September 25, 1976

Pol leaders, analysts and polls agree that 1st Pres debate is virtual draw; find debate lacked excitement and failed to involve voters because candidates were so cautious in their rhetoric; both Ford and Carter partisans claim victory; AP poll conducted by Chilton Research Service finds 34% thought Ford had won, 32% said Carter won, 26% said debate was draw and 8% had no opinion; Carter pollster Patrick Caddell survey finds outcome of debate to be dead heat; Chicago Alderman Roman C Pucinski poll finds 70% thought Ford won; Ford and Carter address Polish‐Amer Cong meeting Sept 24 in Phila (M)

illus with Pres Ford

HOUSTON, Sept. 24—Jimmy Carter, seeking the 26 Electoral College votes of Texas, expressed regret today about his remarks that former President Lyndon B. Johnson had engaged in “lying, cheating and distorting the truth.”

Sen Foreign Relations Com, in unexpected setback to Adm's Middle East policy, votes 8‐6 to block sale to Saudi Arabia of 650 Maverick missiles; Adm officials express hope that Cong will adjourn before it can approve resolution; Sen George McGovern, chmn of com's Middle East subcom, describes action as ‘pol mistake’ that is going to complicate US relations in Middle East; resolution is pressed for by Sen Clifford P Case who says he was not party in negotiations or ‘compromise’ worked out between Ford Adm and Sens Humphrey and Javits to lower number of missiles from 1,500 to 650; Javits argues for delay in vote until com can hear Sec Kissinger; votes against resolution on ground that he was bound by compromise (M)

Smith tells Rhodesian people he has no choice but to accept Kissinger proposals, TV speech; por; says it was made clear to him that Rhodesia could otherwise expect no support from ‘free world’; announces Govt reprs will meet immediately with black leaders to establish council of state and council of mins for interim rule so that internatl econ sanctions will be lifted and black guerrilla warfare ended; says internatl trust fund will be established outside Rhodesia to organize development and investment programs, that GB will enact legis to end Rhodesia's outlaw status; black nationalist leader Josiah Chinamano sees no problem getting blacks for govt; Smith stresses he has Kissinger's ‘categorical assurance’ that sanctions and guerrilla activity will cease; Smith insists white Rhodesians will not be ‘bought out’; capitulation linked to apparent S African threat of econ strangulation and opposition to Rhodesian anti‐guerrilla forays which S Africa fears could touch off wide‐scale racial warfare (L)