Mr. Burch speaking




Initials HR



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Background: The Federal Communications Commission has turned down a request for "equal time" for Republican Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater to reply to a television talk President Lyndon B. Johnson made to the nation Sunday night (18 October). The President spoke on the world situation as seen in the light of the recent changeover in the Soviet Government and the explosion of a nuclear bomb by the Chinese Republic.All three major networks also rejected the request.

However, the National Broadcasting Company, "in a spirit of fairness", granted the Republican National Chairman, Dean Burch, fifteen minutes Monday night (19 October) to reply. Mr. Burch said the Republicans will sue to upset the FCC ruling.

Mr. Burch took about twelve and a half minutes to answer the President's talk, which had lasted about 17 minutes. His talk was almost identical with the statement he had read to reporters in the afternoon.

In it, he attacked the President for alleged suppression of news unfavourable to the Administration, brought up the case of Walter H. Jenkins, Presidential aide who was arrest twice on morals charges, talked about Bobby Baker, Secretary to the Democratic Senatorial majority who has been accused of using his position for personal profit. Mr. Burch did not discuss the Chinese atom bomb and Russian governmental shakeup which had been the subjects of Mr. Johnson's address.

No the Democrats are asking equal time to reply to Mr. Burch.