Goldwater Backs President's Acts In Emergency
WASHINGTON (AP)- Sen. Barry Goldwater, dramatically supporting
President Johnson on Viet Nam, flew back to the nation's capital today.
"We cannot allow the American flog to be shot at anywhere on earth,"
Goldwater said in backing the President.
It was an unusual end to an unusual vacation.
For Goldwater not only supported Johnson's stand; he issued a statement saying
so more than an hour before the public knew what that stand was.
Here's the way it happened:
The Republican presidential candidate was on the Sundance, an 83-foot borrowed yacht, cruising
off California's Catalina Island in perfect lolling weather.
But if the waters were calm there, they weren't off Viet Nam, where U.S. destroyers
were being attacked.
Three times Johnson tried to reach Goldwater at sea. Three times he failed
because of what a Goldwater news aide called "lousy reception."
When Goldwater finally reached shore, he called the President at 7:07 p.m.,
California time, listened to what Johnson planned to say, and promptly gave
this statement:
"I am sure that every American will subscribe to the actions outlined
in the President's statement.
"I believe it is the only thing that he can do under the circumstances.
We cannot allow the American flag to be shot at anywhere on earth if we are
to retain our respect and prestige."
At the airport before leaving for Washington, Goldwater told a newsman of his
talk with the President.
"I told him that I thought all Americans would stand behind his decision,"
Goldwater said.
There was no connection between his sudden departure and the Viet Nam crisis.
It had been announced previously that he would leave today. |