Ford: 'It's Much Better to Go In as an Underdog'

Flying home on Air Force One from his encouraging visit to the Mississippi delegates in Jackson, President Ford relaxed with a martini at his side and a pipe in his hand and talked politics with TIME White House Correspondent Strobe Talbott. His thoughts:

Q. How do you assess the impact of the Schweiker announcement on your own prospects for nomination?

A. We had 1,135 votes before the Schweiker announcement. I'm certain that since then our total has gone up. We can't be precise on how many, but I know it is rather significant.

Q. Even [Ford Consultant] Clifton White has conceded that you had some soft delegates, perhaps as many as 40 or 50. Has the Schweiker announcement hardened up some of those soft spots?

A. No doubt about it. The answer is yes.

Q. Was Senator Schweiker ever someone you considered as a candidate for your own running mate?

A. I had never had his name surface on my list.

Q. Has the opposition to Governor Reagan's choice of Senator Schweiker in any way lessened the possibility of your choosing a liberal from the Northeast as your running mate?

A. This [Schweiker] incident doesn't [have that effect]. There are two basic criteria [for my choice]. Number one, the person must be qualified to be President. Number two, there has to be compatibility with my own ideological views. Schweiker doesn't quite fit the formula.

Q. In what way?

A. For example, he endorsed the Humphrey-Hawkins bill [making the Federal Government an employer of last resort], and he's a co-sponsor of the Kennedy health program.

Q. And someone with that record on those issues would not be compatible with you?

A. That's correct.

Q. Will you ask the FBI to investigate the background of prospective running mates?

A. It is not legal to employ the FBI for that purpose. So I would not do it. [Attorney General Edward Levi recently made such a determination.]

Q. Is Governor Connolly's indictment in the milk scandal in any way a liability to his running with you, especially in the face of a Democratic opposition that will make much of morality in Government?

A. Governor Connally was cleared by a jury of his peers. Very few people in this country have had twelve good and faithful jurors give them a clean bill of health.

Q. So he's legally cleared, but is he politically untainted by that trial?

A. I think there's very substantial evidence to that effect.

Q. Is Governor Connolly's close association with former President Nixon a liability in the face of a Democratic opposition that is already making an issue out of what it calls "the Nixon-Ford era" and Watergate?

A. Governor Connally will be recommended or not recommended strictly on his own merits. I've known him a long time, back when he was a Democrat appointed by President Kennedy, a Democrat elected three times as Governor of the state of Texas. His credentials cover a wide spectrum. His philosophy and record ought not be related just to President Nixon. We should also consider his record related to President Kennedy, to the voters of Texas.

Q. Many people believe that the race between you and Governor Reagan so far this year has already badly weakened the Republican Party. Do you agree with this view?

A. I do not. We've had a very hard struggle, but if Governor Reagan had not been in the race, there wouldn't have been a President Ford contest that stimulated public interest. The race has taken a lot of time, a lot of effort, but if you add it all up--with the assumption that we will win, and we expect to win--I think it's been helpful.

Q. How will you unite the party?

A. We will make very constructive gestures to those who voted against us.

Q. What sort?

A. We haven't refined that. But we're certainly not going to tell them to go home and not participate. We want them on the team.

Q. Do you see any place in your next Administration for Governor Reagan?

A. 1 can see that possibility. He could be a member of the Cabinet.

Q. Just how healthy is the G.O.P.?

A. It's pretty vigorous, even though it's divided. I think the divisions can be healed. We've stimulated extra adherents just because it's a party of activity, not just a superficial coalition.

Q. Going into the general election, do you think you will be an underdog?

A. Definitely. And I think it's much better to go in as an underdog. You know you have to work, do the right things under pressure. It's a much better position than being on top and getting careless.

Q. What do you feel about Governor Reagan today? What would you say to him if you had a personal encounter?

A. I'd compliment him on a very effective campaign and on his articulation of his political philosophy--and I'd thank him for his support in the general election.

Q. Are you sure he's going to give you his support?

A. I certainly hope so, I promised mine to him.

Q. What percentage of your time in the past month have you been devoting to politics?

A. I would guess 10% of my working day is spent on politics, and 90% on presidential business. My working day begins at 6 o'clock in the morning and usually runs until 7:30 at night, plus an hour or two after dinner.

Q. That doesn't leave much time for politics, unless politics occupies your dreams and nightmares.

A. I sleep very well, I just wash those things out of my head.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.