Students Vote for Morgenthau; Uphold Kennedy (Vol. 28, Issue 3)

The 1962 gubernatorial race was dull and dry. It lacked the basic ingredients — issues, discussions, personalities, and enthusiasm — which are sine qua non for an interesting campaign.

The insipid atmosphere also pervaded throughout the hall of Yeshiva. The election as reflected by the students was one of non existence.

There were neither political speeches given in favor of either party, Republican or Democrat, nor was there campaign literature given to the students or found anywhere on campus.

The only positive sign of life at Yeshiva was the poll taken by the Young Democratic club of Yeshiva. 

Asked To Choose

They asked the students for their choice of governor, their opinion of the Kennedy administration and their reaction to President Kennedy’s blockade of Cuba. They also queried the students if Jewish interests and religion determined their vote.

Robert M. Morgenthau, former U. S. Attorney for the southern district defeated Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller in the student poll by the narrow margin of 27 votes. Mr. Morgenthau received 196 votes to Governor Rockefeller’s 96. 

This is one of the highest votes recorded by the Young Dems of a non Jew running on a Republican ticket. This breakthrough by Governor Rockefeller at Yeshiva is remarkably impressive considering that 85% of the student body’s parents vote Democrat and that 70% of the students would vote Democrat in this year’s state election.

Blockade Favored

This headway must be attributed to the liberal appeal generated by the Governor and the poor campaign waged against him by a political unknown with a retiring personality.

President Kennedy’s naval blockade received 91% of the student’s vote in the college. The students reasons as indicated in the poll could be thus summarized:

“The effective action taken by President Kennedy was necessary at this crucial time to remove the threat of the offensive missiles based in Cuba and aimed at the United States. 

We had to take this positive step or accept the inevitability of communist states blossoming in this hemisphere.”

Of the nine per cent disagreeing with the President’s policy, four per cent advocated the invasion of Cuba. The remaining five per cent claimed that we had violated international law.

Little Satisfaction

However, Mr. Kennedy didn’t fair as well on question five. When asked if the students were satisfied with the accomplishments of his administration, only 141 voted affirmatively.

This was a poor showing for Mr. Kennedy who in the 1960 poll at Yeshiva received 318 votes out of 368. Those criticizing the President complained that he did not pass the measure he had promised during the Presidential campaign.