Evening star., 1960-07-14
Kennedy Takes 1t All

When the end came, 1t looked easy.
During the long day and night the
men who were to lose, or their spokes-
men, stood sturdily by their claims.
Senator Kennedy, they said, didn't have
the votes to go over on the first ballot.
His support would begin to ebb If he
didn't make it on the second. Then, or
so the claims went, the race would be
wide open and anything could happen.
The nominating speeches, innocent
OF anything resembling fresh thought,
and the dreary demonstrations dragged
along. From time to time something
popped up to relieve the monotony.
Senator Symington had to deny broad
cast rumor that he was going to with
draw in favor Of Senator Kennedy. A
similar report was denied by a spokes-
man for Senator Johnson. When Adlai
StevenSon'S name was put in nomina-
tion the demonstration for him was
long, loud and appeared to be more
or less spontaneous. Most of the noise
may have come from the Stevenson
rooterS who had no votes, but the show
was fervent enough to encourage a be-
lief that maybe something was in the
works after all.
1t was a mood that was not to
last long. Senator Kennedy began to
pull away soon after the first ballot
began. Senator Symington and Mr..
Stevenson were never in the race Lyn-
don johnson, who had shown signs of
desperation earlier in the day, moved
past the 400 mark, but he never came
close to the 500 or more votes which
he had predicted for himself. AS it
happened, Wyoming cast the ballots
which brought the winner up to the
magic number-761. At the end of the
roll call Senator Kennedy had 806. Then
the delegates made it unanimous Sen
ator johnson, who had given up and
gone to bed, put out statement con-
graduating the winner and promising
fun support in the election campaign.
Senator Kennedy, accompanied by his
mother, sister and friends, came down
to the convention hall, where he made
little talk promising to carry the bat
tie to the enemy and appealing for the
support of united party. Then, in
the early hours, he left for what was
described as conference with vice
presidential prospects. The battle was
over and the 43-year-old great grand
son of a pennileSs Irish immigrant,
who left Ireland to escape the famine,
had emerged as the Democratic Party's
choice for the White House, for an
office OF enormous responsibilities, an
office upon which ride the hopes Of
our own country and the whole free
world.
What kind of man is this youthful
candidate? And why did the conven-
tior turn to hinl-the youngest and
the. least experienced of the party's
four major aSpirants?
The Kennedy image has become
familiar to most people through his
televiSed appearances. And it will be-
come better known as the campaign
moves along. He is articulate, intelli-
gent, poised and blessed with talent
for winning friends instead of alienat-
ing people. If there are doubts that
Mr.. Kennedy is old enough and rugged
enough to stand up to Mr.. Khrushchev,
this young man may still prove harder
and tougher than one might think.
The second question is easier. Su-
perior organization, months of very hard
work, the Kennedy money--all of these
went into the successful pre-convention
campaign. But above all else the Mas
sachuSetts Senator had stamped him
self in the minds of the delegates as
winner. Of the four real aspirantS
last night, Senator Kennedy-and only
Senator Kennedy-had gone into the
primaries and demonstrated that he
had voter appeal. In Wisconsin he de-
feated Senator Humphrey and displayed
some strength with the farmers. In
West Virginia he again trounced the
Minnesota Senator and, more impor-
tantly he showed he could win in a
State with a negligible Catholic vote
In Oregon, of course, he clobbered the
field, including Senator Morse, the
hometown boy.
1t is said, with some truth, that
Senator Kennedy never had to COM
pete against serious competitor in
the primaries. But that was not his
fault. His major rivals, or at least
some Of them, could have entered had
they wanted to do so. Their seeming
reluctance to meet the front runner
head-on served to aid the Kennedy