Massachusetts: Wave of Neutrality

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To hear the agonizing in Boston last week, you'd have thought that Cardinal Gushing was running against the Pope—the choice was that hard. In the rough-and-tumble world of Massachusetts Democratic politics, where a moment's indecision can make a roomful of enemies, politicians were struck by a sudden outbreak of public neutrality. The cause of it all was Edward M. ("Ted") Kennedy's long-expected announcement that he is a candidate for the U.S. Senate. That would ordinarily be a fine thing—except that Ted thus placed himself on a collision course with another dynastic figure: State Attorney General Edward McCormack, 38, nephew of House Speaker John McCormack, who wants the Democratic Senate nomination just as badly as Ted. Groaned Democratic Ward Chairman Theodore Dimauro of Springfield: "This is the hottest thing that I've ever been involved in."

The politician's discomfort did not seem to bother Ted Kennedy, who announced less than six weeks after he turned 30, the legal age requirement for a Senator. While two police sergeants and a bevy of patrolmen directed traffic outside his nine-room house near the Charles River, he strode into his living room with his blonde, tanned wife Joan at his side. A young man held up large cue cards, and Ted faced a battery of microphones and television and newsreel cameras. Said Ted: "I make this decision in full knowledge of the obstacles I will face, the charges that will be made. Massachusetts must have a Democratic voice in the councils of the Senate—a voice that will be heard."

Embarrassed & Annoyed. What did Ted's big brother think about that? Though Ted had talked the matter over with the President, none of the Kennedys had tried to dissuade him from his course. A private poll had already shown that Ted would win in the primary by 2 to 1. Asked at his news conference if he would give Ted his support, the President replied: "My brother is carrying this campaign on his own and will conduct it in that way." Attorney General Robert Kennedy, predicting that Brother Ted would win, suggested that the President might campaign for him after the primary. Ted himself announced that he did not expect any help from either brother. But anyone who knew politics—or the Kennedys—was sure that Ted would benefit mightily not only from the presidential image, but from the Kennedy money, manpower and influence.

Whatever help Ted may or may not get, it seemed sure that his candidacy would be no help to the President. With a third Kennedy ready to enter the national political scene, both Republicans and Democrats in Washington buzzed last week with renewed talk of a Kennedy dynasty. Some House leaders feel that the Kennedy-McCormack race in Massachusetts is already straining the President's relations with the House, and may make it hard for him to work candidly with the men under John McCormack. Democrats, somewhat annoyed at Teddy, are sure that the race will be an embarrassment, no matter who wins. Republicans feel that in the dynasty theme they have found an issue to use against the President in the fall.