Another Kind of Victory

By far the most celebrated candidate in Panama's 1964 congressional elections was a dashing aristocrat named Roberto ("Tito") Arias. Part of his glory was admittedly reflected: both his father and an uncle had been Presidents of Panama, and his wife was Britain's foremost ballerina, Dame Margot Fonteyn. But Tito Arias could claim his own marks as well. Twice (when his family or friends were in power) he had been his country's Ambassador to London. Twice (when opposition families were in power) he had led spectacular, quixotic plots to overthrow the government, the last time in 1959 when, together with Dame Margot and an "army" of seven men, he landed on the beaches near Panama City from a fleet consisting of two shrimp boats.

With such romantic exploits behind him, Arias easily won his 1964 race for the National Assembly. But before he could take his seat, his luck ran out. A disgruntled political crony shot him down in the street. Hit four times in the neck, shoulder and chest, Arias was left paralyzed from the neck down, unable even to speak. His political career seemed over. Dame Margot flew from London to be with him, took him back to Britain, where he was hospitalized for two years while he received medical care and therapy. Dame Margot gave up her jet-set social life to spend her offstage hours at his bedside. The convalescence was slow, painful and only partial; Arias will probably never walk again, and his speech is still incomprehensible to everyone but his wife. Last year Tito Arias was finally pronounced well enough to leave the hospital.

Last week, back in Panama, Arias was helped into a convertible and driven with his wife through the streets of Panama City, in a sort of triumphal return marked by clusters of waving people along the way. With Dame Margot proudly pushing his wheelchair, he entered the National Assembly as it reconvened for 1967 and claimed the seat he had won more than two years ago. Six times in the course of the session, all 41 members, friend and enemy alike, stood and applauded Tito Arias for a victory far more impressive than any that has ever been won at the polls.