956

STATEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND,
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

August 11, 1968

My fellow Marylanders, I would like to report to you tonight on
some of the momentous events of the past few days and my plans for
the immediate future. I am speaking to you from San Diego, Cali-
fornia, where I am meeting with Mr. Nixon and key members of his
campaign staff to plan and coordinate our efforts for the forthcoming
national election. Although these strategy sessions will continue
throughout the week, it is my personal plan to return to Maryland
around mid-week for several days to attend to affairs of the Gover-
nor's office. I will then return to California to complete the sessions
here. My absence from the State is temporary, and this is the sort of
pattern that I will attempt to follow throughout the campaign.

To clear up any confusion that may exist about my status as Gov-
ernor, let me assure you that I will continue to discharge the con-
stitutional and statutory requirements of that office throughout the
campaign. I have no intention of resigning, no matter how much
that might be desired by some person coveting the office for himself
or someone else. In this connection, I will be fulfilling the same sort
of role followed by many other national political candidates of the
past — including Senators John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson,
Governors Earl Warren and Thomas E. Dewey and, in this present
year of dramatic and startling political developments, Governors Nel-
son Rockefeller, George Romney and Ronald Reagan, as well as
Senator Eugene McCarthy.

In this age of jet air travel and instant communication, I am within
four hours of our State from any point in the Continental United
States. And in daily telephone contact with my office in Annapolis,
I will continue to make all of the final decisions of the office of Gov-
ernor on the basis of information furnished to me by key staff per-
sonnel who will man the office in the same manner they would if I
were on a vacation or a trip to some other state or country.

The very able Secretary of State of Maryland, C. Stanley Blair, a
former member of the Legislature who has been one of my top staff
members since I assumed the office of Governor, will function as
chief of staff in charge of the day-to-day operations of the office. But
Mr. Blair will not be making any policy decisions — he will merely
be reporting to me daily to inform, advise and recommend. He will