(2 of 11)
Rockefeller himself insisted that he was still very much in the presidential running. He recognized that there was criticism of his remarriage. That criticism, he said at a press conference, was "very understandable. One has to see life and the problems of life from other people's point of view. I think love and understanding are the two greatest forces, and if we have that, then we can understand how people feel, regardless of the situation."
"They're Disgusted." But for all Rockefeller's pleas for understanding, public criticism was rising to a pitch not often heard in U.S. politics. Basic to the criticism was the widespread impression (which neither Rocky nor Happy has refuted) that Mrs. Rockefeller surrendered legal custody of her four children by her first marriage. Across the U.S., Republican comments about Rocky raunged from sadness outright hostility v. In Denver, a women
snorted that shoe would "rather Liz Taylor in the White House that Happy." In Arkansas, Mrs.
William Lee committeewoman Jarne&son, a plugging G.O.P. for ' nationality , added tartlfly: "I've been marriage to the same manny for 40 years." In Texas, R Randall County G.O.P. 'Chairman John Kenehan said: "I don't know what I'd do if Rockefeller nominated. I might just have to quit
post." Said Mrs Phyllis Schlafly, president of the Im illinois Federation of IT Republican Women: "I've been taking! I private poll of Republican women meet all over tithe state, and their reaction is nearly unanimous —they're gusted with Rockefeller. A man who broken up two If homes is not the kind want for high public office. The part not so hard up that it can't find so body who stuck by his own family .
In Minnesota, where Rocky & have expected support from a sir contingent of moderate Republics State Chairman Robert Forsythe plained the dragmatic descent in the Yorker's populalarity: "It was the marriage. That -meant another home . . . YOU know, this guy quite a hero o to a lot of Peo Said California Republican Asse Leader Charleses Conrad: "When you married to a woman for years dump her a head later take I other woman v who has dump & lt; band, it's certainly going to effect." In Long Island, c Rockefeller territory, Republician governor John Chafee said, " there are small children of hers involved is extremely unfortunate." Added Kent Shearer, energetic Young Republican leader in Utah: "The married women in the 40s and 50s won't have him. Some of them who are lifelong Republicans warn us, 'Don't make us choose between Kennedy and Happy.' "