BOWIE STATE COLLEGE 743

(Republican Presidential Nomination)

Q. Governor, do you mind clarifying just once what your situation
is with regard to the Republican presidential nomination? Have you
jumped off the Rockefeller scooter, or whatever it is, completely and
are you now looking around for a second choice?

A. Well a scooter is a two-wheel device that can't remain upright
unless it's running [laughter] and this scooter seems to have been
stopped for the moment. It's pretty difficult to remain on that scooter.
Whether the scooter will resume its momentum and I will jump back
on it or not is a question to be seen. I will say this — I still think
Nelson Rockefeller is the best candidate the Republican Party could
offer to the electorate in November. But having someone who is not
willing to become a candidate be the best candidate is certainly no
way to elect anybody, so I am in the process of revising and watching
and waiting to see what's going to happen. I don't have anyone who's
running at the moment that I can support. I don't see the prospect
of this happening, as I had hoped it would happen, up to the point of
the disavowal of interest that took place last week.

Q. Well, then why are you talking to Mr. Nixon?

A. Oh, I like Mr. Nixon and he's a very important man in our
party and probably the front-runner for the nomination. I am inter-
ested in his opinions — I think he's interested in my opinions and
that's why I am talking with him.

Q. It doesn't sound like you can find a Republican, Sir; will you vote
Democratic if you can't find a Republican?

A. I can't imagine that happening this year.

STATEMENT ON BOWIE STATE COLLEGE
March 30, 1968

Today's events at Bowie State College should amply demonstrate
that this administration has no intention of yielding to the demands
and threats of those who would take matters in their own hands and
attempt to run the State government.

It is unfortunate that students, who no doubt have legitimate griev-
ances, came under the spell of outside agitators and sought to redress
these grievances through occupation of the college administration