University of Delaware - Blue Hen Yearbook (Newark, DE)

Page 22 text:

RAMSEY CLARK never bugged anyone To many, the Watergate script characterizes what they always suspected was political reality. Now it is perceptible. The adage that all politicians are crooks is difficult to discredit. Still, a majority of the public is out of touch with Watergate. The focal point seems to depend on what the symbols of probity and morality dictate. Right now these symbols are the antitheses of the Republican party, how- ever unfair and unjust that may be. But they must not be allowed to become an indictment of our system of government. Watergate, per se, will be very therapeutic and beneficial in the long run. If nothing else, it has emphasized and even dramatized the fact that all is not well in Washington and in this country. An abiding interest must be maintained now, because public apathy is one of the sources of Watergate in the first place. At this juncture in our relatively short history, we proudly lay claim to the longest surviving democracy the world has ever seen and we characterize ourselves as the stalwarts of a free society, emphasiz- ing the advantages of human dignity, justice for all and man's ina- lienable right to govern himself. Let us live up to these tenets by being rational and cool and not vindictive, vicious and even destruc- tive with regard to Watergate and its ramifications.

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DANIEL ELLSBERG - Tonight is the fourth anniversary of the night Tony Russo and I be- gan to xerox the Pentagon Papers. I did expect to go to prison forever for what I had done. The guestion arises: Was it an aberrant ad- ministration that caused this loss of moral and philosophical direction or who confused our national goals and ideals by touting watch what we say. not what we do? Former Attor- ney General John Mitchell. How did such a seemingly innocuous episode snowball into the ultimate test of our system? The answer to the second question rests with the system it- selt. In a free society our weaknesses and shortcomings are manifest for all to see and therein lies our strength. Immunity from pro- sacution is an ex post facto device. The pur- suit of the truth is inherent to a viable United States. The answer to the first question is yes. Our laws are far from perfect, but fai- lure to observe legal guidelines is not neces- sarily due to imperfect and faulty laws. Men formulate the law and only men can decide whether or not to abide by it. Some in the Nixon administration were wil- ling to disregard some of the laws in order to perpetuate themselves in power. The perjur- ers, burglers, buggers and bunglers were team players. And like wayward children we did not listen, but rather watched what they did. 17

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GABRIEL KOLKO Secrecy Is used to preserve the facade of decency, especially when foul deeds are being committed. REFLECTIONS ON THE 'CRISIS' by Eileen Dutka reprinted from The Review Ms. Dutka is a sophomore psychology major who is the Assistant Features Editor for The Review, the campus newspaper. In September the list looked almost unbelievable. Senator Sam. The man who leaked the Pentagon Pap- ers. The man who uncovered Watergate. A White House enemy from CBS News. A former U.S. Attorney General. In all, there were seven U.S. senators, eight journalists, four U.S. representatives and seven other public figures. The Crisis in Confidence is over and those of us who were a part of the series walked out of the 24th lecture with a new sense of how this thing called Watergate got started and why it got as far as it did. Ferhaps for the first time in the sordid conglomeration of lies, counter-lies, inoperative statements and plumber operations, the whole picture began to develop . . CARL ROWAN The crisis in confidence found its well spring within you and will be there as long as you really don't give a damn. We don't nead a Watergate to know we face a crisis. 18