Jack Kemp’s Candidacy

In his announcement throwing his hat into the ring for the Republican nomination for President in 1988, Rep. Jack Kemp of New York virtually calls for the United States to go to war against several nations whose governments he does not like.

Kemp mentions Angola, Mozambique, Nicaragua, and Afghanistan. He said, “I don’t think it’s going to require American blood,” but the entire tenor of his message carries the approach of our continued involvement in military adventures in the countries he mentioned.

Americans have already shed blood in the war in Nicaragua. Kemp’s call is for continuation of a Ronald Reagan policy that has been rejected by the American people in every poll taken about Nicaragua. That war is apparently not enough for Jack Kemp. He seeks to continue the Reagan approach of going at every foreign policy problem by using armed force.

It is regretable to hear this note from even one presidential candidate. Hopefully, the Republican Party will not lend its support to such a policy and will reject Kemp as its presidential candidate. Should the GOP nominate Kemp, I trust the eventual general election would bring an overwhelming repudiation of Kemp.

To be conservative on domestic questions such as abortion and supply-side economics is one thing; to seek to drag us into wars is another. With the very existence of humanity itself threatened by the danger of nuclear war, this would be the time to attempt solution of foreign policy differences via amicable means through negotiations.

ROY A. LEIB

Santa Monica