Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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k |H|K||K? Jt VHHMHiaBl r ~ ~~. ~~ T-""^7. '"V-". ~'~2?'1I ' -~zr'-\ .f^i-^^HS** laBS. \ :>V:X\^5& President Jimmy Carter speaks at a mill in Spartanburg while on the campaign trail. (Photo by John Parnell) Monaaie, surro< has been a busy By Teresa K. Weaver Staff Writer Democratic vice presidential candidate Walter Mondale hasn't made any campaign stops in South Carolina, but he has been on the road stumping for re-election nearly every day since last December, according to the press secretary of theS.C. Democratic Party. David Thomas said the vice president's role in the campaign is to act as a surrogate for the president in any political situation. "The vice president has been extremely active for an awful long time in this campaign. He's been travelling all over the country discussing issues with voters, and he's been effective in all rpflinns Thp nnlv r#?ncr?n h? h-jcn't hoan tn Cnnth 0 ""V . ,V*UI v wvv,? VU U"Ul" Carolina is simply a matter of scheduling. He would have been just as effective here," Thomas said. PRESIDENT CARTER'S Deep South background heavily influenced the administration's decision to let the president do most of the campaigning in the southern states, including South Carolina, according to an official with the CarterMondale Committee. Carter has made several trips to the state, including one stop last Thursday. Eric Braker, a press officer with the re-election campaign said Mondale's greatest value to the re-election effort can be found in the industrial northern states, and it is there that Mondale has spent much of his time. Mondale, a native of Minnesota, was raised and educated almost entirely in that state and has had a long history of involvement with state and national politics. The 52-year-old vice president was a longtime friend and protege of the late Sen. Hubert Humphrey and was influenced much by Humphrey's liberal politics. MONDALE BEGAN his political career in Minnesota when he was appointed state attorney general at the age of 32. Two years later he was elected to the position and served until 1964, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1966 and 1972. As a senator, Mondale was interested in a wide variety of issues, particularly in the area of human services. During his 12 years in the Senate, he served on the Finance, Labor and Public Welfare committees. He was also on the Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities, the Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs as well as the Special Committee on Aging. Mondale also served as chairman of several committees, including the Select Committee on Equal Education Opportunity, the Intelligence Committee s Domestic Task Force, the Subcommittee on Children and Youth, and the Subcommittee on Social Security Financing. The vice presidency is a position not directly involved with policy making, but Mondale has retained his special interest in certain issues, Braker said. During the campaign, however, Mondale speaks on all the same issues as the president, Braker added. 11 .? Carter's top <H nuclear arrr By Patty McCarthy Staff Writer President Carter's political tactics have often been called "the soft sell approach." Many voters like Carter's experience and consider him the safer choice, but others are leery that his leadership style is too weak. This year's presidential race between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan has been close. Nuclear arms control is Carter's most important concern. He says the SALT II treaty is vital because it will put reasonable limits on the number of available nuclear weapons for the United States and the Soviet Union. CARTER SAYS our allies support the treaty. He considers the SALT II treaty a major accomplishment. Balancing the budget is also a top priority for Carter. Carter says inflation is caused by low productivity and too much dependence on foreign oil. He says part of the problem is due to external forces beyond U.S. control, and part was caused by problems he inherited when he became president. Carter says inflation is beginning to decline. He says a decrease in government spending is necessary and that government spending has been cut in half since he took office. rne Diggesi cnanenges, uarier says, are 10 aereguiaie me free enterprise system and to increase the nation's gate president, campaigner "MONDALE IS a surrogate for the president in a lot of cases where it just isn't possible for the president to be at a particular Dlace. So the vine nresidnnt artiriilat^c ctanHc of the administration, not just his personal ideas," Braker said. The vice presidency has traditionally been a nearly invisible position, but Carter has tried many times to include Mondale in policy decisions,and he frequently lists the vice president as one of his top advisers. During their four years in office, Carter and Mondale have agreed on nearly all issues and decisions. "The vice president is a strong advocate of every goal of the Carter presidency," Thomas said. "And Mondale is extremely good at articulating the issues. He's got a great sense of humor, and neonlp rpallv wni i ^ CTTJT7J gVlUUg IU IV1IUW him." BPIisil ?Ek. L <%. :v::Sx jSBHqS' jpLk : jml^.. * a ??rl| r - | <j^j^v?g- i*i -' ' :-\: ' - ' :r.:' ' '! | : ! Vice President Walter Mondaie ? ~ idale i priority: IS COI1 H OI productivity. He suggests producing more fuel-efficient American cars, modernizing industries, developing alternative energy sources and creating new jobs. HE IS COMMITTED to the minimum wage. Carter calls the Kemp-Roth tax cut bill, which Reagan supports, "ridiculous." Carter endorses strong research of alternative energy to curb inflation. 4,There are many paths to energy security, and all must be explored," he said recently. His energy policy stresses conservation. Carter says oil imports have decreased 24 percent since he took office. He says one million fewer barrels of oil ' >:-<g imported each day than last year. carter wants American coal producers to compete with the OPEC oil producers. In addition, crude oil, synthetic fuel and solar energy production have increased to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. In fact, Carter says, solar energy will satisfy 20 percent of the nation's energy needs by the year 2000. CARTKK PROMISES not to impose rationing or heavy taxing of gasoline "except in case of a severe interruption of oil supply." In 1976 Carter said he considered nuclear power a "last resort." He says he has strengthened nuclear power plant regulations. Carter's solar energy budget exceeds the nnr?1*?nr fic?sir?rt hiirlaot Carter says protecting the country and preventing war takes great military strength and stability as a nation. He recently approved more than $2 billion in military pay increases. Carter is committed to a 3 percent annual increase in defense spending. He has researched new weapons systems. In his nomination speech this year, Carter said, "We will never be second to any nation." Carter says world problems can be solved through moderation and negotiations. He says he has built a framework for peace in the Middle East through the Camp David peace talks and that normalizing relations with China was a great step toward peace. IN RESPONSE to the Soviet Union's invasion of A ? o?l? _i 1 ? ? . .i ~ nigiidiiiauiii, verier siuppeu grain saies 10 me sovieis, boycotted the Moscow Olympics and reduced trade of technology to the Soviets. In August, Carter announced an economic program for the '80s which he said will create almost 1 million jobs by 1982. More than 8.5 million new jobs have been added to the work force since 1976. His program also calls for $660 million in the next two years for human resource programs. He says the program is designed to accomplish this without increased inflation. Carter has hired more women and minorities than any other nresident Carter repeatedly affirms his commitment to the Equal. Rights Amendment. He also supports the 1973 Supreme Court decision on abortion. Carter has proposed several environmental bills, including legislation on Alaskan land protection, clean-up of radioactive wastes and water and continued partnership for coastal region management. He says the government must continue funding studies on soil erosion, agriculture and wildlife. Carter has continually said, "Conservation means more than just wasting less." IN THE CIVIL rights area, Carter has tried to amend the Fair Housing Act to make the Department of Housing and Urban Development stronger. Carter advocates a national comprehensive health program. He also vows to protect Medicare and Medicaid programs. Carter wants to keep the Social Security System intact. Social Security will be indexed according to inflation. The new Department of Education was created to improve opportunities for minorities, the elderly, women, the handicapped and others. Federal education programs have increased by 73 percent since the Ford administration. Carter says the new department has already eliminated thousands of unnecessary education reports. CONGRESS HAS considered Carter's agricultural program effective. Carter's goals in agriculture include: increasing farm exports, protecting farm prices and protecting soils. But farmers are angry because of the Soviet grain embargo. Jimmy Carter, 57, was born in Plains, Ga. lie went through the Naval ROTC program at Cleorgia Tech. He served in World War II. In 1953 after his father's death, he managed the family peanut business. In 1962, Carter was elected to the Georgia Senate. In 1970, he became governor. He won the Democratic Party nomination for president in 1976 and was elected the 39th president of the United States on Nov. 2,1976. The president and his wife Rosalynn have three sons, Jack, Phin o v\f\ Inf ( aA viii^uiiuuui, anuu uiiu^iuui, /uny.