| PAGE TEN _.Editor’s note: hopeful Peter Flaherty. by Bob Fawcett If“ you really want to know Richard ‘Dick?’ | Thornburgh, you have to |'talk to a converted ' Democrat. You can get more in- formation about the Republican candidate for governor from his wife, “Ginny’’ Thornburgh, in 15 minutes than you can in a half-day from him. Trim Ginny, at age 38, weighing in at 135 and standing five-foot-seven, will look you four-square and her brown eyes sparkle as she calls her husband ‘‘an impatient . per- fectionist, = ‘‘He demands high performance...He’s a task master.” At a television studio, she was asked to sum up her . husband with one | descriptive word. The clock raced toward the end of the taping session. To that point, she had had ready answers. Now, as the seconds swept \' by, ‘she paused and | | reflected. | “Courage” she assayed tentatively. Then, chin up, more assuredly, ' she repeated, ‘‘A man of courage.” Thornburgh himself was harder to talk to. Although he answered questions readily, he didn’t volunteer much. The observation may be unfair. Unlike our ex- periences with Bill Scranton III when the campaign was just getting formally launched, we caught up with Thornburgh 50 days from the election. It was obvious he had some things on his mind. Like: The Philadelphia vote. The effect the city charter amendment on the Philadelphia vote. The need for funds to finance the ‘‘media bat- tle...television is ex- pensive.” The need. to placate and enlist the support of Republican represen- tatives in the state House. A Pittsburgh writer called Thornburgh stuffy.” DESIGN while-u-wait. Choose from more than 40 different paper colors, sizes and SYSTEMS weights in stock. i FINE PRINTING Letterheads and en- — velopes, personal stationery, brochures 37 N. RIVER ST . Complete service from imaginative WILKES BARRE, PA; design rand layout to typesetting to 822-3766 finished = printing. Reasonable’ prices x and fast turn around time. FAST COPYING From 1 to 1000 copies TATIVES, OFFICIALS. TO BE ACTIVE He’s not that. In fact, he says of the writer, “He doesn’t know me very well.” THORNBURGH has a dry humor and he likes a goed pun. For instance, a ffime magazine photographer who ac- companied us said his next photographic’ assignment was Dan Flood, ‘but I'm having trouble reaching him.” Thornburgh observed with a chuckle, “I know a few federal agents who have been trying to ‘reach him’ for years.” And then, in reference to the in- dictment of the 11th District congressman, the pun: “It’s only the tip of the Eilberg.” It was a busy time for Thornburgh. Speaking at a rally on the capitol steps, talking to the Republican . appearance at the annual “Gridiron roasting’ of politicians, addressing a $100-a-plate breakfast at a plush country club. And in between, con- ferring with Scranton, staff aides, and GOP political leaders from throughout the state. Further, topping it off, a number of such organizations as APSCUF. Oh, yes, there was a television session sand- wiched in there somewhere. BUT IF THORNBURGH appears to be somewhat reserved, there may be a good reason for it - in ad- dition to the back-breaking schedule he seems to thrive on. Again, it’s Ginny who supplies the information. “eHes always thinking...His mind’s always going.” And then there’s his physical appearance. While he is a trim six- footer weighing in at 185, he wears heavy, thick- lensed glasses. He’s worn such glasses most of his 46 years, his wife confides. “He can’t wear contacts.” The glasses are something of a handicap. You don’t get that ‘‘per- sonal, eyeball-to-eyeball contact so essential on the hand-shaking curcuit.” But if Thornburgh is inclined to be rather austere in small circles, he’s just the opposite on the rostrum and discussing issues. And he’s quick to take advantage of the setting in which he appears or the situation in which he finds himself. IN HIS NOW oft- repeated pledge on corruption he declares the way to clean up Harrisburg is to get the Democratic administration ‘‘out...0-U- T...out.”’ But on the capitol steps rally, he points to the capitol building itself as he spells “0-U-T.” (It was only hap- penstance that only a few moments earlier, Ernest Kline, incumbent lieutenant governor, skirted the crowd as he " descended the capitol steps.) \ And in the capitol cafeteria, a young lady waiting in line accepts his handshake with con- siderable reluctance. “I'm not a Republican,” She says. And, at the gridiron roasting, put on by legislative correspondents, Thornburgh jumps up on the state (his opponent walks to the stairs) and notes that the roasting is no-holds-barred event in which the newsmen unleash = their most venomous venom. He says he understands that it is the ‘“‘one night in the year in which the legislative correspondents descend into vulgarity, crudity and obscenity.” The crowd is quiet and then breaks into guffaws as he tells the newsmen they do a good job at it ‘‘because for 364 nights you've been practicing up: (The annual roasting is a charity affair. ‘‘Uncle Miltie - (Shapp) stole the QUICK ON HIS FEET and fast on the issues, Thornburgh is candid and pulls no punches when he makes a decision. In the GOP House caucus (normally closed to newsmen), one legislator asked if he (Thornburgh) could pay a visit to his (the legislator’s) county. ‘It would help both of us,” was the substance of the request — evidently from an area of small population. Thornburgh didn’t beat around the bushes. “No way!’ ‘he said. He ex- plained that he and Day, had spent the sum- mer trekking back and forth across the state. ‘“Idon’t want to kid you,” he said. But, he pointed out, the effort now was to get prime media time and that he would be attending fund-raising events. He cited the need for financing and declared, “We're going to spend every last dollar...to let them (the public) know what his (Flaherty’s) record was.” The candidate didn’t rule out the legislator’s request completely, but he did indicate that unless there was a substantial fund- raiser in the legislator’s area, Thornburgh would be absent. SOME OF THE EX- CHANGES in the GOP caucus might give the best impression ot ‘what Thornburgh’s like. “We're holding on to Republican base.” but “enlisting Democrats ‘ to serve the cause...Bill (Scranton) and I will be riding on your coattails... “There;s a feeling of uneasiness across the state’’ that recognizes “that really the only ef- fective way we’re going to get effective change this year is to have a Republican administration and a Republican delegation in the House and Senate. We;re going to devote every last ounce of effort...I think it’s in the cards.” On the Philadelphia charter amendment which would permit Mayor Frank Rizzo to seek a'third term: ‘“we:re keeping our ear to the ground.” One politician told him that because of the charter interest, “I might as well be running for justice of the peace as governor. ‘Rizzo is ap- parently ‘‘upset Flaherty...There’s going to be a substantial tur- nout...It’s heavy Democratic (but) we have Back community support.” ‘You can see that I'm getting into permutations and conbinations here that defy even the best of the tea leaf readers.” He said he was being kept informed of the Philadelphia situation ‘‘so we can react accordingly when and if On the campaign generally: The polls (which showed him trailing early on) are coming down. He expects to run even in the West and rely on the GOP strength in the center of the state. ‘We should do very well know whether they have Bill walking across the Susquehanna yet)...We ‘Murph’ Hislop, president of the Nor- theastern Pennsylvania Country-Western & Bluegrass Association, has announced that the Third FOR AND 3 TRUSTWORTHY Fok A kkk FIAT ARNE RXR ALY Elect Annual Contry « Music Awards Show and Banquet will be held Sunday, Oct. 29 at Gus Genetti’s Motor Inn in Wilkes-Barre. Hislop said,”Last year more than 400 fans of country and bluegrass ‘music from throughout Northeastern Penn- sylvania attended the festivities and this year’s show promises to be even bigger and better.” The country music ex- travaganza will start at 4 p.m. with an open cocktail hour reception followed by a full course prime rib dinner, presentation of country performers, and a four-hour Nashville show starring Jimmy Gately, Elliot Redpearl, and Carl Kennedy and The Country Kings. A four-hour open bar and dance will also be featured. Special guest will include Wilkes-Barre’s Mayor, the Honorable Walter Lisman; to be in art The Women of the Bible, bronze sculptures, by Anne Froman, will be one of the highlights of the Hadassah art show. These scuptures, ‘‘express the feelings of a woman who has rediscovered her religion.’”” Although her sculpture is contempory, it brings together the past and the present. Her women come alive and touch one’s heart with love, anger, and hope. These sculptures, along with many original oils, wall hangings and graphics can be seen Nov. 18 and 19 at the Wilkes-Barre Jewish Community Center. A gala cocktail reception will be held Saturday evening beginning at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday the exhibition will be open to the public from noon 5 p.m. Fr Jr de dr ve de se de ie se de eke de ok ok dk ek eo de ke show The proceeds of the Art show and sale will aid in the continuance of Youth Programs in Israel. Youth Aliyah, through its support by Hadassah, has helped Israel nearly 155,000 Jewish’ Youth from 80 lands. Co-chairwomen for this year’s show are Mrs. Gloria Lyons and Mrs. Barbara Levy. anupright for quick pick-ups! $29°° Insiston Hoover! SHAVERTOWN ONLY! Complete Line of Home Appliances EE A LL TE REET EN EI. KATYL'S TV and Appliances Memorial Highway Fg tek Ade ddd odo Shavertown State Rep. Frank O’Con- nell; Rev. Father Joseph Boles, Chaplain, College Misericordia; Allen Furst, formerly of WWVA Wheeling W. V. and now program director of WBAX Radio, and Hoyt Keiser, country disc jockey air personality for WGBI-AM Radio, Scranton. Tickets for the Third Annual Country Music Awards Show and Banquet are “available at the Musician’s ‘Shopping Center, 586 South Main St., Wilkes-Barre or by calling 822-7697. Reservations'are limited and must be made in advance. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Country- Western and Bluegrass Association is a non-profit organization. should have support from the ‘real’ Bob Casey supporters.” Some of the legislators complained about the lack of campaign materials, requests for financing from them, and one cited a danger of ‘‘calling all Democrats crooks and all Republicans lily- white...that’s not the ball game today.” THERE WERE SOME light moments, too. Rep. William Klingaman, been contacted by someone “who has $500 for your mine-if I come down and get it.” KLINGAMAN: ‘My question is, should I go??”’ CAUCUS: Laughter. THORNBURGH: “When does the next stage leave?” CAUCUS: Riotous laughter. Thornburgh, who gave up golf 20 years ago and tennis 10 years ago (his main relaxation is reading, especially biographies, says Ginny) isn’t above using sports terminology in explaining a point. Flaherty, he thinks, is content to *‘sit on his lead.” (The Democrats have an 800,000 plurality.) “I think that’s dangerous...The fourth quarter and the ninth inning rally has cost many a guy who sat on his lead.” But although Klingaman’s sally evoked riotous laughter, it was an unidentified legislator who got the biggest guffaw of them all during the caucus. After a debate on how the candidate could help the candidate, the represen- tative ~~ queried his colleagues: “In the spirit of altruism, wouldn’t you rather lose if you could assure him a win?” WHERE SCRANTON’S “office” was a station wagon, Thornburgh’s is his brief case-usually carried by his son, John, a political science student who has left the ivy at Bucknell University this semester to help- in his father’s campaign. There’s an uneaten sandwich or two in the brief case, Thornburgh claims. This is Thornburgh’s first state-wide campaign. He ran and lost in a race for a Pittsburgh congressioanl seat and was elected to the Con- stitutional convention. He points to his tour of duty as the nation’s chief blow the whistle on state corruption” when he held that office. He calls Flaherty ‘the supreme opportunist’ who supported the candidacies of Milton Shapp and now claims he doesn’t know him. Thornburgh charges Flaherty jumped ship after only four months as the deputy attorney general in the Carter adminstration. Thornburgh also says cldim that he cut taxes, that the former mayor of Pittsburgh was responsible for a one-third increase in the parking tax, a 20 percent increase in the city’s property tax-- and a 40 percent increase in the mayor’s salary. “If we don’t let them is...we’re nuts.” Commonwealth perience. 3 5s SERB SR BEEN
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