786 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

Q. What is your reaction to Governor Rockefeller's re-entry into the
race?

A. I think it is very good for the Republican Party that we have
two candidates. Certainly Governor Rockefeller, as I said on many
occasions, is a highly qualified person and may very well provide a
formidable candidacy for the election in November. I do think a lot
of things have happened since his withdrawal on March 21st, and I
think it's a new ball game. I think I've got to take another look at
this situation.

Q. Are you less enthusiastic, Governor, now for Rockefeller's can-
didacy?

A. No. I'm not a bit less enthusiastic for Governor Rockefeller's
candidacy but I'm much more enthusiastic for Mr. Nixon's candidacy
than I was before. This comes about because of what I consider to be
a series of extremely astute, knowledgeable statements that Nixon
has made, not only on the racial situation with regard to private
enterprise in the ghettos, but other statements that he has made of a
general nature and day to day press exchanges.

Q. Is this to say, then, that you favor Nixon over Rockefeller?

A. Now you know I didn't say that.

Q. Have you talked with Mr. Nixon, Governor?

A. I haven't talked to Mr. Nixon since I met with him in New York.
I guess that's been over a month ago.

Q. Do you expect to talk to both Mr. Nixon and Rockefeller again
before [interruption]?

A. Oh yes, I expect to have several conversations with the two can-
didates that are announced, and maybe even with a few that are not
yet announced.

Q. Governor, do you anticipate endorsing one of the candidates prior
to the convention?

A. Well, that will depend on the development of the situation. I've
never been a person to hold back any longer than I consider myself
to be sincerely undecided about where I was going. But I do have to
consider that I am responsible for a delegation who have already in-
dicated they desire to entrust me with a first ballot consensus. So
I've got to move very cautiously in this area to be sure I reflect their
intentions.