Officers Consider Resignation After Republican Club's Vote

Three members of the Harvard Republican Club's executive board may resign because the club voted 45-12 last night to endorse Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign, Michael T. Kerr, president of the club, said last night.

Nancy J. Hoffmeier '82, membership director of the club, said yesterday she will resign from the executive board because of other "time commitments" and because her support for the presidential campaign of Rep. John B. Anderson (R.-Ill.) "could cause friction and problems" within the board.

At least one-third of the 13 members of the executive board are Anderson supporters, Hoffmeier added.

No board members other than Hoffmeier said last night he might resign, but Kerr said he thought two other officers of the club were considering resignations.

Last night's vote to endorse Reagan was a reversal of the club's position last fall, when 55 per cent of the membership voted to support Anderson.

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Kerr said he thought the reversal was "mainly the result of a large turn-out of very conservative freshmen." He added, however, that he thought a majority of the upperclass club members support Reagan, as he does.

Before the vote, members of the club debated whether to endorse Reagan or Anderson or not to endorse any candidate.

Carla C. Munoz '82-1, campus action coordinator of the club, argued that the club should remain neutral "because endorsing Reagan will alienate a large portion of our membership."

John F. Manning '81 disagreed, contending that "as a Republican club, we should obviously endorse the Republican nominee. Anderson turned his back on the party and gave up his claim to our support."

About 60 students, one-third of the club's total membership, attended the meeting. In addition to voting to support Reagan, officers conducted a poll on eight positions in the Republican presidential platform.

The poll showed that a majority of the club's membership favors draft registration, the Equal Rights Amendment, increased military spending and the Kemp-Roth tax-cut plan. Most of the membership is against a constitutional amendment to ban aboritons, government subsidies for abortions for the poor, a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget, and court-ordered busing to achieve racial integration in public schools.

"Overall, the poll indicates that this year's membership is somewhat more conservative than last year's, supporting Reagan on military and economic issues, but disagreeing with him on social questions," Kerr said.

I think the divisions in the club are friendly and political, not personal--though, of course some people feel very deeply about Anderson, he added.