The Press THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1972. Success and challenge for Mr Nixon

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33069, 9 November 1972, Page 14

The Press THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1972. Success and challenge for Mr Nixon

Mr Nixon’s overwhelming victory in the United States Presidential election is not a triumph for conservatism or for the Republican Party. Although the disordered Democratic Party has certainly suffered a set-back, the vote seems to have been in a large part a vote against Senator McGovern. His Liberal intentions were obvious and his idealism was undoubtedly sincere: but Mr McGovern’s wavering performance as a candidate and the apparent shakiness of his convictions on some issues did not inspire confidence in his leadership. American voters were not expected to change their party allegiance in the Congressional polls; and apparently they have not done so. Mr Nixon again faces a predominantly hostile Congress—an unprecedented state of affairs for a President beginning his second term. “ Hostile ” is not too strong a description. The strains between the White House and the Capitol have been considerable in the latter part of Mr Nixon’s first term; and the tension will probably increase. Mr Nixon has taken more power into his hands and the Legislature’s resistance has been growing. The President’s independence has been emphasised by his handling of foreign policy through a personal adviser rather than through his Secretary of State, who may be examined by Congress. Although the voters have confirmed Mr Nixon in office—by a large majority, and by a much increased popular vote — they have apparently seen the need for a Congressional counterweight to Mr Nixon’s exercise of power. Mr Nixon himself did not campaign vigorously to help Republican candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives. Recent Presidents have not been very successful in their efforts to get their party supporters elected to Congress; and in this campaign the debate between the Presidential candidates could not easily be related to local contests. More important, the President obviously preferred to remain aloof from strictly party contests in the hope of winning a share of the Democratic vote for himself. Mr Nixon’s continuing task must be to help bring the fighting in Indo-China to an end; and much remains to be done to consolidate his work to improve international relations generally. In his second term, Mr Nixon’s main goal must surely be to carry out a successful programme of legislation at home; and, to do this, he must come to terms with the Congress. This will be no simpler—and might be much more difficult—than what he has managed to do abroad.