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Gravel Quits; Reggie Named
By CHARLES M. IIARGRODER
(Tirnes-.'cayt:rie Staff Corr espordent)
BATON ROUGE, La. — Gov. Edwin Edwards made it official Friday. Camille Gravel has resigned as executive counsel and Edmund M. Reggie succeeds him.
Gravel's resignation (and retirement as a state employee) is effective Oct. 1.
YAOUNDE. Cameroon (AP) — Warming to a new role as super-salesman for America. U N. Ambassador Andrew Young told the people of Cameroon Friday the United States is their best partner in trade.
"It doesn't matter what it is, we're convinced we can do it as well if not better and cheaper than anybody else in the world," Young said, developing a theme he introduced Thursday in Nigeria.
Cameroon's traditional trade links are with France.
Young, in his last month as America's chief delegate to the United Nations, is leading a U S. trade delegation through west and east Africa.
"I said to our friends in Nigeria, 'you may not like the Americans, but if an American company had put in your phones, the phones would be working,"' Young said. The reference was to Nigeria's chronic communications problems.
Alluding to the discovery of offshore oil in Cameroon, . he added: "If you want to drill for oil in 200 feet of water. 15 miles off the coastline, Americans know how to do that best."
Young's visit to this prospering central African nation continued to draw the warmest welcome of his trip through Africa.
Crowds lined the streets wherever his motorcade passed, and at one point he was mobbed by well-wishers when he turned to shake some hands. Newspapers continue to sing praises of "Young, our brother," and the state radio carries his statements.
The visit included a half-hour audience with Ahmadou Ahidjo, the 54-year-old president who has ruled Cameroon since independence from Britain and France in
Bayou Drowning
Victim Identified
The body of a man found in Cane Bayou Thursday was identified Friday as that of Anthony A. Jackson, 25, 2122 Clara.
Dr. Frank Miryard, Orleans Parish coroner, classified the death as an accidental drowning.
Jackson was believed to have fallen from a boat Tuesday.
Reggie, Edwards said. will serve without salary. per diem, expenses or even a state car.
It was an emotional moment for Gravel as his voice quavered in reading his letter of resignation to a news conference. Edwards too, was visibly moved.
Reggie, 53, a retired city judge and longtime personal and political friend of
1960.
Presidential guards in billowing green pantaloons, flowing red capes and white vests snapped their swords in salute as Young arrived at the elaborate presidential palace to deliver a letter to Ahidjo from President Carter. Contents of the letter were not" disclosed.
Clearly enjoying the adulation and impressed by Cameroon's little-known success, Young told government leaders at a luncheon: "If I were a businessman and trying to decide where I would invest my time and talents, I think I would select Cameroon."
He described Cameroon as a "true hybrid" of Africa. The country is about the size of California, with geography ranging from tropical forests to deserts. It's 7.6 million inhabitants are from 200 tribes arid include Moslems and Christians. Both English and French are official languages.
Under Ahidjo's government and with France's active participation, Cameroon has enjoyed steady development in agriculture, industry, education and infrastructure, and promises to become a major producer of minerals.
Young made several public appearances during the day and spoke on topics ranging from U.S. politics to his own future to the situation in southern Africa.
He said he hopes the London talks on Rhodesia will succeed. "I think right now it's very clear the Patriotic Front has not been able to destroy (Prime Minister Abel) Muzorewa's government, and neither have the Rhodesian forces been able to crush the Patriotic Front. . . . They're on their last bargaining legs and hopefully will reach an agreement at this conference in London."
Also, negotiations on Namibia are "going quite well. I think we'll shortly see a U.N. force moving into Namibia," he said.
PHILIPPINE MARTIAL LAW
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Carter administration is "disappointed" in the decision of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to extend martial law, the U.S. State Department saA Friday.
Edwards, is currently active in the movement to draft U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy as the Democratic Party's 1980 standard bearer. Reggie will continue his activities in that regard.
Edwards made it clear, however, he was not committed to Kennedy and is keeping his options open whether he will he involved in behalf of anyone.
Reggie, a Tulane law graduate, was appointed at the age of 24 to his first service on the Crowley City Court bench by Gov. Earl K. Long in 1950.
He was the youngest judge to serve at that time, fresh from law school and before the constitution and law required five years practice before becoming eligible to serve.
Reggie has through the years been associated with several state administrations:
— As a member of the Louisiana Mineral Board, then chairman of the State Board of Welfare, later director of the Commission on Extension and Continuing Education for Gov. John J. McKeithen.
In 11)62, Reggie, the son of Lebanese 4"'"'",*--
immigrants, was named special envoy to the Middle East by President John F. Kennedy.
Reggie has been a longtime friend of the Kennedy family dating to his support of John F. Kennedy for the vice-presidency in 1956, as co-chairman of the Louisiana presidential campaign for Kennedy and as coordinator of Robert Kennedy's campaign in 1968.
Edwards said that while Reggie's appointment did not preclude him from continuing 'his activities in state or national politics, the governor added "His coming on board is not to be construed in any other light . . . and nothing is to be construed as any indication of my own feelings one way or the other.
reserve, again, publicly, my right to make a decision about the national political scene as the months unfold."
Gravel, a longtime factor in state and national politics, generally allied to Reggie, told newsmen he was retiring as a state employee, but not from further involvement in politics.
Edwards said he accepted Gravel's resignation with deep regret and gratitude for "the service he has rendered to me as governor and to the state generally."
The governor said he was aware of Gravel's reasons for resigning and had made no effort to keep him from his resignation, wishing him well in his endeavors.
Gravel made it plain that his resignation was in no way a forced choice, except the press of his private practice, and the problems of his son and daughter in drug charges.
Young Is Selling America
During Visit to Cameroon
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