for his Presidency 7 than he won in the November voting. Unless his Secretaries show unexpected qualities the job of rallying support seems likely to remain with Mr Nixon himself. Most of his men have proven administrative or political abilities. Mr Laird, chosen as Defence Secretary, is an exception to this rule: and his lack of administrative experience may be a serious handicap in a department accustomed to and demanding—the exceptional administrative skill of such men as Mr - McNamara. All of Mr Romney’s experience in business and politics will be needed to match the enormous challenge of his job in housing and urban development. His appointment should hearten those Americans who feared that Mr Nixon might be less active than Vice-President Humphrey promised to be in these fields.

Outside the United States the greatest interest focuses on Mr Rogers, in the Department of State, and Mr Kennedy, at the Treasury. Except for Mr Kennedy’s opposition to the Johnson Administration’s financial policies, his belief in strenuous economies bv the State, and his firm opposition to a rise in the price of gold, there is very little evidence on which to forecast their policies. Naturally enough, several members of the team hold traditional Republican views on limiting Federal interference In the country’s affairs, especially business affairs. Mr Shultz holds these views firmly, in relation to industrial matters; and his task as Labour Secretary is likely to be one of the most difficult facing Mr Nixon’s Administration. So far, there is little to show how the team will deal with the even more delicate questions of civil rights and the problems of the Negro community. It must be concluded that the world is very little better informed now on how Mr Nixon will lead the United States than it was when Mr Nixon was elected.