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We can win every such confrontation." Later, he attacked the Johnson Administration for not prosecuting the Viet Nam war more vigorously.
In the last year or so, however, Laird seems to have moderated his views. He is for a negotiated settlement in Viet Nam, knowing that no other course is politically feasible. At his first press conference as Secretary-designate, he expressed the hope that the Viet Nam war would be over within a year. He still favors beefing up the U.S. military machine roughly along the lines advocated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff—converting the Navy to nuclear power, giving the Air Force the advanced manned bomber it has been seeking for years, going ahead with the Army's anti-ballistic missile system, modernizing and perhaps expanding the Strategic Air Command's missile arsenal beyond present plans. All of this is at least generally in tune with Nixon's campaign talk about a "security gap." Both men are aware, of course, that buying these and other weapons systems would cost tens of billions that would be almost impossible to obtain under present circumstances. Thus a wholesale expansion of arms development and procurement is unlikely.
Despite his interest in the field and his general agreement with Nixon, Laird was reluctant to take a Cabinet post. Earlier, he had turned down Health, Education and Welfare, another area of his expertise. He pointed out to Nixon and to Bryce Harlow, who will be White House aide for congressional relations, that he had 16 years of congressional seniority, that he could help the Nixon program in the House, that he hoped to be House Speaker some day, that he was a lifelong legislator, not an administrator. Nixon's reply: "I need you." On Dec. 7, Laird yielded.
All along, Nixon was looking for a Negro of stature and ability. Three are known to have rejected his offers: Whitney Young Jr., executive director of the National Urban League; Senator Edward Brooke of Massachusetts, and Mrs. Ersa Poston, president of the New York Civil Service Commission. Now the Nix on scouts are hunting for black officials at the sub-Cabinet level.
Nixon had also been trying to get a big-name Democrat, or at least a big name, for the ambassadorship to the United Nations. The post is not technically of Cabinet rank, but since the Eisenhower Administration it has had a quasi-Cabinet cachet. The fact that it also has very little real power makes it an ideal place in which to put an erstwhile opponent. Nixon offered it first to Hubert Humphrey, who soon said no. Next Nelson Rockefeller got a hint that the job might be his. Not interested. Nixon then approached Sargent Shriver, who was interested but hesitated about taking the post after talking to some of his in-laws. So last week Rogers called on Senator Eugene McCarthy and sounded him out. Would he, asked Rogers, consider the U.N. if Shriver declined?
McCarthy requested time to think about it. He wondered about his Sen ate seat.