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responsible for education, and provides limited financial support for special educational programs rather than dealing with the larger problems of quality and standards and evaluation. That's the only contribution I made to that, that the federal funds should be tied to at least periodic evaluation of their use and effectiveness.

But you're talking about evaluation and standards. You're not talking about federalizing the school system as such?

Well no, I certainly didn't say that then, but that's my un-American belief.

Did you ever hear that Martin Luther King was interested in federalizing the school system?

No, I didn't. Much as I talked with Martin, I don't recall that we ever discussed that. But I certainly would be gung-ho with him on that, because I believe that you absolutely have to do that. The states are fine, except that people don't stay in a particular state in terms of education. The state lines are important political boundaries, but they certainly do not restrict the migration of individuals. For Mississippi to have an educational system that is markedly below that of, let's say, California or New York in terms of its products--I personally don't see the value of that. In fact, I see it as an important and quiet detriment.

The genesis of that last question to you--at the risk of