Innocent? Only Time Will Tell

Vice President Gerald R. Ford Jr. came to Boston this week, to receive a "Man of the Year" award from the Harvard Republican Club and to address a fund-raising dinner of the Middlesex Republican Club.

He didn't come to Boston to meet demonstrators who protested Ford's political history and the policies of the Nixon administration--but the protesters were there to greet him as well, in what appeared to be the largest demonstration to face Ford since he assumed the vice presidency.

The action began with a half-hour rally of about 200 people in the Yard, then proceeded to the Harvard Club in Boston, where Ford was scheduled to meet the Young Republicans.

While about 300 demonstrators rallied on the green about 100 yards from the front of the Harvard Club, another 100 stood across the street from the club, chanting "Impeach Nixon, dump Ford" and "Gerald Ford: You can't hide. You committed genocide."

Inside the building, Ford, who had been whisked quickly from his automobile into the club's rear entrance, told the Republicans he remains convinced of President Nixon's non-involvement in the Watergate scandal.

"From what I know, the president was not involved in Watergate and was not involved in the cover-up," Ford told the 110 Republicans. "But time will tell."

Ford, introduced by his hosts as "the next president," said young people should counter their disillusionment with the government by participating in politics.

"Start when the whistle blows and stay in the ballpark until the final whistle blows and then you will have done your job as a citizen," Ford said.

Outside the club, the whistles were not blowing. But a contingent of three mounted policemen, three motorcycles and about 15 foot patrols was clearing Newbury St., about a half-block from the rear entrance of the building, where protesters had gathered to face Ford more directly upon his departure. Smiling and waving, Ford passed the crowd assembled on the corner as his bronze LTD sped toward the Sheraton-Boston Hotel.

About half of the demonstrators departed the Harvard Club area shortly after Ford; the remainder marched to Copley Square, where most dispersed.

As Ford ate with and spoke to the Republicans at the Sheraton that night, a crowd of about 500 demonstrators gathered outside, chanting "No more years." In the Constitution Ballroom, where the vice president feasted, the shouts could not be heard.