What to Do for an Encore

Over the summer, with Richard Nixon's initiative toward China and his startling economic campaigns, foreign and domestic, an unfamiliar sense of drama has overtaken the Administration. Last week, as the President headed for his Alaskan meeting with Japan's Emperor Hirohito, and mainland China seemed astir with mysterious movement (see THE WORLD), there was anticipation of further surprises.

There was some speculation that he might fly directly to Peking after his meeting with Hirohito. Or that he might name a woman to the Supreme Court. Or that he might yield to protests and cancel a massive nuclear test at Amchitka Island in the Aleutians; Congress last week approved a measure putting the decision to blast or not to blast directly in Nixon's hands.

It was difficult to shake the fancy that perhaps the President would suddenly declare the war in Viet Nam ended--although "suddenly" is perhaps not a word that can be applied to America's longest war--and bring the U.S. troops home at once.

It is tempting to conjure up larger coups. Perhaps a joint U.S.-Soviet effort to land a spaceship on Mars by 1980. Perhaps a new American Constitution, with state boundaries abolished, regional governments formed and the Federal Government restructured. Or, after the economic freeze, a new, domestic Marshall Plan to rebuild the cities. None of these vistas is much more implausible than that of Richard Nixon waving to a million smiling Chinese as he glides through the gates of the Forbidden City in Peking.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.