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Campaign 76: A Judgement
of Personalities
BY 808 WELLS
The common man image in
politics and the myth that
surrounds it, presents itself
once again in both Gerald Ford
and Jimmy Carter.
A rural setting involving
hard work, a stern father, a
loving mother and the struggle
to get ahead are all compon
ents of the comman man
image. Many politicians have
used this type of background
to launch their careers. Andrew
Jackson, Abraham Lincoln,
Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter
and Gerald Ford are good
examples of this. All of these
men, at one time or another,
dwelled upon their past
experiences to promote a sense
of equality, inferring,
"I am no different than you."
This egalitarian concept worked
well, leaving Lincoln a historical
figure and Truman edging
down that corridor reserved
for those "great common men."
With Gerald Ford and Jimmy
Carter the same song of
"commonness" is heard. Their
past, both adolescent and
political, have been success
fully packaged and presented
in a positive way. By stressing
their "commonness" both
have risen above their equals
to become presidential
nominees.
Senate Minutes
OCT. 13
Ed. Note: The Senate Min
utes are published each week
with the intention of commun
icating to the college com
munity the work being done
by their representatives. The
Guilfordian urges each mem
ber of the Community to keep
abreast of Senate
business. Read these Minutes
and attend Senate meetings
when possible. These Minutes
are a straightforward and ob
jective report of business and
do not fully characterize the
workings of Guilford College
community government.
Although both men come
from a similar background in
which the work ethic was
stressed, each has a leadership
style all his own. Gerald Ford
is a plodding administrator
whose manner was formed in
the twenty plus years he served
in the House of Represent
atives. It was his congenial
way of working in Congress
that led Nixon to choose him
as Vice-president. Few people
disliked him in Washington,
although the majority seldom
agreed with him. This same
style has been carried over
into the Ford Presidency. His
B
The meeting was opened
with a moment of silence and
roll was called, John Biedler
and Kathy Sebo were absent.
John Janney commented
on the value of constructive
criticism and expressed his
hopes that all Senators and
students would feel free to
bring their criticisms to the
Executive Council.
The Budget Committee
presented three proposals, all
of which were passed by
assets include a high rating
for accessability and a trait
which is not often found in
presidents: he accepts and
listens to criticism.
His defects include a lack
of innovation or dynamic
motivation to move the
country. Thus the passive
nature of minimal govern
mental involvement in domestic
affairs is clearly represented
in the Ford campaign and
White House. He is running
on his record, which if viewed
favorably by the electorate, he
will be able to continue.
Jimmy Carter is, in many
ways, like the peanut he is
often associated with. He
arose from the depths of Plains
(where the peanuts grow) at
the beginning of harvest time
in the primary season. He was
cracked by Playboy, boiled
by the Republicans and eaten
up by the Democrats who are
still smacking their lips over
the political find of the year.
His assets inlcude a working
knowledge of state and local
problems, a desire to be a
moderate innovator whose
mind has been trained to deal
with technical problems.
Among his detractors. Carter
is viewed as "too hungry"
for the presidency. He is also
accused of being "all things
Senate:
1. The tutorial service
requested S4OO to match S4OO
they are receiving from the
academic dean. They are also
receiving SSOO from the Student
Services budget. It was felt
that this was an academic area
geared to individual needs
rather than a group interest
and extracurricular activity;
and that it should not be funded
with Sudent Activities funds.
However, the Senate did feel
that it is a worthwhile service
that should be provided by the
school, and granted a SIOO
token supplement to show
support of the program,
continued on page 6
November 2,1976
to all people," which when
used successfully can mean
political survival.
To some, another defect
includes his lack of Washington
experience, which ironically
won him many votes in the
primaries, showing that a stint
in Congress is no prerequis
ite to run successfully for
President.
VSO to Sponsor
Election Night Fete
BY TOM WEST
The Fuilford College Student
Veterans Service Organization
has scheduled an election
watch on election night, Tues
day, November 2, in the Urban
Center Lounge.
Gerald Beeson, VSO Project
Chairman has issued an
invitation to attend the watch
to all Guilford College students,
VSO members, faculty and
staff as well as residents of
the Guilford College commun
ity. Beeson also expects
several local politicians to
make an appearance sometime
during the evening's
activities. Beeson, in response
to a query on the format
of an election watch, states
that "An election-watch is
where folks gather who are
interested in heated but friendly
political debate, hearty fellow
ship with old friends, with a
chance to make new ones."
There will be three tele
In contrasting Ford to Carter,
ooth seem honest, capable
and for the most part sincere.
The choice that now lies
before Americans is one of
"Moderate change," as
rhetorically expressed by
Carter, or another four years
of Fords current policy. The
decision is now left to pick
which commoner can lead
best. Ford? or Carter?
vision sets, each tuned to one
of the three major networks
to view the vote count of the
state and national elections,
and blackboards will be used
to keep and "up to the minute"
tally of the local election
returns. Various members of
the VSO will be on hand
throughout the night manning
the blackboards, serving
refreshments and acting as
referees for some of the
"friendlier debates."
Hot apple cider, coffee and
doughnuts are on the agenda
and Chairman Beeson says,
"If we run out . . . we'll
just run out for more." The
final touch for this all-American
evening will be a nice cozy
fire in the fireplace . . . and
rumor has it that peanuts and
Ultrabrite toothpaste will be
available to those in the Carter
camp while "Watch-Your-
Step" buttons will be provided
to those in President Ford's.