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NEWS CONFERENCE
October 26, 1967

OPENING STATEMENTS BY THE GOVERNOR

I would like to clear up at the outset of this news conference a mis-
understanding that arose last week regarding the accessibility of Gov-
ernment House to the general public. It occurred while Mrs. Agnew
and I were away for the National Governors' Conference, and since
the press helped us get into this jam, I would appreciate it very much
if you would help us get out of it.

First of all, there is no charge to visit Government House and there
never has been, to my knowledge, under any governor. Mrs. Agnew
and I have made it a practice to open the mansion to the public twice
a week — every Tuesday and Thursday between 10: 30 a. m. and 3: 30
p. m. We have only one request: that arrangements be made in advance
so there can be someone available to show visitors through the public
rooms. While I make no claim that a man's home is his castle, I do
believe that even a governor is entitled to some privacy for himself
and his family.

The misunderstanding last week arose from our trying to be helpful
to Historic Annapolis, Incorporated, a nonprofit preservation society
which was conducting tours of old homes in the city. We acceded to
their request that Government House be added to their Sunday tour
as an extra attraction, the same as it is on the House and Garden
Pilgrimage each year. The price of $3. 50 was the price of the entire
tour ticket, not the admission to Government House. No tickets were
sold at Government House and no money was collected there.

The public is welcome any Tuesday and Thursday, but we would

appreciate arrangements being made in advance.

The second subject I would like to touch on, before we go into
question and answer, concerns the action taken collectively at the
recent National Governors' Conference by the Republican governors.
I refer specifically to the Vietnam resolution that was presented to
that conference but was procedurally killed by action of the Repub-
lican governors acting in concert.

First of all, I want to emphasize that my position as an individual in
support of President Johnson remains consistent and probably even
stronger than ever. I fully endorse what the President is doing with re-
gard to the Vietnam war. But my position as an individual does not