Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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the Board is sta -Oe Continued from Page FourA McNair, like West, was also viewed as a W hat Happened When candidate for president when his term as governor was ending. One university source claims he was interested in the job as early 09 updated by Sig Huitt of information Services and as 1969-70. "It's a beautiful power position," da Jan. 1. HuIt says the update was routine and the source said. there Is no correlation between the update and McNair denied any interest in the P becoming president. Hui" says he had no presidency. knowed that Patterson would become presdeny. Pesient,butPatterson's selection was not a suir. But concerning the Jones res ation, prise. "I would have been more surprised If Pat McNair said, "I don't think it's an g the terson had not bee chosen," Htitt says. Board should be indicted for. The Board J 4, FrWay-Soardof Trustees dinner party where handled it well. I don't know of any other a source says Jone first felt the presure. way it could have been handled." a., SaftVy.-Bad of Trustees meeting. - "I don't know that it was purely voluntary J 21, Mftdfy--South Carlinian of the Year on his part to leave. Nor do I know it was Banuet Is held ot the Carolina Inn. Lt. Gov. Earle strong pressure. But I do think the hour for decision had arrived and whether he wanted Ietwen Jan. 21 & 24-Sourco says Marchant called to leave or not the time was right. I would Jnsadtl i TeBadi tce gis surmise that there was a general feeling on Jn 4 hrdyLte frsgaini ae the part of everybody that the time had ..ur 4 arrived." Ja.S.Pla.Srcsasonsataywoe .McNair downplayed the role of the th terotisdeinAlta politicians, saying, "No particular group In fo tat n ittdtelte trsgain the Legislature was responsible. There was Atat a lack of strong support. Dr. Jones never oeaprv.Afrmiradutes,nus had good relations with the reundtClubawhtereiatolte. Legislature...you coundn't put it on Sol Blatt ~'"SunV.MerJyIfmtinevie solely."Da. .Tudm-oceayMrhatPatrn Blatt, Sr., reached at his law office i ndrirmeatMransho. Barnwell, demanded to know why a story ' TlteSIWtan was being written on the Jones ISIUtion. nimuyelcsPtron psdnt "Don't you think when a man resigns that should be enough? I thlnkyossought to letlit alone. He's not as~ for an investigation Is he? What good ouiIt do except stir up reiato inWOwnhe asbta some strife?"Bormebradafealud. He would neither confirm nor deny Hoee,DttJ.dcidanco et sources who say he was instrumental In the nteJeseigaon"Id'thnkt resignation. hewudbpporteWe,yukw9i Blatt would ntdyhehad prior hpoiii'mi,Id'tbiee'detr knowledge of the Jones resignation. "Youcomnonayhgliett. can put down that I either knew it or I didn'- Bta neligfco etoe t," he said. "I neither deny nor confirm butfrqetywsheocaasctote both," he said. Jns ie carsi,"epeepce Blatt's son, who holds political views mr.Te xetdte teJns)t simla hi fahe's,caidfo Joes fiteimoWld."m And Palto h b eograpyone cked against you' Behind the scenes...the conversations Blatt wavers GAMECOCK-Mr. Blatt, we are working on~a story concerning the resignation of former President Thomas Jones. BLATT-On what? ' GAMECOCK-The resignation of former President Tom Jones. BLATT-Why is this story being written? Don't you think when a man resigns that should be enough? Why are you asking me? I'm not connected with the University. I have nothing to say. I.m not going to get into anything now on the Jones resignation. I think you ought to let it alone. He's not asking for an investigation, Is he? What good would It do except stir up some strife. GAMECOCK-We have a source who says you, Blatt Jr., Marchant and Patterson are responsible.. BLATT-They can say anything they want about me. GAMECOCK-Were you personal friends with the Jones'? BLATT-I'm a good friend of everybody in the world. I like everybody. I don't dislike anybody. GAMECOCK-Did you back Mr. Bowen? BLATr-I voted for Mr. Bowen, yes. GAMECOCK-Did you vote for Mr. Bowen because he was opposed to Dr. Jones? BIATT-I voted for the man I thought was the best man.on't yu GAMECOCK-Do you wish to deny or contirm my previous statent saying you were involved? BLATT-I neither deny nor confirm it, but both. GAMECOCK-Did you have prior knowledge of the resignation? BLATT-You can put down that I either knew it or I didn't. Mar chant--'no comment' GAMECOCK-Mr. Marchant, we're doing a story on the Tom Jones resignation. How did you learn of the resignation? MARCHANT-(Silence.) Uh, I really wouldn't know without going back and looking through my records and letters. My recollection is that I had a 'onversatin prior to the time I received the letter. A day I think. I knew the letter was coming. GAMECOCK-Was Patterson your personal choice for president? MARCHANT-I didn't have any personal choice. As a member of the Board we didn't have a personal choice. I acted as a member of the Board. GAMECOCK-Was Patterson the only one considered for the job? MARCHANT-You have to realize there was a right short time between the announced resignation and the Board meeting. GAMECOCK-Did you have any prior knowledge that in the Board meeting Jones' contract would not be renewed? MARCHANT-No, none that I recall. GAMECOCK-We have a source that says that in January you called Tom Jones and told him the Board was stacked against him. Would you like to confirm or deny that? MARCHANT-(Silence.) I don't have any comment on that at all. Jones--'pressure' GAMECOCK-Dr. Jones, we're working on a follow-up story on your resignation. We're going back and talking to polticians and University dean, as wel as friends of yours and students who were here at the time. Is there anything you'd like to say about the story? JONES-I think I am having a wonderful time up here learning new things and how organizations learn, how people learn. I have no comment on the resignation. I want to make the University work as well as it can. GAMECOCK-Was there any political pressure on you, or pressure in any form for you to resign? JONES-Let me tell you as I see it. There was pressure against me in the State House and on the Board. This makes it difficult to perform one's best. Rather than continue, it was time for me to 12 years is about long enough. I look forward to my return to work as a faculty member. from University deans to political rivals felllow ...not real organized.. .not a have said Jones was a dynamic leader, their busnessman type." opinion of Mary Jones has been critical. Paranoia and confusion still exist for Many say she is an outspoken, independent many persons job-wise at the University. woman, though rumors of an overactive "The right hand doesn't know what the drinking social life persisted. People allude left hand Is doing," says a close friend of the to "afternoons at the Palmetto Club," and Jones'. But greater paranoia estedar bet "embarrassment" at social functions. But a ween February and July when the close friend of hers saId, "She didn't drink presidency was in a transition period. any more than anyone else." The former "It was a real critical' time," says Jones' staffer said, "Her drinking problem Johnston. "Marchant and I were prac was no worse than the Spaker of the tically ruining the University. Patterso. House's or anybody elue's...What the hell was away and Jones Wef aD the major does a drinig problem have to do with the delelas up to Pattern when he cams day to day operation of a University? ee ck" really didn't enter Into It. If they wanted to McEbeney said Jones "...emed very get rid of a University President on his wife, etional" da'ing thi pueid. "Us han. they're looking pretty bard te get been very hut by thi," (h resigmnadee) aomebody." adds a University oues. AI politicians retuned to be quoted on this Jones .smmltei hi resignation en Jan, Issue, although McNair said, "People don't 24. The University e.mel*g accepted It e hav wae Uesanymore." Mary Jones Jan. 27, 111. 'Tree days lae U Board of said nnier that moving ett of the TrUtees memnbers changed the curase et President's Mansion on the Horsesoe was the University Ia les than three hous. like leaving prison. They inanimouualy accepted the rsptu "I know Dr. Jones was gettig tired and of an innovative e.d.amet whose Iea~ Mrs. Jones was getting tired," said John-. an presene diisinu and led the ston. And McNair and Johnsta e Jones University for 12 years. himself would feel moe feeo as a They then unanImously elected a teacher. president who pieckd a return to mare "He just didn't like the day to day work," traditions I edunatIon and "to serve at the McNair said. "Dr. Jnes was a v...y la will or tha Bardt"