Also Brains, Trains & Clowns

For all his concern with Viet Nam, President Johnson had plenty of time for politics and pet projects at home.

His preoccupation with education continued. Addressing 40 high school student-winners of a Westinghouse Foundation science contest, he proudly announced that Daughter Luci had been admitted to Georgetown University School of Nursing, quoted her as saying: "Daddy, there is just nothing more 'in' than brains." Later the same day, he delivered a rousing sermon before some 200 delegates to a National Education Association conference.

"You can sit in your rocking chair," he said. "But I am going to use every rostrum to tell the people that we can no longer afford the great waste that comes from the neglect of a single child." He evoked the memory of one of his great-grandfathers, declaring that because of low teacher salaries his ancestor, even though he was the third president of Baylor University, had suffered financial penury, had had to borrow $300 from Sam Houston "at 8% interest."

Bullish on Billions. On his current education program, the President was downright bullish: "Some say that if it's $1.2 billion this year, it will be more next year. Well, it will be." Added he, "We are taking some of that money we have been putting in tanks and bombs and putting it in minds, stomachs and hearts."

Johnson warned his audience to be ware of Republican diversionary strategy. "When I was a boy, the folks that molded the opinion kept us debating whether we were wet or dry, Prohibition or anti-Prohibition." Today, Johnson declared, speaking figuratively, his opponents "are going to try to bring up the old wet and dry fight, or some other old fight that will prejudice you. But the time has come when we no longer listen to those who oppose for opposition's sake."

Last week the President also:

> Called, in his annual manpower message, for a 4 3/4% yearly rise in the gross national product through 1970 (a rate equal to 1964's vigorous performance), to help bring down unemployment.

> Asked Congress for 520 million in the 1965-66 fiscal year, with which to start research and development on Johnson's dream of a revolutionary ground-transport system, including high-speed electric trains between Washington, New York and Boston.

> Swore in an old friend, Tennessee's former Governor Buford Ellington, 57, as director of the Office of Emergency Planning. Ellington had already been sworn in once, but Johnson decided that his first oath taking had been insufficiently publicized, ordered another ceremony. The President announced that Ellington would also act as a liaison with state Governors, and that all 50 Governors will be invited to Washington soon for a conference "about the various problems that face us."

> Attended the unveiling of a portrait of Connecticut Senator and ex-Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Abraham Ribicoff, which will hang in HEW headquarters. Following a rendition by the Social Security Chorus, a volunteer choir composed of about 40 employees of the Social Security Administration's office near Baltimore, Johnson made a little talk, wisecracking: "I was told that they were going to hang a U.S. Senator."

>Visited the Smithsonian Institution to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the designation of The Star-Spangled Banner as the U.S. national anthem. Standing before the flag that flew over Fort McHenry, Johnson declared: "A number of Americans have complained that The Star-Spangled Banner is not the easiest song to sing. I must admit that I have had a little trouble with a few parts of it myself. But the senti ments attached to that sturdy old song are overwhelming for all of us."

> Stayed home while Lady Bird joined 6,000 Washington-area poor kids at a performance of the Ringling Bros, and Barnum & Bailey Circus, where she sat between a little Negro girl and a little white girl, matched wits--and laugh lines--with a clown.

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