Nation: Teddy's Test

In his 21 years as a Democratic Senator from Massachusetts, Teddy Kennedy has established himself as a pleasant young man who listens respectfully to his elders. But last week Teddy talked back—and, though he narrowly lost his first major legislative test, he handled himself with a skill and a cool political opportunism that bodes well for his future.

Lost Sheep. Teddy was the leader of a band of Senate liberals attempting to tack onto the voting-rights bill an amendment to outlaw poll taxes in state and local elections. The move was strongly opposed by President Johnson. Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, Senate Democratic...