Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Individual Republican delegate now getting much attention.
REPORTER: Bob Schieffer

(NYC) Report on uncommitted delegate New York state senate William Conklin. [CONKLIN - says he wants to know where candidates stand on former federal employees in New York City now unemployed; wants to know Fort Hamilton isn't going to be closed; wants to know something will be done about Army base with bldgs. just standing idle.] Conklin turned down Ford's invitation to White House with rest of New York delegation. Says he prefers both candidates come to Brooklyn. [CONKLIN - says if he were either candidate and had any awareness of 4th largest city in United States he would be in there with both feet.] Neither candidate has called Conklin, but Vice President Nelson Rockefeller has and promised to have aide look into Conklin's complaint. [CONKLIN - says he hasn't heard from Rockefeller. Although convention not till August 15, he'd still like to hear something.] Pressures on Conklin from both headquarters noted. [CONKLIN - says pressure comes from feeling he has to answer phone, can't avoid people.] Local politics also make decision difficult. His own party leader is Reagan supporter and state party hierarchy is for Ford. [CONKLIN - says if his is the decisive vote at conv., he feels he will be able to rise to occasion.] Both candidates now say they have enough votes without Conklin's.
REPORTER: Morton Dean