1.
GV Capitol Building
0.13

2.
SCU Nixon (SOF) & Connally (SOF)
1.12


TRANSCRIPT: SEQ. 2:



NIXON: "At home or abroad, whether its a strong national defence or a strong foreign policy or a strong economy, they are not Republican problems or Democratic problems -- they are American problems. And we need to approach those problems with a bipartisan spirit. John Connally brings into this cabinet, at the very highest level, the viewpoint of a very great American, in my opinion, but also he brings the viewpoint of a leading member of the Democratic Party. It means that he will be able to present our programmes, both at home and abroad, not simply as partisan programmes, but as programmes that both Democrats and Republicans, we believe, can support."



CONNALLY: "I could not agree more that these are troublesome times, not only in matters of foreign affairs, but in domestic affairs as well. And I consider it a great privilege at any time to be able to serve my country in a capacity such as this."




Initials AH/DW/SGM/0053 AH/DW/SGM/0100



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: President Nixon yesterday (Monday) explained in Washington why he is relying on a leading Democrat, former Texas Governor John Connally, to help tackle current American economic difficulties. Mr. Connally has been appoint United States Treasury Secretary in place of outgoing Republican David Kennedy.

Fifty-two-year-old Mr Connally, wounded during the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, will be taking over the treasury hot seat next February.

It had been widely expected that President Nixon would replace Mr David Kennedy at the treasury in answer to growing criticism of economic policy. But the appointment of the Mr Connally came as a complete surprise. This is how the President explained the appointment:
Mr Connally said that he is under no illusions about the toughness of the post he is taking on: