P.M. shocks Press Club

Press, 30 September 1983, Page 3

P.M. shocks Press Club

From

G. G. SHAND,

in Washington

The Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, shocked his National Press Club audience in Washington yesterday when he candidly confessed that his “affectionate” nickname “back in New Zealand” was “that old bastard”. Americans hate bad language and even the hardcore Washington. press correspondents who formed part of the mixed audience were caught off guard by the rare profanity from a guest politician. Not that they were totally unprepared for it: in introducing Mr Muldoon earlier, the club president, Mr Don Byrne, recalled Mr Muldoon’s reputation as a “counter-puncher” who more often than not spoke his mind. He recalled a number of Mr Muldoon’s more infamous quotes, including the clear local favourite, the “peanut farmer from Georgia” of the former United States President, Mr Jimmy Carter.

Mr Muldoon’s response came after a question referring to his many affectionate nicknames in New Zealand and asking whether he had any nicknames for President Reagan. With his familiar chuckle,

Mr Muldoon said, “New Zealanders have got a lot of affectionate nicknames for me, but I am not sure which one you are referring to. “In more recent years a current one has been ‘that old bastard’,” he said, adding after a number of audible ohhs from the audience, “with a slight touch of respect.” Mr Muldoon said that he had no nicknames for President Reagan, just praise for him.

Mr Muldoon said that when in a foreign country he usually refrained from such observations “umess I am in Australia.” In that country he did not seem able to avoid such controversies.

Mr Muldoon answered all sorts of questions from his hosts, ranging from Australia’s yachting victory this week to the ban on the “Dominion” newspaper. These came after yet another strong attack on the American reluctance to confront constructively, the international monetary and trade crisis, in a formal speech that was broadcast live on coast-to-coast public radio and cable television.

Such impressive treatment of his message is not unusual as the same is accorded all guest government leaders who address this august club, which has a history of lousy food but good reportage stretching

back to the nineteenth century.

After yet another heavy diet of his call for a second Bretton Woods-type international economic conference to reform the world trade and payment system, Mr Muldoon’s audience visibly relaxed when it finally got round to question time. Mr Muldoon dismissed his ban on the “Dominion” lightly. After accusing local journalists travelling with him of planting the question, Mr Muldoon defended the ban which, he said, “would last for a little while”.

Later at a press conference for New Zealand jour-

nalists travelling with him, Mr Muldoon refused to be more specific on the timetable for ending the ban. Of the America’s Cup win, Mr Muldoon said that it was possible New Zealand would challenge, though it was an expensive business.

New Zealand could not afford $l5 million for many things, let alone a yachting challenge. However, “we are much better at yachting than the Australians,” he said. He believed that when it came to the turn of the Australians to make the rules, they would probably insist that all challenges had sails made of “kangaroo hides”.