Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Report on Panama Canal and political issue.
REPORTER: David Brinkley

(Portland, OR) Without canal issue, Ronald Reagan might not still be in Republican presidential race. [REAGAN - says Americans have pride in canal and don't want to give it away.]
REPORTER: Tom Pettit

(Panama) Canal shown.
REPORTER: Tom Pettit

(Aboard Plane) [REAGAN - says never thought of canal as an issue. New Hampshire people brought the issue up.] He didn't exploit issue and lost New Hampshire and Florida primaries.
REPORTER: Tom Pettit

(North Carolina) Reagan won 1st primary in North Carolina. Ford pushed to defensive. Reagan won Texas, IN and Nebraska partly by showing Ford as man who would give away canal and US nil. supremacy.
REPORTER: Tom Pettit

(No location given) Canal issue works in southeastern states like Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky. [REAGAN - shouldn't negotiate giveaway of Canal.] Ford speaks of peace and preparedness to imply Reagan is warmonger or demagogue due to canal issue. [FORO - says United States can fight or talk about disagreements with other ntns.] [REAGAN - says United States shouldn't negotiate under threat of force.] [FORD - says foolhardy to break off negotiations.] [REAGAN - asks what it'll mean if United States gives up whatever is asked.] [FORD - says threats are risky and old-fashioned.]
REPORTER: Tom Pettit

(OR) Ford expected to win Oregon primary. Oregon has tradition of liberal Republican and distaste for war. Canal issue could deadlock convention by getting more votes for Reagan.
REPORTER: Tom Pettit