Seeking a Coalition

One Republican with some firm ideas on how to make the G.O.P. more attractive to more voters is Michigan Congressman Gerald R. Ford. Writing in FORTUNE for January, Ford has some solid advice for his Republican colleagues in the Congress.

"We must come forward on a planned and thoughtful basis with attractive, workable alternatives to Administration proposals," Ford insists. "Our aim should be an affirmative and specific Republican legislative program for the 89th Congress, produced as early as possible in the session. We must stake out our positions independently of any preplanning with the Southern Democratic leadership so as to correct the frequently distorted image of a Republican-Southern Democratic coalition. We must also be prepared, when the facts justify it, to support Administration measures. We should be lobbyists for the taxpayer at all times, and critics when we must."

Expectations. Who can best direct such a strategy? In the House of Representatives, an impressive number of Republicans believe that Jerry Ford is the most likely man. And last week Ford was busy trying to organize a G.O.P. coalition of his own-one embracing liberals, moderates and conservatives in a drive to elect Ford as House minority leader, a post now held by Indiana's Charles Halleck.

An eager group of young Republicans supporting Ford plotted strategy in secret meetings, worked hard to round up votes. At week's end they thought they could count the 71 needed to elect Ford by secret ballot in a party caucus on Jan. 4. But they conceded that many of these votes were shaky-especially if Halleck fights all out to stay on top.

Halleck was doing just that. Grim and determined, he called a news conference, declared: "I expect to continue as Republican minority leader in the House of Representatives, and will do all that I properly and reasonably can to that end." He personally and privately reminded Republican colleagues of precisely what each owed him for past favors.

True to Form. In such a close fight, the outcome could hinge on the action of any cohesive block of Congressmen. Well aware of that, Manhattan's John Lindsay called a meeting of a group of Republican House liberal moderates who consider both Halleck and Ford too conservative, but presumably could swing a deal to support either in exchange for a bigger voice in party councils. Only ten members showed up, however-and, true to form, they could not agree on what to do about the Ford-Halleck contest. That left the matter just where it had been-in doubt.

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