All Sorts of Roads

Pursuing his presidential hopes westward, New York's Governor Nelson Rockefeller landed at Salt Lake City, where he and his wife were greeted by a listless crowd of 100. Then they went off to pay a protocol call on officials of the Mormon Church. Mormon First President David O. McKay, 90, greeted Happy as "Mrs. Roosevelt."

Nothing daunted, Rocky took to the attack in a speech before 2,000 at the University of Utah. Painting himself as the sensible traveler on a road between two dangerous paths, Rocky said: "The American people should not have to choose between an all-powerful Federal Government dominating our lives--the direction in which the Kennedy Administration is moving--nor, on the other hand, a Federal Government committed to withdraw from free world leadership and roll back the clock on social gains and human progress--the direction in which Senator Goldwater has indicated he would move." His road, said Rocky, would be "the forward road."

"The Title Is Right." In San Francisco, Rocky was warmly greeted at the airport, but at a press conference a reporter tossed him a curved question. What did Rocky have to say about an editorial in the Catholic magazine The Sign, calling for his withdrawal from the race because of his divorce and remarriage to a divorcee? Said Rocky: "I would say that one of the greatest forces in a Christian community is love and understanding. And we can be very grateful for it. As far as the political side is concerned, should I become a candidate, the delegates at the convention, each in his own heart, will weigh all of the factors and make his or her own decision."

Flying on to Los Angeles, Rocky again had a disappointing reception. The marching band on hand at the airport didn't march. The drum majorettes seemed to have the dropsy. Picket signs advised, "This is Goldwater Country" and "Go Home Rocky." Gamely, Rocky repeated his attacks on the Kennedy Administration and was roundly applauded for his efforts. But so far as the G.O.P. was concerned, he admitted that for him "the title of underdog is the right one."

On the eve of his departure, the Los Angeles political smog seemed to be lifting for Rocky. A Rockefeller reception scheduled for some 500 drew 1,100 instead. Rocky and Happy, who had planned to spend an hour in the receiving line, were mobbed by enthusiastic handshakers and well-wishers for half an hour longer. Even Senator Goldwater's children, Los Angeles Stockbroker Barry Goldwater Jr. and Housewife Mrs. Thomas Ross of suburban Torrence, turned up to say hello. And when Rocky mounted the platform to urge Republican unity, the hall rang with cheers. Grinned Rocky later: "It couldn't have worked out better. I enjoyed every minute of it."

Lots of Chuckles. As for Goldwater, he had a somewhat less strenuous week, making his only major appearance in Hartford, Conn. There, he agreed that he would be happy to accept the G.O.P. nomination if it comes his way: "Any man would be a damned liar if he said he wouldn't." With that, the 200-member state Republican committee in Oklahoma shouted through a resolution pledging all 22 of the state's national convention delegates to the Senator.

Asked about Rockefeller's Salt Lake City remarks, Goldwater snapped, "I don't know where the Governor's position is. I question whether it would be a Republican position. The Governor must belong to some other party." Then, with a prelude of wisecracks about the New Frontier, he launched an attack on Administration fiscal policy at a banquet meeting of the Connecticut Association of Independent Insurance Agents. But as it turned out, one of the jokes was on Barry. Even before he spoke, his listeners discovered carefully concealed under each napkin a "J.F.K. Vigah" candy bar, a Kennedy campaign gimmick introduced a week earlier at a Democratic fund raising dinner in Boston.

The chuckles were heard all the way to the White House, where President Kennedy was still letting it be known that he could hardly wait for next year's elections--particularly if his opponent is Goldwater. In fact, the President now thinks that Goldwater is his most likely opponent and is indulging in the tried and true tactic of making fun of a serious threat--the earlier the better.

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