Falling Leaves

Examining the tree leaves last week, nature lovers read the autumnal message written in color in the falling foliage: "Jack Frost was here." There was a comparable message to be read by the leaf rakers in the candidates' camps, but the delight was hardly as universal. It read: "Jack Kennedy Was Here."

Inhaling the crisp autumnal political air, Democrats around the country sensed victory. Kennedy was more exhilarated and confident than ever. His sweep into New York City last week was a Niagara of ticker tape and enthusiasm. By contrast, the Republican mood was splotched with dark worries. Dick Nixon's entrance into New York hardly got any notice. He spent the few days before Debate No. 4 holed up in his Waldorf suite, chairing strategy sessions. and making no effort to match crowds in Democratic Manhattan. Evidence of the Kennedy surge was growing: the polls and the reporters showed that New York State (45 electoral votes) has moved into the Kennedy column (see box). For Nixon and Lodge the word from California (32 votes) and Texas (24 votes) was more heartening. But the total picture was more uncertain for them than at any time in the campaign.

Tired Rerun. The cumulative effect of the TV debates only served to underline the Nixon lag. Last week's go-round gave the Democratic candidate yet another chance to exhibit the Kennedy charisma--the smile, the cataract of words, the repeated promise to move forward--that has put Nixon at a disadvantage before the Big Eye. Debate No. 4 in itself gave little new substance to their views, though, as before, the tension of the confrontation made the occasion dramatic. The inflexible format and generally inept questioning by TV newscasters produced a disappointing, almost high schoolish, rerun of oft-stated positions and oft-used phrases on both sides.

On the Cuba question, Nixon called Kennedy's assertion that the U.S. ought to encourage an anti-Castro revolt "probably the most dangerously irresponsible [statement] that he's made in the course of this campaign," and one that might lose the U.S. its friends in the U.N. and Latin America, perhaps lead to civil war and an "open invitation to Mr. Khrushchev." Kennedy countered that the U.S. economic embargo of Castro was too little and too late. And even though both Kennedy and Nixon now agree substantially on the Quemoy-Matsu policy, Nixon still wanted to hear Kennedy say, "I now will depart, or retract my previous views. I think I was wrong in 1955, I think I was wrong in 1959"--and as Nixon spoke, the TV cameras switched to a grinning Kennedy, a grin which better than words indicated how little he felt inclined to oblige.

On the everlasting question of whether U.S. prestige is at an alltime high or all-time low, Nixon accused Kennedy of weakening the U.S. image by harping on its failures. On "every one" of Kennedy's criticisms, declared Nixon, the Democrat has been "wrong--dead wrong. And for that reason, he has contributed to any lack of prestige."

Dead Mike. Kennedy rejoined with a flash of fire: "I really don't need Mr. Nixon to tell me about what my responsibilities are as a citizen. What I down grade, Mr. Nixon." said he, "is the leadership the country is getting, not the country. You yourself said to Khrushchev [in the famed Kitchen Debate]. 'You may be ahead of us in rocket thrust, but we're ahead of you in color television.' I think that color television is not as important as rocket thrust."

Shaking a forefinger at the Vice President. Kennedy insisted again that he shares Administration views that Quemoy-Matsu is a sore point with the U.S. Cried he, in the one moment of greatest heat: "I challenge you tonight to deny that the Administration has sent at least several missions to persuade Chiang Kai-shek's withdrawal from these islands!" As Kennedy completed his sentence, viewers saw Dick Nixon speak, but heard nothing, for his microphone was off. "I'll do better," Nixon started to say. But then he was cut off by the moderator.

Pep Talk. When the debate was over, each man departed with hardly a word to the other. For the two weeks remaining in the campaign, each had set a grueling windup program for himself. Both were off on their final drives in the key Midwestern states. Each had to deal in his own way with the wind-whipped campaign foliage--the religion issue, the direction of U.S. economy and foreign policy--that seemed to hover stubbornly, like leaves that are swept from draft to draft and never seem to come to rest.

With Jack Kennedy moving ahead, the heavier concern rested with Dick Nixon. In California last week. President Eisenhower had a quiet pep talk for nervous local Republicans: "I've been through a number of these campaigns, and there comes a time toward the end when the opposition looks 14 feet tall and everyone takes alarm. But pessimism never won a battle."

What he said was heartening to Republicans ; the fact that he found it necessary to say it was a measure of national G.O.P. concern.

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