ROCKVILLE REPUBLICAN WOMEN'S CLUB 811

when the dust settled we found we faced a different world. The events
that have transpired in the past five weeks have had a more profound
impact on the American mind than the sum of political consequences
over the past five years.

I know that I have come away with new insight and new doubts.
I know that I am willing to keep an open mind, to hear new ideas,
and to view new and old faces in a different light. This is the Governor
as an individual speaking, as an individual not greatly different from
every other American at this moment. You cannot see your cities
burned before your eyes and not expect to question deeply and, per-
haps, to change.

This experience has been reflected politically in my decision to ac-
cept a Favorite Son candidacy. In the past I have opposed the Favorite
Son ploy as an artificial device to postpone an inevitable decision. Yet
there are times when delay is justified and this is one of those times.
Too much has happened too quickly to force a decision. We lack all
the facts and any perspective.

Maryland's delegation can go to Miami united in the confidence
that the choice is between two good candidates. And by August we
will know more — more about our minds and the minds of these men.
We will be more certain about our goals and the goals of these men.
Popularity is not at question for recent polls indicate either Repub-
lican is preferred over any Democratic contender for the Presidency.
Personality is not at question; rather it is principle, policy and the
Republican platform.

Great issues are at stake and here Governors have a clear role, a
definite responsibility and a right to influence their Party's platform.
Over the past two days, I have been attending regional platform hear-
ings sponsored by the Republican Governors' Association. Our inten-
tion is to assess national problems in terms of priority, and proposed
solutions in terms of potential. Our hope is to achieve consensus
among the twenty-six Republican Governors and thus forcefully in-
fluence the 1968 platform. Experience justifies our stand.

Today, the majority of America's elected Governors are Repub-
licans, and as Governors we represent the only Republicans currently
entrusted with high level executive responsibility. The executive ex-
perience is singular in that it is the focal point which coordinates all
administrative and legislative action required to implement policy.
With all due respect, I admit that a Democrat — President Truman —
best expressed the essence of executive responsibility when he said
"the buck stops here. "