Lindsay Goes West

POLITICS Lindsay goes West Like a man breaking in a pair of new shoes, Democrat-Come-Lately John Lindsay last week stepped gingerly into the national political arena. In his first major foray outside New York City since he switched parties, Lindsay visited Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles, sampling reaction and sending up trial balloons for a presidential campaign. The three-day junket removed any doubts that New York's mayor is aiming for the White House in '72.

The Lindsay excursion was fashioned around a speaking engagement before the California League of Cities that had been scheduled well before his change of registration. The remainder of his agenda was tacked on specifically to aid the presidential prospecting and give the mayor his first broad exposure as a serious national candidate. Every minute was crammed with lunches and cocktail parties, TV talk shows and press conferences, meetings for special-interest groups. Hours were spent on the telephone and in private face-to-face sessions with important state and local party leaders. It was well-orchestrated politics, and the Lindsay camp was pleased with the results.

Quite Evasive. Throughout his tour, Lindsay was received by sizable crowds. His speech before the California League of Cities attracted 1,900 people, several hundred more than Hubert Humphrey had drawn the previous day. Phoenix, in the heart of Goldwater country, also accorded Lindsay a cordial welcome. In San Francisco, he found a thriving "Lindsay for President" group and a welcome endorsement from a former longtime National Democratic Committeewoman, Mrs. Rudel Gatov. "I'll sup port him and be part of his campaign," Mrs. Gatov said, "if he decides to run."

Such regular organization backing was the exception. Though key leaders were more than willing to meet with Lindsay, that was as far as they went. Said the mayor: "I certainly don't expect Democratic leaders to say to me at this point, 'We hope you're going to run, and we want to support you.' I'd be astonished if that took place."

Lindsay fared less well among special-interest groups, reported TIME Correspondent Roger Williams, who accompanied the mayor on his trip west. Bay Area labor leaders, including Harry Bridges, president of the Longshoremen's Union, came out of a breakfast meeting with Lindsay only moderately impressed. Said Rudy Tham. international organizer for the Teamsters Union: "He's a nice guy, appealing, young [Lindsay looks younger than his 49 years], but I'm not sure about his labor record." A.F.L.-C.l.O. President George Meany. who was not at the meeting, was considerably harder on Lindsay. He told reporters in New York that if Lindsay got the Democratic nomination, he would vote for Nixon.

Mexican-American leaders found Lindsay "too generalized" in his comments and "quite evasive" on specifics. One specific: a request for a commitment to appoint a Chicano to the U.S. Supreme Court. "Lindsay told us only that we 'ought to participate' in the judicial process," said Armando Rodriguez, head of the Mexican-American Political Association. "Hell, we already know that."

100-to-l Chance. Still, more often than not, Lindsay came across well. He was relaxed, in good humor and quick with his quips. When asked about his presence in New Hampshire three weeks ago, Lindsay said: "I went to New Hampshire to attend the wedding of an assistant [Jay Kriegel]." Then he added with a grin: "I now have bachelor assistants falling in love in Wisconsin, Oregon and California." For the moment, his greatest asset is charm. Said former California Assembly Speaker Jess Unruh: "There is not much acceptance of Lindsay now by the politicians, but he has style and great presence on the media, and that's the way you campaign in California."

California notwithstanding, style does not win primaries; organization does. Lindsay must build from the bottom up, establishing credibility as a candidate and grass-root support. Such was the purpose of his appearances out West. "I would have no hesitation in running in primaries if I thought that would be the most effective role for me to play next year," he said at a press conference. How will he make that judgment? "I will have to measure my impact and effectiveness. I'm not going into a kamikaze campaign. Before you climb on a white horse, you have to have an idea that the white horse is going somewhere."

He is likely to make his decision within eight weeks, say aides, and no later than the end of the year. At present Lindsay is the first to admit that he is a long shot; he gives himself no better than a 100-to-l chance for the Democratic presidential nomination. In a recent Gallup poll, Lindsay was the choice of 6% of Democrats queried, tying George McGovern for fourth place.

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