A Nixonian Mood of Ebullience

RICHARD NIXON was delighted last week by an unexpected four-minute telephone call to the San Clemente White House. From Clark Air Base in the Philippines, newly released P.O.W. Colonel Robinson Risner told him: "The men would like me to convey to you, Mr. President, that it would be the greatest personal honor and pleasure to shake your hand and tell you personally how proud we are to have you as our President."

After so much criticism of so many aspects of Nixon's Viet Nam policy, the call from Risner must have sounded like the most heartening kind of vindication. The President, who returned to Washington later that day, suddenly seemed to become yet another new Nixon --ebullient, conciliatory, even humorous. The somber isolation of Camp David far behind him, he was suddenly everywhere, talking officially and informally on a variety of subjects. With his family, he strolled and quipped his way through Lafayette Square Park ("Perfectly safe. No problem when you've got about ten Secret Service agents with you"), dined out on Crab Rangoon at Trader Vic's, invited newsmen into the Oval Office to overhear decisions of state, and advised Richard Helms, his new ambassador to Iran, that Iranian caviar was "the best in the world." Between the pleasantries and the public appearances, he also made and talked policy on a broad range of issues:

> On the trade deficit: In one of those sudden dramatic strokes that have become his trademark, Nixon fought against the international monetary crisis by devaluing the U.S. dollar 10% (see THE ECONOMY).

> On skyjacking: Nixon scooped the State Department by breaking the news of a treaty with Cuba that provides for a "most severe penalty" or extradition for the piracy of planes or ships between the two countries. The U.S. retains the right to offer political asylum to Cuban refugees who steal small boats or planes without violence or extortion, but it has pledged to deal harshly with exile expeditions carried out by Cuban refugees against Cuba. Though the treaty marks the first breakthrough in relations with Cuba since 1961, Secretary of State Rogers insisted that it did not represent any general thawing of relations.

On the environment: Nixon took to the radio to outline legislation that his Administration was presenting to Congress to meet the energy crisis and to build on his "proud" environmental record of the past four years (see THE ENVIRONMENT). The President grandly announced: "America is well on the way to winning the war against environmental degradation."

> On agriculture: In the same address and in a detailed message to Congress presented later in the week, Nixon announced his intention to phase out farm subsidies over three years, to "keep the farmer on his land and the Government off" (see THE ESSAY).

In 49 months in office, the President had rarely been more visible or voluble. After a weekend in Florida ("I was happy to bring the boys home," he said during a visit to the Mayport Naval Station), Nixon planned a meeting with AFL-CIO President George Meany, then an address to the South Carolina state legislature. In his moment of triumph, Nixon seemed less calculating, more casual than usual. The relaxed mood appeared to be catching. Finishing her dinner at Trader Vic's, Pat Nixon lit up her first cigarette in public since her husband took office. To Washington observers, it was a smoke signal.

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