IF Omaha's grade school children made the final selection of TIME'S next Man (or Woman) of the Year, Richard Nixon would be the choice, but he would have some competition from Wife Pat, Adviser Henry Kissinger, the astronauts and an assortment of surprise contenders including Elvis Presley, Howard Hughes, Willie Mays and the Tooth Fairy. These were among the picks of youngsters in grades one through eight who participated in an unusual exercise in art and opinion sampling. We invited pupils who visited the recent TIME Cover Art Show in Omaha to submit their candidates. Each child was required to illustrate his choice and to write a brief nominating statement; 650 entries were received before the exhibit moved on to the Brooks Memorial Art Gallery in Memphis, where youngsters are now casting their pictorial ballots.

The President was depicted in many guises: as SuperNixon, as a globe-trotting ambassador in a basketball uniform, as a missile rocketing to fame. "He has helped the world a lot," said one sixth-grader. "One way is through friendship with China. If China wasn't friendly, President Nixon would probably be dead."

One seventh-grader nominated India's Indira Gandhi because "she has done more for the welfare of her people than any other leader before her." Several opted for Brooklyn's Shirley Chisholm ("she has helped history by running, or trying to run, for President"), and a fourth-grader picked Angela Davis "because she has affected us so much."

Local loyalties were an important factor, and the most popular nonpolitical Man of the Year was Bob Devaney, coach of the University of Nebraska's championship football team. "He taught his team to play football the right way," explained one second-grade gridiron fan. Another contender not in public office was John Wayne ("He is one of the few actors who has not appeared on the screen in his birthday suit. As a minor I protest against all these R and X movies"). There was even evidence of Women's Lib on the grammar school level. A fifth-grader drew Gloria Steinem "because she made me feel proud that I am a woman." Another girl, three years younger, was even more certain of women's rightful status. Her choice? God, wearing a maxi dress.

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