CAPITOL STUFF

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70-00058R000200070018-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 24, 2001
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: December 3, 1963
• Content Type: NSPR

pproved For Release 2001/03/02 ;3 CIA-RDP70-0
Rt-~
STATINTL
by TED LEWIS
Washington, Dec. 2-President Johnson's presentation.
of the :50,000 Fermi Award today to Dr. J. Robert Cep-
penheimer has political significance. It serves to show one
of LBJ's great advantages in the upcoming election.
The President cannot be criticized for participating in,the eere-
stony honoring the nuclear physicist who was held to.be a security
risk nine years ago. That is because today's White House presenta-
tion was planned before his death
by President Kennedy. The new
President was obligated to fol-
low through.
The fact is that Johnson can-
not be a prime target of partisan
,controversy because of what hap-
pened while he was Vice Presi-
dent, both In the Oppenheimer
incident and to other decision-
making of for greater Im-
portance.
Republican Party leaders are
well aware of that and realize
that in 1904 they must develop
issues not of what the new Presi-
dent do(-- in his own right in the
11 months before the November
election.
This Is it distinct political
advantage for the President, al-
though it was certainly never
planned that way. As Vice Presi-
dent he was reported "in" on all
the big decisions of his predeces-
sor. Yet, because his role was
never emphasized by the White
Horse-even sometimes myste-
riously deemphasized-he is now
1' r1 not vulnerable on this
U iA
Arthur Schlesinger Jr.
He could char up the mystery
pe,
y
count. "One explanation for Johnson's sideline role Is Interesting and
'
It doesn't take the Republican National Committee researchers has a certain merit. He is going to be needed In 1964 to keep .The
The record Is an open one, and scarcely ever does , rebellious Democratic South from a wholesale switch at Its electoral
ut
fi
d thi
t
s o
.
n
o
John son's name crop up as a key one in any of the momentous *Z1 1 vote to the GOP, and his usefulness to that end would be Aullilled.If
K need
- -- -
controversial uects!VLL*. , - _
In the April, 1961, Bay of Pigs fiasco, they targets of criticism On this general subjects however, President Johnson " berm
i
..--a R
1'.'. Insisted tha be _04i. en'faa.
'_ `
t`"-'t i
i- th
d
Th
t
ve
a
resi
ent
e
e
s
-?
Joint chiefs of staff were assailed, a
then chief Allen Dulles. President Kennedy himself shouldered full ver came to light. There is no reason to doubt this. The point k.
d o
whoa dews lad to
n
f thos
k
l
t
h
t hi
.
ea
u
as o
e o
s name never
e
e
t
a
responsibility at that time.
the Berlin Will in August,'; & specific Presidential decision.
t
h
up
ev pu
When Nikita Khrushc
1961, and the U.S. hesitated in its response, partisan criticism was,, gThere Is no argument, however, that - sus Vice Preddent,
to every Presidential action was superb. MAT--: in,
lo
alt
y
y
almeu at nc"1+cuy
there any argument that today he would. defend
Johnson's Role Was Never Emphasized as Significant decisions.
The steel price crisis In April, 1902, was almost wholly a ; But Repubifeas know ft will be difficult if not impossible, to
Kennedy operation-by the President and his brother, the Attorney t launch any kind of bold attack on him on tthe Issue' of Cul*?'tbe
General. Johnson again was outside the area of partisan criticism. ,Berlin Wall or the.handling of the race troubles In Blrmoingbam
in .September rind Oxford. And, while they cannot make Johnson the tarot for
Miss.
ted in Oxford
eru
l
i
l
i
,
,
p
v
o
ence
When rac
a
1902, this was another crisis handled totally, it appeared.- by JFk 'what happened before he became President, they still have to ae i
At the time the Vice President was at the LBJ ! public image of him as the strong right hand ofdthe man
d hi. brother
.
an
ranch in Texas. None of the onus for th;.t crisis attached to him. succeeded in the White House.
While the then Vicc Presidefit'e views Weft sougllEiarl
In the October, 1962, Cuban missile crisis, he wae: never'?listed
?cmong the key figures in that crucial decision makilug.
Similarly, in the Bay of Pigs prisoner ttxchangn negotiations
'end the more recent Viet Nam crisis, Johnson's role wsX-Ztve't`
eemphasized as significant.
It is to be hoped that Arthur Schlesinger Jr., the historian who
has been in the White House as a Presidential adviser sleet' 1961
will at some time help clear up mystery. cQuEerning th 'extent .ok
Vice President's name kept In the background. Last May, we recall,
when the Kennedy Administration ordered 8,000 trobps