920 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS
used in the cities and at the same time you said you stood behind the
President. Has your view changed or does your position still remain
the same?
A. i still haven't been provided with any intelligence that I think
I could rely on to change my judgment. Of course, nearly everyone
in political life today is in agreement that it is draining away a tre-
mendous amount of money that could be profitably employed in
solving some of the crucial domestic problems of our time. But on
the other hand I haven't seen anyone that's come up with a solution
to the continuation of what's going on over there, through the
negotiating period at least, and I notice in the morning paper that
some of the solutions that have been advanced by Governor Rocke-
feller have come under heavy fire from the South Vietnamese Gen-
eral Assembly — or National Assembly.
(Nixon Position on Crimes)
Q. Governor, at the last press conference you were asked what you
thought of Nixon's position that those persons convicted of crimes
involving the use of firearms should be given jail sentences. You said
you'd comment on it a few weeks from then.
A. Yes. I have looked at that and I think it's probably something
that should be left entirely to the court. I am not sure I am in sub-
stantial agreement that as a matter of fact in every instance — without
regard to any modifying or ameliorating circumstances that may exist
— that blanketwise you're going to impose a jail sentence. It seems
to me that these cases can vary in their severity greatly, and the per-
son to decide which ones get jail sentences and which ones may be
eligible for some kinder treatment would rest with the trial judge
after he's made a post-trial investigation of the matter.
(Frisks)
Q. Governor, on the same subject. Do you favor more frisks under
the current State statutes, frisks to make sure there aren't any con-
cealed weapons?
A. Well, I basically agree with the Attorney General's ideas about
the enforcement of the frisk law. And again this is an area — as so
many of them are — where the common sense of the law enforcement
agent who happens to be making the search at the moment is a very
important ingredient in preventing abuse.
I think sometimes in our effort to be totally aware of the safe-
guards of an individual we jeopardize the safety of the general public
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