Rockefeller Advocates Repeal of Disclaimer

Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, clearing up "a misunderstanding of my position," has come out strongly for repeal of the NDEA disclaimer affidavit.

He criticized the affidavit "because it is ineffective as a weapon against subversion, offensive to the sensibilities of many loyal Americans, and--in view of the large number of institutions of higher learning which have withdrawn from the loan program because of it--inimical to the success of a most important effort to improve educational opportunities in the United States."

Speaks at Press Conference

At a Nov. 20 press conference, Rockefeller sympathized with Harvard's rejection of NDEA funds, but laid equal stress upon "the realities of the Congressional situation." These statements were widely interpreted as favoring retention of the affidavit, until his recent clarification.

"I personally have no reservations or objections whatsoever to taking an oath of allegiance to the United States," Rockefeller stated.