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Salient. Victoria University of Wellington Students' Newspaper. Volume 31, No. 25. October 8, 1968

Nothing like democracy

Nothing like democracy

"The Republican convention was no closer to the democratic system than flea-fighting," said Mr Barrie Watts.

He said the liberal delegates, including Governor Rockefeller and Mayor Lindsay, were stage-managed out of any possibility of getting the nomination.

"Rockefeller was not heard on Tv at all," he said.

"Lindsay gave the only lucid, literary speech at the convention, and a deliberately scheduled coffee-break, bonds playing and people singing meant no one heard him.

"There was no applause for him or anything, nothing at all."

Mr Watts said Lindsay was considered a possible Presidential candidate at that stage.

"Nixon's speech was infamous," said Mr Watts. "It was thoroughly rotten."

Ted Kennedy 'Dithered'

"In journalistic terms there was 'a plot' to nominate Teddy Kennedy."

"But Kennedy's dithering lost him the nomination," Mr Barrie Watts said.

"He was unable to gauge his strength unless he declared, and he didn't declare,"

Mr Watts said a letter was sent by a Congressman to key state members of the National Committee, containing all the possible objections Kennedy might use to turn down the nomination."

Then followed the means of overcoming the protests.

"Kennedy's inaction was a great tragedy because he could have saved the convention," said Mr. Watts.

'Political turncoat'

"Humphrey proved himself one of the greatest turncoats in political history by my estimation." said Mr Barrie Watts.

He gave a display of political sophistry which stank to high heaven.

"Why they didn't throw him out of the convention I'm damned if I know," he said.

"He wooed the racist delegations from the South which he didn't need for his nomination anyway."

Photo of Hubert Humphrey