Nation: Guest of Honor

With a lot of politicians questioning Rocky’s political future, Washington last week took an extra hard look at a visiting Republican named George Romney.

Michigan’s Governor was in town to speak to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce —and the businessmen liked what they heard. They gave Romney standing ovations both before and after his speech, repeatedly interrupted his address with applause. Romney preached his own gospel of individual inspiration and citizen participation in politics. Said he: “The big issue 100 years ago was whether the excess sovereignty of the states was going to destroy the Union and the Constitution. The big issue today is whether the excess concentration of federal power and sovereignty is going to destroy state, local and individual freedom and responsibility.

“I believe that present trends can only be retarded, stopped, and reversed through effective political action. We desperately need in this country a party that the people will identify as a citizens’ party, controlled and financed by its citizen members.”

The next day Romney was guest of honor at a reception attended by some 300 leading Washington businessmen and politicians. It was given by Mrs. J. Willard Marriott, Republican national committeewoman for the District of Columbia, a longtime Romney friend and, like Romney, a Mormon. Throughout his Washington visit, Romney steadfastly denied that he has any 1964 presidential ambitions. But both Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon* are known to look favorably on him, and it may be increasingly difficult for him to keep saying no.

* Last week Nixon announced that he and his family will move from their Beverly Hills home to New York June 1. Nixon will become a general partner in the law firm of Mudge, Stern, Baldwin & Todd in Manhattan’s financial district. He has been a consultant to the Los Angeles law firm of Adams, Duque & Hazeltine.