i
Eighty-three years of editorial freedom
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan
420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Mi. 48104
- News Phone: 764-0552
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1973
Ward boundary manipulation
THE ASSERTION by City Council Re-
publicans that their ward bounda-
ries plan shoved through city council last
Monday night will correct supposed er-
rors in the previous plan has a very hol-
low ring.
The previous plan, passed by an HRP-
Democratic coalition last December, has
been under continuous attack by Repub-
licans ever since, both in the council and
in the courts. They asserted that the
HRP-Democrat plan was so riddled with
"errors" that it was unconstitutional.
Mayor James Stephenson therefore
proposed the changes made by the redis-
tricting plan passed Monday to correct
those errors. However, as HRP and Demo-
cratic council members have noted, the
Republican changes correct few of the
"errors" cited in the previous plan.
In effect, the new ward boundaries
seem merely to be an unabashed attempt
to insure Republican victories in the
Fourth Ward city council elections. It ap-
pears that the only "error" in the pre-
vious boundaries which really concerned
the GOP was that it was not gerryman-
dered in their favor.
THE FUTURE of the Republican ward
boundaries plan is now unclear, due to
pending court action on the previous
HRP-Democrat plan. That plan was sent
back to the council by the Washtenaw
Circuit Court for review by the council.
Lawyers for the Democrats and HRP
have challenged that decision, and ac-
tion on the case is pending before the
state Supreme Court.
If the decision goes against the HRP and
Democrats and the Republican plan is
subsequently upheld, then Republican
control of City Council will be much fa-
cilitated; a possibility we view with much
appreheision.
For those who favor progressive ac-
tion to. attack the numerous problemst
facing the community, continued Repub-
lican control of city government would
present a major obstacle to change.
In light of this, approval of the pro-
posed initiative and referendum city
charter amendment being drawn up by
the Women's Political Committee would
become even more imperative. Such an
amendment would be helpful in overcom-
ing the effects of Republican efforts to
gain political hegemony in the name of
correcting ward districting "errors.".
No comment
"LET ME SAY right now, I have no expectation
of being indicted and I am not going to face any
contingent thinking of that type this time."
-Spiro Agnew
Aug. 8
"THEY JUST couldn't plan a scenario as ridiculous
as what's been going on, and if it keeps on they're
going to have to get them clown suits."
-Sen. William Saxbe (R-Ohio)
"I HEREBY resign my office of Vice President of
the United States, effective immediately."
-Spiro Agnew
Oct. 10
"Dear Ted:
. . . As Vice President, you have addressed the
great issues of our times with courage and candor.
Your strong patriotism, and your profound dedication
to the welfare of the nation, have been an inspiration
to all who have served with you as well as to millions
of others throughout the country . .."
-Richard Nixon
Oct. 10
"THE UNITED STATES Attorney for the District
of Maryland charges that:
On or about the 23rd day of April, 1968, in the
District of Maryland, Spiro T. Agnew, a resident of
Annapolis, Maryland, who during the calendar year
1967 was married, did wilfully and knowingly attempt
to evade and defeat a large part of the income tax
due and owing by him and his wife to the United
States of America for the calendar year 1967..."
-Excerpt from the text of a state-
ment by George Beall, U.S. At-
torney, of the charge to which
Spiro Agnew pleaded no contest.
"VICE PRESIDENT Agnew has resigned. Accord-
ing to a statement by his secretary, Vice President
Agnew has resigned. And now back to the ballgame."
-N.B.C. correspondent Edwin
Newman, interrupting the play-
off game between the Mets and
the Reds.
Oct. 10
"THE COUNTRY is well rid of him. The man
is a crook."
-James Thompson
Federal Prosecutor, northern
Illinois
Oct. 10
"WHILE IT IS sad and tragic that the second
highest elected official in the United States has re-
signed from office, I nonetheless feel that the best
interests of the American people have been served -.-
Nixon and Agnew and their gang of thieves, liars
and cheaters have committed crimes against t h e
American people which can never be adequately pun-
ished. I have serious doubts that the damage they
have done to America can ever be repaired."
-State Rep. Jackie Vaughn
Oct. 10
"I'M FIRMLY convinced that in all the circum-
stances leniency is justified."
-Atty. Gen. Elliot Richardson
Oct. 11
"HE GOT OFF easy. They should have nailed the
mother."
-David Goldstein, state-
deputy defender, Oct. 10
By BETH NISSEN
IT WOULD TAKE a Clifford Irv-
ing to write a political eulogy
for Spiro Agnew; a eulogy com-
mends the past with high praise.
It is easier to write an epitaph,
commemorating a political career
that has ended.
Even to the politically astute,
the Wednesday announcement of
resignation was a partial shock.
For some, it was only a matter of
time before the wry sarcastic pre-
dictions of the political cartoonists
became history. But there was still
shock at the documented admission
of guilt by a member of the sus-
pect administration. Before the
resignation, perhaps some still
held a subconscious idea that a
vengeance-hungry media was fab-.
ricating the entire scandal and
the fabric of our government was
really strong and true. That self-
deception is now undeniably shat-
tered.
Agnew's earlier administration
years were characterized by flam-
boyant, colorfulremarks t h a t
caught the imagination of the pub-
lic and the resentment of the vic-
tims. He then took up a typical
second-in-command role of Presi-
dential stand-in, travelling, shak-
ing hands, nodding. He was seen
struggling to improve his golf
score and suffering political blush-
es overtFrank Sinatra, his equi-
valent to Bebe Rebozo. And for
a few months, he was precariously
perched on a Washington hero's
pedestal as the man who was sing-
ularly unwetted by Watergate wav-
es.
THE DEMISE of Spiro Agnew
has added another pockmark to
the diseased image of American
government. Plagued with an act-
ing administration of denials, in-
vestigations, and never-ending
charges, all of dlemocracy is badly
in need of a face life. Those in-
volved in politics on local and
community levels are defensive
against a newly suspicious and
more politically awake public, and
the role of special investigator in.
the Watergate has become a na-
tional hobby among amateur Arch-
ibald Coxes. Not since McCarthy
has an investigation been so fol-
lowed, and more people are lis-
tening to nightly news commentar-
ies than ever before. And we have
a Father Christmas in Sam Er-
yin, a folk hero dripping simple
honesty.
There are still some who - de-
spite Watergate and Agnew -
maintain that an honest politician
is not an anomalous nonentity.
One wouldflike tobelieveuthe en-
chanting fairy tale of our fore-
fathers that a person can still be-
come a member of high govern-
ment without shady alley deals,
but some argue thatthe days when
the roots of Presidents could be
in log cabins is extinct along with
60c-a-pound hamburger.
THE MOMENT of silence follow-
ihg the shameful death of Spiro
Agnew's national political career
is more disbelief than solemn re-
gret. But Agnew was not dormant
during his six years.. He was far
more visible than the elusive Pre-
sident, who cloaked himself in
obscurity. He incited the indigna-
tion of the media with his vinidic-
tive comments,dcultivating a thirst
for just revenge that manifested
itself in the careful scrutiny and
criticism that helped uncover Wat-
ergate and Agnew's crime. He
made such a Buckleyan word as
"effete" a household word along
with his sneeze-sounding n a m e.
Word has it he improved his golf
score as well.
It is mere speculation what he
will do now. His career may be-
come a reverse of Ronald Reag-
an's; connections with Sinatra may
prompt a Hollywood career. He
has proved himself an actor, hav-
ing vehemently denied any accu-
sations with a more honest expres-
sion on his Grecian profile, than
Ehrlichman could ever hope to
achieve. And Agnew's Nielsen rat-
ings may be better than his Gal-
lup ratings ever were.
SPIRO AGNEW is the most in-
famous Vice President in American
history; no other Vice President
has resigned because of criminal
charges and no other Vice Presi-
dent has hadrto contend with the
national notoriety of a guilty ex-
official in disgrace. That notoriety
was spread with some smug glee
by his arch nemesis, the media.
And Spiro Agnew must live with
that video-taped ghost the rest of
his life.
With a proverbial tail tucked be-
tween his legs, Agnew must now
tie up loose ends in Washington,
clean out his desk and disconnect
his bugged phone.
With true humanism, it is to be
hoped that Agnew's political death
will not paralyze his personal life
,or condemn his soul; it may be
he can be saved for a ,productive
life. After carefully tabulating the
indulgences he may have already
piurchased to secure his political
soul, we should perhaps allow him
to rest in peace.
Perhaps a quote of Robert Lewis
Stevenson will serve as an ade-
quate grave inscription. "Guilt,"
said Stevenson, "is the unfortunate
circumstance that hangs people."
paragraphics
New power for what ends?
IN A SPEECH in Washington Thursday,
Sen. Sam Ervin (D.-N.C.) urged that
Congress reassert its "primary responsi-
bility for the determination of substan-
tive foreign policy."
Ervin attacked what he called the com-
mon notion that "American foreign re-
lations are within the domain of the
President."
Considering the actions that Presidents
of this country have taken in recent
years, often without the advice or con-
sent of Congress, Ervin's call for Congres-
TODAY'S STAFF:
News: Charlie Coleman, Della DiPietro,
Cindy Hill, Chris Parks, Gene Robinson
Editorial Page: Zachary Schiller, E r i c
Schoch
Arts Page: Diane Levick, Mara Shapiro
Photo Technician: Ken Fink
Sports Staff
DAN BORUS
Sports Editor
FRANK LONGO
Managing Sports Editor
BOB McGINN ............... Executive Sports Editor
CHUCK BLOOM ............... Associate Sports Editor
JOEL GREER................Associate Sports Editor
RICH STUCK.............Contributing Sports Editor
BOB HEUER .. .-Cnrbtg Contributing Sports Editor
NIGHT EDITORS: Jeff Chown, Brian Deming, Jim
Ecker, Marc Feldman, G e o r g e Hastings, Marcia
Merker Roger Rossiter. Theresa Swedo
STAFF: Barry Argenbright, Bill Crane. Richard Fla-
herty, Cary Fotias, Andy Glazer, Leba Hertz, John
Kahler, Mike Lisull. Jeffrey Milgrom, Tom Pyden,
Leslie Riester, Jeff Schiller, Bill Stieg. Fred Upton
sional reassertion of its powers is laud-
able. In light of the Congressional actions
anal inactions during those years, how-
ever, it is not surprising that foreign
policy has been within the domain of the
President.
Ervin did concede that considerable re-
sponsibility must lie with the Congress,
which has been unwilling to assert its
"uncontested and vast" powers in foreign
affairs.
SINCE THE TIME Congress left unques-
tioned Executive and military ac-
counts of the Tonkin Gulf incident, it
had ample opportunities to assert its pow-
ers by cutting off funding for the Viet-
nam War. Much rhetoric issued from the
halls of Congress on the issue, but the
votes necessary to end the fighting never
materialized.
The Congress has-rarely shown .a will-
ingness to effectively battle the President
on many issues. Congress infrequently
overrides the Presidential vetoes that reg-
ularly em nate from the White House.
The Congressional reaction to the re-
cent Chile coup is another example. There
has been no investigation of any sort on
possible U. S. involvement in the coup.
No Congressional protest was raised when
the United States immediately recogniz-
ed the junta, which is presiding over a
reign of terror in that country.
Congressional reassertion of power in
the area of foreign affairs would be an
improvement over the present state of
Presidential hegemony, but only if the
Congress began accumulating a better re-
cord than it has in the past.
10'\
Fond
By DIANE LEVICK
Arts Editor
Speaking with an air of fond
remembrance, Bela Bartok, Jr. re-
lated to an audience in Rackham
yesterday what previous works
have failed to capture of his late
:omposer father: his personality.
Soon to begin a tour of the U.S.
with University piano professor
Gyorgy Sandor, Bartok, Jr., a Hun-
garian, read for the first time a
description in English of his fath-
er's beliefs, interests and habits.
Bartok Jr., a retired construc-
tion engineer, cited his father's
profound love for "nature, free-
:om, and his country." Yet, the
memories
of
a
father
:omposer collected authentic folk
music not only in his own country,
but throughout central Europe and
turkey, integrating its novelty and
spirit into his own compositions.
The white-haired Bartok, Jr.
painted the picture of his father
as an "easy and affectionate' man
whose love of family reflected in
his teaching of young music stu-
dents. "He laid foundations for the
musical education of children,"
said Bartok, Jr. "He wrote his
books to give the younger gener-
ation a good start. He taught by
example, never using force."
Although Bartok, Sr. was "a
great believer in sunlight and fresh
air," according to his son, he had
o "distractions" - theater or
ather hobbies -- his "distraction"
was his work.
The composer worked in seclus-
ion. He would carefully seal him-
self off when he practiced piano,
not only for his own concentration,
but also in consideration of oth-
ers.
Bartok, Jr., emphasized t h a t ,
though his father was not a poli-
tical activist, he embraced a wide
humanistic philosophy. "His love
for Hungary never exceeded t h e
limits of objectivity," said the
son, adding that his father had no
national prejudices. Bartok, Sr.,
in fact, knew 15 languages, which
helped him immensely in his col-
lecting.
Exposed to jazz during one of his
U.S. tours, he even made a point
to record Benny Goodman, whose
music fascinated him. It was in-
deed collecting and composing,
said Bartok, Jr., which his father
loved. He was "not fond" of con-
certizing.
Unfortunately, royalties alone
brought little income to the com-
poser while he worked in t h i s
country. He died of leukemia in
1945, practically penniless.
Throwing a bit more light onto
Bartok, Sr.'s political sentiments,
Sandor, also present at yesterday's
lecture, said "In 1935, he made a
public declaration; heforbid his
compositions to be performed in
totalitarian countries."
Sanndor, a former student of Bar-
tok, Sr., gave a recital last night
at Rackham, including some of
Bartok's works. Sandor plans. to
perform in New York, San Fran-
cisco, and other U.S. cities with
Bartok, Jr. delivering his remin-
isces.
First in film history:
Super cinema series
.7'
"72i r
..-. / _____ -,~2~4'i- ,, S
By DAVID BLOMQUIST
On Oct. 29, the curtain will go
up for the first time on one of the
most fascinating motion picture
projects ever undertaken: t h e
American Film Theatre (AFT).
Shown locally at the Fox Vil-
lage theatre, the nationally-circu-
lated films will be retired from
distribution, not to be seen again
for perhaps as long as five years.
Described by producer E 1 i
Landau as "a national theatre that
uses film as its ultimate medium",
the $12 million project involves
eight motion picture versions of
great Broadway and London stage
productions. Each film will be
presented only four times - two
matinees and two evening per-
formances - at 500 selected thea-
tres acree the country on an ex-
clusively season ticket basis.
Among shows scheduled for
AFT's first season are Harold Pin-
ter's The Homecoming, Edward
Albee's A Delicate Balance, and
Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters.
Cast members include Katherine
Hepburn, Zero Mostel, Melba
Moore, Lee Marvin, and Laurence
Olivier.
Larry Frank, public relations re-
presentative for AFT, says that
tional market on a large scale,"
he explains.
AFT offers a special $16 matinee
season rate to college students.
Application forms are available at
the Fox Village.
Although AFT hopes that t h e
limit of four showings per film
will "make it special", Frank ad-
mits that AFT was unable to con-
vince theater owners to schedule
Producer Landau describes AFT
as 'an achievement unequalled in
the history of the theatre." "No
'live' theatre group could possibly
present eight productions of this
scope or quality in a single season
or afford to employ such an array
of great artists and creative tal-
ent," Landau continues.
Landau's description, if any-
thing, is an understatement of the
tremendous effort underway tc
make AFT a success. The proof, of
course, will still be in the pudding
- and that will be seen at the end
of this month.
T.V.
highlights
Daily Photo by KEN FINK
Gyorgy Sandor (left) and Bela Bartok, Jr.
9 4 M o v i e - "ThesAnderson
Tapes", 1971, with Sean Con-
nery.
10 56 American Ballet Theatre -
Black Swan from Tchaikov-
sky's "Swan Lake", Anthony
Trudors "Pillar of reire".
11:30 4 Burt Reynolds Late Show -
FILM-Cinema II presents Strick's Tropic of Cancer tonight
at 7, 9 and Goddard's Masculin-Feminin tomorrow night
at 7. 9 in Aud. A: Cinema Guild shows Lumet's The Fugi-