The U.S. is this year engaged in the absorbing ritual of choosing its President for the next four years. One of the most interesting aspects of this is the activity that takes place Before the parties select their candidates. Part of this manoeuvring in the parties can be seen by the public—in primary election campaigns—but much of it goes on behind the scenes, in the proverbial "smokefilled rooms" where politicians gather to do business. The public part—the primaries—is apt to be a bit confusing even to Americans, so it is not surprising that most New Zealanders are completely in the dark about it. We get little enough enlightenment from our daily press, which seems to feel that a bare minimum of U.S. news is all that we need. Those days are past, for party policies in the U.S. can have important implications for us. We are all wondering about the proposed nuclear test ban which could easily become an election issue, and a high tariff policy, foreign aid cuts, and tougher terms for dollar aid overseas that could make life less comfortable for all of us.

Dick and Pat in Nebraska.