POLITICS: Campaign Teardrops

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Muskie's campaign headquarters in New Hampshire was besieged by calls from Franco-Americans complaining about the purported slur. The problem was of no small concern to the Muskie forces. His support in the state had been eroding in recent weeks, and 40% of New Hampshire's registered Democrats are Franco-Americans. While Muskie had to answer the charge, the trip to Manchester may have been illadvised. Muskie fatigues easily, which often brings out his celebrated temper. The plea to Muskie to counter the accusation came just as he had completed an exhausting two weeks of campaigning and was looking forward to a weekend of rest with his family. The problem was further compounded by Muskie's long-running feud with Loeb, dating back to 1957, after the editor helped keep a Peyton Place film crew from shooting in New Hampshire. When Muskie, who was Maine's Governor, allowed 20th Century-Fox to film the gamy picture in his state, Loeb pilloried him.

Iceberg. Muskie contended that his weepy reaction was only human. He told CBS Correspondent Mike Wallace: "For three years now I've been told I have no emotions. So on one occasion I show emotion about an attack on my wife, and if I can't show emotion in that instance, I guess the conclusion is that I've got to be an iceberg as President."

Muskie's supporters conceded that the brief crying jag had done their candidate no good, but argued that it would probably be forgotten if there was no repetition. By his midweek appearance at a Boston fund-raising dinner, the Senator was composed enough to joke about the incident, telling the audience that his wife helped him pack, "and she put in six extra handkerchiefs." Aboard his campaign plane Muskie, who is of Polish extraction, even sang along with newsmen an impromptu ditty that one of them had written to the tune of When Irish Eyes Are Smiling:

When Polish eyes are crying and when Polish hearts are sad,

You can walk to Bill Loeb's office and put on a public mad.