‘Appropriate Thing to Do,’ Bentsen Says, Will Quit 3 Clubs

Democratic vice presidential nominee Lloyd Bentsen is resigning from three exclusive private clubs because it is “the appropriate thing to do,” his press secretary said today.

Bentsen instructed his assistant Wednesday to write resignation letters to River Oaks Country Club and Ramada Club in Houston and Middleburg Tennis Club in Middleburg, Va., said Jack DeVore, the Texas senator’s press secretary in Washington.

Bentsen would not state specifically why he decided to resign, DeVore said, adding the senator received no pressure to resign nor received any advice on the matter.

At least two of the clubs--River Oaks and Middleburg--have no black members, but spokesmen for both clubs said their rules do not prevent blacks from joining. The River Oaks club has several Latino members.