The Mercury from Pottstown, Pennsylvania • Page 17

Impressive Political Reputation Takes Ford to Vice Presidency WASHINGTON i AP) Nino years this month, a group of younger Hepuhhcnns in the House, plotting unseating of their party loader, selected Gerald It Ford of Michigan as their standard hearer In far more serious straits last after Spiro Ag new resigned under fire, dent Nixon chose Ford, W). to he thr first vtce president put in office by presidential norm nation and congressional ronfir- mation. Both the feisty young Turks of and the beleaguered president of 1973 presumably were impressed by the same politically useful qualities in Ford: personal likeability, a clean reputation, a solid base of support among colleagues. Ho publican orthodoxy and an un flappable disposition After his nomination to he vice president, in October, Ford held one of his characteristic first name news confer enees in the House Press (ial lery, saying he expected to he thoroughly investigated and promising co-operation. He did cooperate, IWorc Senate and House committees with bundles of financial, medical and other documentation He was good humored throughout In its repon recommending confirmation, the House Judiciary Committee said it had "investigated and questioned the public 15 TV Today 10 WCAU-TV 12 WHYY-TV and private life to a degree far beyond that of any person holding public office in America today Some Democratic members of the committee said the out come of the investigation and conduct had been one of the best things to hapjjen in years for politicians Ford clearly is a politician After the University of Mich igan, Yale law school and the Navy, he went home to Hapids but barely gave himself time to set upa law practice lie ran for Congress hi the urging of his stepfather, a Republican county chairman, and with the backing of the late Republican Sen Arthur II Vandenberg.

He won his first election in HIM and since then has had no trouble returning to Congress every two years Ford quickly made enduring friendships in the House with a California represen tative, Richard Nixon Another was with a fellow Mid westerner. Melvin l-urdof Wis consm After only two years, he won a prized appointment to the Appropriations Oanmittee In he elected chairman of the House Republican Con ference As minority leader. Ford couraged the formation of a Republican task forces on cific issues and announced program of developing Repuhli can alternatives to programs advanced by the Democratic White House Some of the ideas put for ward, nolahly revenue sharing, showed up latc-r as part of the Nixon program With return of Some of the ideas put for ward, notably revenue sharing, showed up later as part of the Nixon program One of Ford srnost eontrnver sial actions was in hdping lead an unluccessfui move to look mto the possibility of impeaching Court Justice WilliamO Mac kers of this filali met in office the day after the- Senate rejected Nixon nomi nation of (1 llarroldCarswell to the high court Within a week Ford made a speech calling for the I )ouglas inquiry He has denied that his actions were motivated either bv the rejection of Carswell or a desire to another vacancy on the court for Nixon to fill. He had already been investigating Douglas' fitness, he has said. and the movement was already well under way.

Nevertheless, the Douglas matter produced some of the most bitter partisan clashes in volvmg Ford Over all. liemoerats ly have shown that they like him as a man and regard him as a tough, but fair and decent opponent When Nixon invited l)emo cratic leaders to suggest norm necs for vice president, the first name put forward was Ford s. EVENING 7:00 WHAT'S MY LINE? TO TELL THE TRUTH TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES CIS NEWS WITH WALTER CRONKITE TAKE 12 CO BONANZA Ron and tattle help protect Rold needed to support the Mexican revolution against Maximilian (23) AVIATION WEATHER ffi THAT GIRL Ann and find themselves mannig a restaurant all alone, CD MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE To head off a threatened atomic hlnst, phrlps gains entry to a top secret nuclear plant by posing a temncrmental 7:30 SORTING IT OUT THE BILLY GRAHAM CRUSADE HEROES CD THE DATING GAME WALL STREET WEEK (23) NEW JERSEY NEWS REPORT ffi HEROES Hogan starts to work with members of the underground at first unaware that they are part of trap. 8:00 0 SANFORD AND SON Paoa's Maybe." A question as to whether Kred is really Lamont's father. MUSICAL SPECIAL "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Burl Ives narrates this Christmas tale based on the Johnny Marks song of the same title.

(R) (23) WASHINGTON: WEEK IN REVIEW CD OF LAND AND SEAS "Lost In the Everglades" ffi NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY CD THE LUCY SHOW Lucy sets the bank on Its ear when they make a mistake and give her a check for $2,000 instead of 20 8:30 0 GIRL WITH SOMETHING EXTRA "Minding Mama." Sally is nervous about meeting John's mother for the first time and her ESP tells her why. THE ODD COUPLE Felix and Oscar consult a ghost breaker when they are convinced that the shade of a former tenant has returned to haunt them BLACK PERSPECTIVE ON THE NEWS (23) EXPRESS YOURSELF "Sunni Islam In America An authority on Orthodox Islam in the r.S. will discuss Africa's fastest- growing religion and its spread into black communities in America. (R) 0D THE EXPLORERS CD THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW 9:00 0 NEEDLES AND PINS "The Wife You Save May Re Your Harry's wife becomes involved in women's hb and decides she wants a divorce. ROOM 222 to the Roy Most Likely." An outstanding senior, under pressure from his father to succeed, finally realir.es he has serious drinking problem.

THE HOMECOMING Patricia Neal and Richard Thormis star in this nostalgic, sensitive story of a mountain family in rural America at the time of the Depression of the 1930's. MASTERPIECE THEATRE Unpleasantness At the Rellona Peter Wimsey investigates the death of a ninety- year-old general who is found dead in his favorite armchair at the Rellona Club. (R) THE NINE MOVIE (23) CONFLICTS "Incident at 3) SAFARI 9:30 0 THE BRIAN KEITH SHOW Take Five." Dr. delivery of quintuplets immediately makes him a celebrity. ADAM'S RIB First Hurrah" Amanda takes a crack at politics when she is tapped to run for councll- woman.

10:00 0 0 THE DEAN MARTIN COMEDY HOUR Tonight's roastee is Carroll O'Connor, with guests including Robert Wood, president of CBS-TV and Mrs. Carroll LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE and the Spendthrift," "Love and the Awkward Age," and the Generation Gasp." FIRING LINE THE PHIL DONAHUE SHOW 03 PERRY MASON "The of the Fancy 10:30 (23) FOLK 1970 Special Tribute To Rob 11:00 0 NEWS AVIATION WEATHER ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS NITE SPORTS CD NIGHT GALLERY Widows Weeping." A rich young wife has visions of seeing her husband dead and buried. 11:30 0 THE TONIGHT SHOW MILLION DOLLAR MOVIE Two Can Play" starring Peter Sellers, Mai Zet terlmg THE CBS LATE MOVIE Toward the Unknown" 1036) starring William lbilden, Lloyd Nolan THE LATE SHOW Star Dust" (1068) starring Essy Pcrsson, Lane Jeffries 12.00 ffi THE GEORGIE WOODS SHOW I 0 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL Hosts: The Four Tops. Guests: Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, Todd Rundgren, John Mayall, Shawn Phillips, Mott the Hoople.

1:30 CINEMA SIX -Black Gold" (1017) Anthony Quinn, Katherine DeMille. 6 Mercury Display Advertising Deadlines Regular Display Must Be In Our Ofllct Advertising Copy Fort LMer Than: Thursday p. m. Friday p. m.

PONDEROSA FURNITURE ITUSE VALUES 9A LORE! MOM Bassett $649. up Pine and Maple 9 piece grouping Gladding $499. up Solid Hard Rock Maple 7 Keller $549. up Mediterranean Spanish Oak 6 pieces Keller $449. up Modern Walnut 6 pieces Keller $429.

up Colonial Solid Maple or Maple With Pine Finish, 7 pieces Your Choice Square Snack Table 20" 20" 15" high Open daily 1 to 9 PM; Saturday 9 to 9 Routs 100 Bypass North, Pottstown -i 7.