From the S&S archives:
Humphrey backs space program to the hilt

TOKYO — America's space program should not be stopped or slowed down because of the near-disaster that happened to Apollo 13, former U.S. Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey said here Thursday.

He spoke at a luncheon given by the Tokyo office of Encyclopaedia Britannica (Japan) Inc. in Shinjuku. Humphrey serves as a member of the firm's international board of directors.

Humphrey also discussed subjects ranging from the Vietnam troop pull-out to violent protests.

Commenting on the space program,. Humphrey said:

"This program should not be stopped, hindered or slowed down. We all have to recognize that these great explorations into the unknowns of space are hazardous. There is always the possibility something will go wrong. We've been very fortunate up to date with only one tragedy."

Humphrey said, "It represents an important part of modern life. It is tied into our modern technology and science and plays a key role in the industrial development of the United States and the whole world in terms of the discoveries we make in electronics, computerization, new metals, and new fabrics.

"Also, the space program has a very great role to play in the possibility of arms control and disarmament. It makes possible the supervision and monitoring of those efforts. Likewise, it can be helpful in predicting weather, saving lives and property.

"The earth resources satellite program can be helpful in discovering new minerals, plant disease, and exploring the depths of the ocean," Humphrey concluded.

On the return of Okinawa to Japan, Humphrey said he thought it was "necessary and long overdue.

"Okinawa had become a source of friction between our two countries. The recent agreement makes good sense and is sound policy. I had encouraged that sort of a solution."

The former vice-president showed some of his old form as an outspoken speaker as he spoke about the recent federal pay raise.

"I think it was certainly justified," he said. "The postal workers had been underpaid. When a man works for the government of the United States for 20 years and the maximum income he can get is a little over $8,000, I think there's something wrong.

"When I was in Congress we had the understanding that as civilian pay raises went through, so did military pay raises," he said.

On the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) now being held in Vienna, he said, "I have hopes for these talks — I think they're urgently needed. They may be difficult and time-consuming but it is in our national interest and in the interest of world peace that these talks be successful."

In a frank appraisal of Nixon's struggle for Senate confirmation of a chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Humphrey said, "I opposed both the confirmation of Haynsworth and Carswell.

"I think the minimum qualification for a man to serve on the court of the United States — a man who serves for life, who not only interprets the law but actually makes law, and over whom there is no check — is that he be totally free of any racial bias or racial prejudice."

Commenting on violent protests, Humphrey said, "It has spread again to our college campuses. I regret to say this but I'm afraid the violence merely strengthens the forces of reaction in our country rather than the forces of moderation.

"There's one way to protest and that's by peaceful dissent. So the job today is for sensible people who believe in the processes of democracy, to separate the peaceful, non-violent demonstrator from the violent one. Violence lends itself to repressive measures and doesn't help the situation at all."

Concluding with comments on Vice President Agnew's verbal attack on the nation's news media, Humphrey said, "Any man who is in public office has problems with the press. The problem is what to do about them.

"I think it's fair to say there are times when the press exaggerates, or to put it this way, when you try to make a selection as to what is news, it is very difficult to make.

"But I don't believe it's good for a high government official to let his words be as if they're censorship and repressive. I think this is most unfortunate."