September 30, 1971
Page 34404
MUSKIE BLOOPER
HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN OF TENNESSEE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, September 29, 1971
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I have read a very interesting editorial statement about the "Muskie blooper" and the possibility of a black Vice President. The article is from the September 22, 1971, Knoxville, Tenn., News-Sentinel, and follows:
MUSKIE BLOOPER
It is amazing how racially righteous the nation's politicians have become in the wake of a political blooper committed by Democratic presidential contender Sen. Edmund S. Muskie.
Muskie, at a meeting in Los Angeles earlier this month, ruled out a Negro running mate because, he said, the country is not yet ready to elect a black man to the vice presidency.
Naturally, the political leaders of both parties quickly disavowed any similar sentiments.
Muskie (who has an excellent Civil Rights record) is now trying to turn the issue to his own advantage by portraying himself as an honest man who tells it like it is.
Still, with all due respect to the Senator's candor, we think he may be selling the voters trifle short.
After all, the theory went, no Catholic ever could be elected President – until John F. Kennedy was in 1960.
No black man, it was said, ever could be elected senator in Massachusetts – until Edward W. Brooke was in 1966.
No black man ever could be elected state superintendent of public instruction in California – until Wilson D. Riles was in 1970. And no black man ever can be elected vice President of the United States – until he's nominated, and runs for the office.