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see it wouldn't take one day at 6 21. 2nd summer, right? Please Got it. Those eggs. Scene one. Take tooth matters. We present at this time an informal discussion with Senator George Smathers from the nation's capital. Now here is the first question. Well, Senator matters. I think the prime thing of interest is the Yeah worry, Let's say of the American public in regard to the president, how serious is his illness?

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Well, I think it's just exactly what's reported by the medical doctors to the people, through the press, radio, television. There's no effort at concealment. I saw the president just before he went to the hospital. His he looked fine. He didn't look sick. As a matter of fact, I've seen him a number of times in the days prior to that, and nobody really had any idea.

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In retrospect, the only indication that I could now realize if there was some change in him was when the legislative breakfast on Tuesday morning, when all the rest of us were eating eggs, some of his Texas sausage he had stopped that and he was eating a chipped beef and obviously a non fat bad, which was somewhat unusual for him.

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But I'm satisfied that the country won't suffer any major respect whatsoever by virtue of his illness. On knowing the activity of President Johnson Senators matters, Do you feel that Vice President Humphrey will have an opportunity, Let's say, to act as president at all during this period.

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Well, there will be times, Yes. President Johnson, as we know, is probably as energetic and restless. And, um, uh, I don't know how to say it, but he's a man who likes to to take charge and run things, and he doesn't give up that power easily.

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And my judgment is that he will know at all times exactly what's happening except, of course, during the time when he was undergoing the operation. But Humphrey will naturally, necessarily have to make some decisions. Johnson will not be able to handle that, and those minute problems that he sometimes got himself involved with Humphrey will have an opportunity to learn and to act as president on many occasions.

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I'm certain now on these various occasions, many of which become social will that expedite possibly the bill that you've introduced to provide an official residence for the vice president. Should I think this illness of the president and the increased responsibility of the vice president not only administratively, but socially.

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I think it dramatizes the need for the vice president to have a home where Vice President Humphrey now lives. Even though it's a very nice and modest house for an average citizen. It certainly is not at all adequate for a man who is having to perform some many of the duties of the president of the United States.

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So I think it dramatizes the needs. And I would hope that the Congress would go ahead and provide the vice bread with a home. Senator, I think some eight states have ratified this amendment, which was recently passed by the Congress setting up the procedure for a president to take over in case of illness.

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Now, will this expedite that at all? Yes. I think this will again give urgency to that particular constitutional amendment, and I'm satisfied it will be adopted. Is there any indication whether Florida is going to handle that this coming session are I don't know. I think that it will.

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I'm satisfied when the time comes, it will vote for it. I'd like to ask you, I think one final question Senator, in regard to the discussion on 14 b, Florida knows your position on that matter. How long do you think that debate will continue? Oh, I think it's liable to continue until December.

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Hopefully, I hope that it will get over with by the middle of October. I'm satisfied that Senator Mansfield recognizes the realities of the situation, which are that there are not enough votes in the Senate to bring about culture and that those of us who are opposed to 14 B and are willing to make speeches to keep the Senate occupied with these speeches and not let them come to a vote that we do have enough numbers and enough energy to to forestall any vote.

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That being the case, Mansfield has indicated that he will say, Bring about a motion for adjournment and I'm certain once that is brought up, it will be adopted, and we will go home in 14 b will not be repealed this year. Thank you very much. Senator George Smathers, I'll return you to your station announcer.

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Yeah,