1963, What is the Basic Difference Between Two Parties in Oklahoma?
Let us look back to 1963, July 7, Sunday, page 3 of The lawton Constitution., out of Lawton, Oklahoma, with the following page 3 headlines: "Democratic, Republican Party Chiefs Debate Upcoming Presidential, Senate Contests," with this article written by Gaylord and Bob Shaw.
Editor's note - Republicans and Democrats held different views on what's needed for Oklahoma and which party was best suited to provide it. The AP reporters interviewed the state chairman of each party to present these views before the state and national elections for the next 1964 election year.
Found on Newspapers.com powered by Newspapers.com
The Democratic and Republican party leaders in Oklahoma were busy mapping strategy for three key campaigns: president, U. S. Senate and governor (three years away).
It was predicted that all three races would be heated, perhaps the hottest in state history back in the early 1960's.
Republicans would be trying to follow the election last year of Henry Bellmon as the state's first GOP governor by sending a republican to Washington to fill the unexpired term of the late Democratic U. S. Sen. Robert S. Kerr.
The GOP would also be aiming at more republican domination in presidential elections. The GOP presidential nominee had carried the state in the past three elections.
Meanwhile the Democrats were preparing an all out fight to put the state back in the Democratic column in both the presidential and the gubernatorial elections.
-What was the basic difference between the two parties in Oklahoma in 1963?
Gene McGill, Democratic State Chairman said, "Democrats put the people first. Republicans put money and business first."
The Republican counterpart, State GOP Chairman Bill Burkett, said, "The Republican party feels an appropriation first should be necessary, then its desirability should be considered. The Democrats think first of desirability, then of necessity."
-What is the political feeling of the average Oklahoma in 1963?
Burkett replied, "I really think Oklahomans are basically conservative. They certainly aren't conservative to an extreme - thank goodness."
McGill replied, "Basically, everyone is at the same time both a conservative and a liberal. Oklahomans want a dollar's worth of value for a dollar spent and they're entitled to it. They're willing to invest their money to build a good economy for themselves and the state of Oklahoma."
-Do you think the compromises between the governor and the legislature during the past session were good for the state in eneral?
McGill replied, "Government in a democracy is always a compromise, and government is always a result of compromise. Last session the ideas proposed by Bellmon were not sound and the people didn't support them. Most of the compromises were made by the governor. The legislature passed a good program."
Burkett said, " Yes, and absolutely necessary. you can't legislate without compromise. But that would be lovely. Legislation should reflect the viewpoints of the legislatures - and with 120 viewpoints in the House and 44 viewpoints in the Senate, how can you pass anything without a compromise?"
| View or Add Comments (0 Comments)
| Receive
updates ( subscribers) |
Unsubscribe
