Ford to appeal to American people

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33611, 13 August 1974, Page 13

Ford to appeal to American people

i.V.Z.P A -Reuter —Copyright/ WELLINGTON, August 12. President Ford will go to the American people tonight to appeal for a national awakening from the Watergate nightmare: his appearance before an overwhelmingly s\ mpathetic joint session of Congress will be telex ised throughout a country wracked by two years of political scandal.

\dministration officials have said of Mr Ford’s proposed speech: "It will he a pledge of co-operation with Congress and a request for reciprocal co-operation with the Executive.”

The new President, who is expected to enjoy a long “honeymoon.” has promised a policy of candour and openness, and political analysts say he is assured, in return, of the kind of support senators and representatives gave Mr Johnson after the assassination of President Kennedy.

Mr Ford spent much of h,s week-end putting the finishing touches to his speech and shaping his Administration. but he found time yesterday to go to church, where the rector said that out of death new life could come, and out of weakness, strength. The theme of the sermon was: “Picking up the pieces.” Mr Ford’s address tonight is expected to focus on the United States’ overriding problem, inflation. It is believed that he will continue the conservative line of Mr Nixon, urging further cuts in Government spending and coniinuing high interest rates to keep the money supply tight. Mr Ford also had a halfhour meeting on foreign policy with the Secretary of State (Dr Henry Kissinger). Among other things, they discussed the Cyprus crisis, a subject which recurred in several telephone conversations between the two held

throughout the day: they talked about the over-all situation on the strategic Mediterranean island, and the need to strengthen the cease-fire there and to ensure a spirit of good will between Greece and Turkey, both important members of the Western Alliance. Mr Ford, who has arranged for further meetings with Dr Kissinger for today, has been at pains to assure world governments that Mr Nixon’s foreign policies will continue.

Mr Ford has still to find a Vice-President. In 11 halfhour meetings yesterday he consulted the Presidential counsellor, Mr Bryce Harlow; the former Secretary of

Defence. Mr Melvin Laird: the Republican Party’s national chairman, Mr George Bush; and prominent Congressional Republicans. Senator Barry' Goldwater, of Arizona, and Senator John Tower, of Texas, who are among possible Vice-Presi-dential candidates, visited the White House. Mr Bush and Mr Laird are also possible candidates, along with the former New York Governor, Mr Nelson Rockefeller, and the California Governor (Mr Ronald Reagan), once a Hollywood star. Nixon works, too Mr Nixon also spent Sunday working at his Pacificside home in San Clemente, California, dealing, among other things, with an extensive file of White House taperecordings of private residential conversations —none of the kind that led to his downfall; these are tapes of talks Mr Nixon had with national and world leaders. Mr Nixon is understood toi have been visited by personal friends with an interest in his financial affairs, among them the Florida ■ banker, Mr Charles (Bebe) Rebozo and the New York industrialist, Mr Robert Abplanalp. They were involved four years ago in Mr Nixon’s purchase of his large San Clemente estate, and they retained an interest in its mortgage.

The former President had trouble making a recent mortgage payment because of a tax-arrears bill assessed by the Internal Revenue Service at about SUS4OO,OOO. In Washington yesterday, informed sources said that the Watergate grand jury would make up its mind in the next few days on whether it still wanted to indict Mr Nixon for involvement in the Watergate cover-up. The final decision rests with the Watergate Prosecutor (Mr Leon Jaworski), who, the sources say, has made it clear that he intends to take his time.

A Gallup poll published in the magazine “Newsweek” during the week-end, said that 55 per cent of 590 voters questioned did not want an investigation possibly leading to criminal charges against Mr Nixon.