Nation: Confusion over Collusion

A chastened Spiro Agnew set out last week to project the image of philosopher-statesman. With ego-altering assistance from Stephen Hess, a polished speechwriter assigned to him from Nixon headquarters, the Republican vice-presidential nominee sounded restrained, deliberate and at times downright dull. His press conferences, noted one aide, “are guaranteed not to make news.”

Like all guarantees, however, Agnew’s had a time limit. Asked in Las Vegas about the charge that one of the major parties was in “collusion” with George Wallace, Agnew snapped: “That charge is not sufficiently dignified to require a comment. The word ‘collusion’ has nasty connotations.” He added with appropriate disdain: “It’s as bad as ‘soft on Communism.’ “

The Maryland Governor may have been right, but he had not, it seemed, read the papers. The party accused of conspiring with Wallace was Democratic. The accuser was Richard Nixon.