FOR all its emotional impact on the nation, the Viet Nam war does not provoke the most widespread dissatisfaction with President Nixon's policies. Almost to a man, U.S. citizens feel frustrated by the persistence of inflation and its pervasive effects—high prices, oppressive interest rates and a severe scarcity of credit. Of those who were questioned in the latest Louis Harris poll, published last week, 51% gave Nixon a negative rating on Viet Nam; an overwhelming 79% disapproved of his handling of inflation.
Their frustration is likely to increase during the winter and spring. The economy is at a new and potentially dangerous...