Word: softener
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...popcorn on a hot stove. Many viewed De Gaulle's arbitrary action, undertaken without consulting his NATO allies, as simply a cheap way for France to demonstrate its independence in foreign affairs. Washington maintains that the French move is both mischievous and unwise because 1) it will not soften Red China's militancy or even necessarily help trade (the Dutch have formal trade relations with China, but sell less there than do the Belgians, who have none); 2) it upsets the "very fragile balance" in the Far East and can have incalculable repercussions around the Chinese perimeter...
Some Objections. Many union leaders feel that such plans tend to make workers feel like managers and soften labor's punch in collective bargaining (wage hikes and extra benefits, after all, come out of profits). The U.A.W. rank and file was disappointed that last week's American Motors payout was slightly less than last year, and Reuther, in negotiation with the Big Three, may be willing to trade off his profit-sharing demand if he can win shorter hours or higher wages. Some executives begrudge profit sharing to workers who (they think) do less to increase earnings than...
...century, Argentine President Julio Roca, a Spanish-descended champion of the landed gentry, was visiting a jammed Italian-immigrant hostel. "What's going to happen," he muttered distastefully, "when the children of these people want to run the country?" Were Roca alive today, his tone might soften appreciably. "These people's" children are indeed running Argentina, and the Italian imprint is everywhere-shaping Argentine culture and character and giving Argentina's industry much of its momentum...
...could work out legislation acceptable to both Republicans and Democrats. Instead, the subcommittee produced a bill much stronger than the Administration's, a bill which is now thought to be too strong to pass either House. And when the President sent his brother to ask the full committee to soften the bill, the flood of publicity that accompanied his testimony, ironically, scared the group so badly that it may actually approve the bill. Liberal Congressmen who might have voted to weaken the measure in the usually secret process of committee "markup" now shrink from seeming to oppose civil rights legislation...
...provide some of the money previously gleaned from high priced rooms. The money required to increase scholarship stipends, therefore, is available and could have been used for purposes other than rent compensation had there been so change in the rent structure. It might, for example, have helped to soften the effect of the new tuition increase or the board raise which will necessarily come within the next few years...