U.S. At War: Hits & Errors

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In five and a half years in the U.S. Senate, Kentucky's ebullient Albert Benjamin ("Happy") Chandler was known mostly for:

CJ Loud criticism of the Allied war strategy (in 1943 he wanted emphasis shifted to the Pacific, said he was "unable to agree" with Winston Churchill). ¶ A bulldoggish attitude about Army promotions ("I'm not going to just rubber-stamp everything they bring up"). ¶ A miniature political tempest when a rival in the 1942 campaign charged that a Louisville contractor had built a swimming pool in his backyard as a gift. (Happy was cleared.)

Last week the 46-year-old former Kentucky governor, former minor-league baseball player, got ready to give up his $10,000-a-year senatorial job. He had been made high commissioner of baseball at $50,000 a year (see SPORT). Baseball had gained a boss of radiant confidence. (Said Happy: "I may be in error, but I'm never in doubt.") The U.S. Senate had lost a minor politician.