NEWS CONFERENCE 869

we are going to try to be very flexible. I intend to go to the convention
as of this moment as a Favorite Son. That hasn't changed, and I
welcome efforts of any qualified Republican candidate in the State.
So we'll just have to see how things shape up.

Q. You have no idea of how successful their effort might be?

A. I haven't had any indications of a heavy Reagan effort in the State
as of this time.

Q. Any indications of a strong Reagan support in the State?
A. I have no indications of it. No.

Q. Governor, have you been instrumental in establishing the Nixon
Headquarters here in Annapolis?

A. I have had no part in it.

(On the National Scene)

Q. Governor, it has been reported by some people at the Southern
Governors' Conference that there is a fear among some of the poli-
ticians down there that George Wallace may take a heavy vote in the
South. Do you have this fear?

A. I don't know — I can't analyze the situation in the Southern
states. But I do know that what you say is true, that among the
Southern governors there is a feeling that Mr. Wallace is going to
run rather strongly in some of the Southern states. And I might say
that two of the governors attended Mr. Wallace's press conference
down there and I think they are actively supporting him. Three
actually — Governor Brewer, the new Governor of Alabama, Governor
John Bell Williams of Mississippi, and Governor Maddox — all ac-
tively and openly support Governor Wallace, and this has got to give
some strength there.

(Civil Rights and Civil Disobedience)

Q. Governor, when you were in Tulsa you made a statement that
you thought Richard Nixon would be more forceful in handling
racial matters than had the President. Would you explain that please?

A. Well, I didn't say that. I didn't say anything about racial mat-
ters. I indicated that I thought Mr. Nixon would be more forceful
in handling the problems of civil disobedience in this country and
they aren't necessarily restricted to racial matters. There's quite a
bit of student disobedience of a civil nature that isn't involved in any