The Written Word
for November 22, 2000

37 years ago today I was sitting in the Law Offices of Kroll, Mair and Winfield when I received a phone call from my wife that President John F Kennedy had been shot. I immediately thought of Shorty’s News Stand at the corner of Georgia and Granville where he always had a radio going. In addition there was a news flasher against the wall of the Hotel Vancouver saying "Kennedy Shot". About half an hour after I arrived at Shorty’s the sign on the Hotel Vancouver was changed to read "Kennedy Assassinated". The days following were terrible.

I thought of this today not just because of the anniversary but because of what was going on in Florida. It is very true to say that the United States is a violent society. Their murder rate is unbelievable. They have lost four presidents to assassination and have had at least four others that I can think of shot at. In Mr Reagan’s case he was hit but survived. In Teddy Roosevelt’s case he was an ex president campaigning again and in what you would expect from the man, continued speaking until he had finished before seeking help for a bullet wound in his chest.

With this history of violence it’s interesting to consider what’s happening right now. The presidency is in the balance. The most power, by far, exercised by lone man in the world is at stake. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent in the presidential campaign.

Yet everything is peaceful. There are no maddened mobs in the streets. There is no doubling of police forces in the cities. No one has called out the Army or the Marines. The matter is proceeding – in the violent state of Florida – through the courts. There will be a decision and it will be accepted by both sides. Then, firmly locking the barn door after the horse has been stolen, there will be legislation re balloting passed in many states including Florida.

Another interesting observation, I think. If this matter were thrown into the House of Representatives – not likely but possible – it would be no slam dunk for Governor Bush even though the Republicans are in a majority. Here’s how this works.

In the House each state votes for President as a block. Let us suppose there is a state with three Representatives, two Republicans, one Democrat. You would think, then, that under the unit rule the three votes would go for Bush. But what if the state voted Gore for president. Those two Republicans would be under enormous pressure from voters that would say, "look here! We voted for you for the House not because you’re a Republican but because we like you. We and the state voted for Gore and we expect you to do the same. If you do not, remember that in 23 months we’ll have another crack at you!"

These times, as all times, are fascinating for watching the political goings-on to the south of us.