A Visit to Good-Ole-Boys Country

By Hugh Sidey

THE PRESIDENCY

The South uses Richard Nixon, and Nixon uses the South. It is that kind of deal.

"In order to have a friend you have to be a friend," said Mississippi Governor William Waller, standing by the tarmac at Jackson last week waiting for the President. That makes it sound a little warmer than it may be. There is a lot of handshaking on an outing like the one to Jackson, and a lot of red, white and blue bunting. Patriotism flows rich and deep in the oratory. But it all holds together because of the politics. Not only money is involved--ample federal disaster funds for Mississippi, for example--but also support on busing and law-and-order. Part of it, too, is using the presidential spectacle to please the crowds.

"Is it always like this?" asked one awed National Guard captain, watching the 20-car motorcade line up at the airport and the 65 newsmen rush to position.

The occasion was the 25th annual meeting of the Mississippi Economic Council, which is the state chamber of commerce. The coliseum floor was filled with the members. Scores of school buses had brought kids to be part of the audience and to swarm around outside. To see and hear a real live President is something special, and for these people it was a treat. The bands tootled Hail to the Chief, and those beautiful Southern girls in ranks, like the Hinds Junior College Hi-Steppers, turned on several thousand kilowatts in smiles.

There was even the delicious shiver from the presence of a villain--CBS's Dan Rather, of press-conference-confrontation fame. When the word got around, one huge man could not believe the devil would come right down in their midst. He walked up to the White House's Transportation aide Bob Manning. "You all left Dan Rather back in Washington, didn't you?" he asked. "No," said Manning. "He's here." A look of puzzlement came over the fellow's face. "Gawd Almighty," he said, lifting his hands to the heavens to express his amazement.

The people of Mississippi were not all that interested in the substance of Nixon's speech. As Nixon recited his triumphs in office, the audience studied the press contingent and eyed the girls. But they caught flag lines. The cheers came back and bathed the President in approval.

Big Jim Eastland, the Senator, slumped in his chair, coat open, hand to his mouth. Just then he was as big as the President, and he knew it. Senator John Stennis and the three Mississippi Congressmen sat erect, arms poised for applause.

The graciousness of the South was real. Religion and patriotism run strong. Families and communities have not been strained so much as in other parts of the nation. Respect for authority is more evident. The people seem intensely preoccupied with the quality of their special life, with building up their economic base now to match other states. The other world is far away.

Governor Waller's family was given a tour of Air Force One. "I couldn't miss this," said Bill, 22, who had whizzed down from Mississippi State University, then rushed back for a final exam that afternoon. Senator Stennis, in his kindly manner, pushed talk of impeachment out of the way so as not to mar the sunny day. "I wouldn't say anything. I'm one of the jurors."

Yet, for all the surface success of this foray into Dixie, there was a bothersome note beneath. The trip was almost too fast. There was not that much of a spontaneous outpouring by the people of Jackson. There were some placards of dissent around the coliseum (HAIL TO THE THIEF. . . A $476,000 ERROR? . . . YOU CAN'T HIDE HERE). And Governor Waller, despite his plea for people to get behind the President and get the country moving, would not suggest Nixon was innocent of the Watergate accusations. "Always errors are made by people trying to do something . . . We live by and believe in a forgiving spirit," he said. Air Force One lifted off the run way, and the Governor took off his coat to cool down. There lingered the faint feeling that Richard Nixon's troubles are taking a toll even among the true believers of Jackson.

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