JOHNSON'S . AMERICA' • Sts,—As an American studying in England I
appre- ciated your covet age and .analysis of 'Johnson's America' (November 6). I especially enjoyed Mr. Kempton's article on 'The Ruins Left By Goldwater.' However, I must disagree with Mr. Kempton on two counts.
The statement that the New York State Repub- lican Party is 'the most majestic and powerful in the country' would be disputed by moit political analysts in America. The Ohio Republican organisa- tion, under the able leadership of Mr. Ray Bliss, was able to deliver a majority of 230,000 votes to Mr. Nixon in 1960 while New York State was carried by Mr. Kennedy by over 300,000. In San Francisco in July Mr. Goldwater made a special point of not alienating Mr. Bliss. The majesty and power of the New York State Republican Party comes not from any superior internal organisation, but from divisions and conflicts within the New York State Democratic Party. However, it must be noted that even the able Mr. Bliss could not pre- vent the landslide that engulfed Mr. Goldwater in Ohio. The real tragedy is that Mr. Goldwater dragged down to defeat an able young conservative, Mr. Robert Ta.ft, Jr.
Secondly, though I agree with Mr. Kempton that the Republican Party must find a new leader, his faith in Mr. Nixon is unfounded. Though an able politician and speaker. Mr. Nixon is viewed by party bosses as having thrown away victory in 1960. His campaign against Mr. Kennedy is regarded as an amateurish disgrace. Two years later his cam- paign in California and subsequent attack upon the press is regarded as more of the same. His active support of Mr. Goldwater has certainly not en- deared him to the liberal, international wing of the Republican Party.
If Mr. Nixon is not 'up to it,' who else? Unless the Republican Party can make a spectacular re- covery in the elections of 1966 the prospects of a Republican in the presidential election of, 1968 will be that of neither a reasonable echo nor a respon- sible choice.
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