Letters

Gubernatorial debates

EDITOR: I have been a subscriber to Illinois Issues since its infancy, and I consider it must reading for anyone concerned with Illinois governmental issues. Although I have often shared my copies, I find that — once introduced to the publication — my associates in the League of Women Voters are equally impressed and subscribe for themselves.

As President of the League of Women Voters of Illinois, I want to add another perspective to Robert Kieckhefer's article, "Gubernatorial debates: a failure." in the November Illinois Issues.

Were the gubernatorial debates a failure? Never before have so many Illinois voters (more than two million by media estimates) had the opportunity to hear — and see — the Democrat and Republican candidates for governor face each other and answer the same questions at the same time posed by citizens, a media panel and by each other. Between 50 and 70 press packets were distributed at each debate to representatives of national as well as the Illinois media, providing outstanding coverage.

Writing before the last two debates were held, Mr. Kieckhefer said, "Clearly something needs to be done to improve the quality of political debates." He suggested a format that ". . . . could produce some pretty esoteric discussions which would be difficult for the candidates to handle and for the average voter to understand." And he asked, "But is that necessarily bad?"

The League asks, "Is that realistically possible — or productive? Would there have been such extensive coverage and interest?"

As to quality, there are obvious time constraints as to the length of the debates. More importantly, candidates have the obvious goal of presenting their own platforms and discrediting their opponent's regardless of the format. To their credit, Mr. Stevenson and Mr. Thompson did react to criticism of the first two debates. When the audience, the media and the candidates themselves agreed that the Carbondale format of one-to-one questioning by the candidates provided the best opportunity for discussion of the issues, the League concurred and changed to that format for the final meeting in Rosemont.

It is most unlikely, however, that any debate would have been held if both parties had not agreed that the League would be the sole sponsor of the series and be responsible for all arrangements. The League served as mediator and facilitator to make the debates possible. This involved reaching agreement on times, places and formats. It should be apparent that neither campaign committee would agree to anything that could place its candidate at a perceived disadvantage.

The League drew upon its long tradition of providing non-partisan voter service to the public through holding candidates meetings and preparing voters guides. The League's Education Fund was not only the sponsor, but the producer of the debates so that radio and television could cover the forums in their entirety as a bona fide news event. The League also agreed to bear the total financial responsibility of obtaining sites, printing and distributing tickets, providing moderators and panelists, and making all arrangements for media coverage. The cost of the debates project to the League has exceeded $5,000.

The League's goal was to provide a forum for the discussion of important state issues and to stimulate voter interest and participation in the election. We think the gubernatorial debates were a success.

Dorothy O'Neill, President
League of Women Voters of Illinois

Walker 'concedes' race remembered

EDITOR: In an oral-history excerpt in your December issue, former Gov. Dan Walker says hostile State House reporters once badgered him into acknowledging that he intended to practice law if he lost the 1972 primary. The next day, Walker recounted, the Chicago Daily News ran a headline saying, "Walker concedes defeat."

"Irresponsible journalism," I thought — until it dawned on me that Walker was referring to a story I had written for the March 3, 1972, Daily News. Only the headline actually said, "Walker 'concedes' race?/slip of tongue, says aide." And the story didn't say he had conceded. It said he "sounded Friday as though he might be conceding." And the story never mentioned his intention to practice law if defeated. It was based on two tape-recorded quotes from Walker:

"He (Simon) is threatening the Democratic Party with defeat in the general election this fall by making this kind of outrageous proposal."

And, "I'm saying that if Paul Simon continues to talk about tripling the state income tax, that (Gov. Richard B.) Ogilvie will, in my opinion, be able to defeat Paul Simon in the general election."

Walker's interviewer for the oral history project cited the first quotation as evidence that "you actually seemed to concede defeat."

As one who covered Dan Walker for several years, I would never, ever, accuse him of distorting the truth. So if he can locate a different Daily News story that upholds his version, I will gladly stand corrected.

John Camper
Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois projects and politics

EDITOR: My interest in Illinois politics continues to be high and I try to follow events in the state as systematically as possible. Needless to say, Illinois Issues is important to all of us at the Center for the Study of Federalism as a means for us to keep up and to have the background necessary for our several Illinois projects.

Daniel J. Elazar, Director
Center for the Study of Federalism
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pa.

February 1983 | Illinois Issues | 4