Ford seeks aide

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34042, 5 January 1976, Page 13

Ford seeks aide

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter —Copyright J j WASHINGTON, January 4. A former Governor of! Pennsylvania, Mr William Scranton, and the outgoing - Commerce Secretary, Mr Rogers Moriton, are leading candidates for a new 7 White House post being created to rescue President Ford’s lagging election campaign, according to informed sources in Washington.

Mr Scranton, a member of the team that helped Mr Ford to take over the Presidency when Mr Richard Nixon resigned, is believed to be favoured for the position, although no decision has been made.

Mr Ford’s campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination in November is said by most Washington and New York commentators to be in serious trouble: His public opinion poll ratings range from only fair to poor; the co-ordination and planning at his campaign headquarters are reported to be in disarray; political contributions are falling below expectations; Mr Ford’s campaign manager, Mr Howard Gallaway, is fre-

iquently described as inept;i and the popular former Governor of California, Mr Ronald Reagan is making a strong challenge for the nomination. The President, who told reporters recently that he might appoint “somebody of stature” at the White House to I serve as chief political liaison! office with his campaign com-! mittee, said yesterday that he. had not yet made his choice.; Mr Morton, who resigned from his Cabinet post in November for health reasons, is being considered, but his docjtors have asked him not to undertake arduous new responsibilities now. Mr Scranton, who left the Pennsylvania Governorship 10 years ago, is a Liberal who aroused the anger of Conservative Republicans by trying to thwart Senator Barry Goldwater’s successful bid for the Republican nomination in 1964.

As such, he might be a political liability for the Conservative Mr Ford, who is trying •to outbid Mr Reagan for the (Right-wing vote, but Mr 'Scranton’s willingness to take on tough political assignments could persuade the President to name him to the new post.

Most political observers are saying that President Ford lacks charisma, is unable to project an image of leadership, and badly needs

new blood to get his campaign off the ground if he is to win the Republican nomination in August and defeat the Democratic candidate in November. ' Obituary i Commander William Wil- ! lett, who had been the Duke of Edinburgh’s private secretary since 1970, has died in a London hospital after a short illness. He was in his mid-fifties. He was sailing master of the Royal Yacht Bloodhound in 1967 and 1968, and before becoming Prince Philip’s secretary and a senior member of the Duke’s Household, was with a boatbuilding firm. He was married, with three children.

The veteran American singer, Irving Kaufman, a pioneer radio and recording artist, has died in Indio, California. aged 85. Mr Kaufman first recorded for Thomas Edison, the inventor of the phonograph, in 1912, since when he had made more than 6000 recordings, some of them with Bing Crosby and his Rhythm Boys, and with Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. —lndio.