Vice President Ford: "Why I Will Not Run in '76": An Exclusive Interview

Now the people involved are saying that a technical investigation of the authenticity of the tapes might take several weeks. That could mean it might be after New Year's before anybody knows what's in the tapes. That's very unfortunate. I think that if they have transcripts of the tapes' contents, the White House ought to release them right now—the sooner the better.

Q  Is there a question that some of the tapes might contain sensitive material relating to national security?

A  As I understand it, Judge [John J.] Sirica, in camera, is going to weed out those portions of the tapes that are not relevant to the judicial proceedings. You could always have a difference of opinion as to what is relevant and what the White House feels would involve national security. Maybe that's why the White House is somewhat hesitant. I haven't discussed this in detailed.

Q  Is the Special Prosecutor having any trouble getting other White House files, besides the tapes?

A  I haven't gotten into the details of that, either. My understanding is that the White House is going to co-operate fully.

Q  Aside from the national-security problem, do you see any obstacle to the President's turning over anything that's sought by the court?

A  I wouldn't think so.

Q  Do you see the principle of executive privilege as an obstacle?

A  It appears now that the President has decided that in the national interest, executive privilege ought to—in effect—be waived.

I think that was a wise decision.

PROSPECTS NOW FOR REPUBLICANS

Q  What effect is the Watergate case and its related affairs likely to have on next year's congressional elections?

A  My theory is that if the world is at peace, which I think it will be, and if our economy is healthy, which I think it will be, then I don't think Watergate will have much impact.

On the other hand, if we are having serious problems diplomatically, militarily or economically, then Watergate will be an issue that will get blown up out of all proportion to its real magnitude.

Q  Will it still be around as an issue in 1976?

A  I hope not.

Q  How can the Republican Party—as distinct from the President—overcome the political effects of Watergate?

A  In the first place—and I say this in political gatherings—there isn't a Republican member of the House or Senate that was involved in Watergate. No party organization—the Republican National Committee or any other Republican organization—had any involvement. It was a relative handful of misguided individuals who precipitated the Watergate crisis.

So, since the party has no involvement and no incumbent candidate has any involvement, the Republican Party and the individual candidate can campaign on the record.

Q  Are some Republican candidates trying to disassociate themselves from Watergate by demonstrating their independence from the White House?

A  It's quite interesting to see the letters we get. A lot of letters really castigate some Republicans for not supporting the President.

Q You have recently taken the lead in reviving the Republican Co-ordinating Committee. Why? What is that organization intended to do?

A  The re-establishment, or the revival, of the Republican Co-ordinating Committee was stimulated by Senator [Hugh] Scott [Senate Republican Leader] and George Bush [the Republican National Chairman] and myself, because we felt it had done a good job in '65, '66 and up through '68, at a time when we were at a low, low level. We were a lot lower in '65 than we are today, in my judgment.