Evening star., 1960-11-05

the ticket or that he betrayed
his hackers by taking second
place.
But If the electoral college
writes enough votes on the
Democratic slate, If Texas and
most Southern States line up
IN that party's column and If
various areas afflicted by re-
ligious questions support SEN
ator Kennedy for President, a
sizeable share Oh the credit will
have to go to Senator johnson
for effort and effectiveness as
a campaigner.
Although never really q
forgotten man" either to Sem
ator Kennedy or Vice Presi-
dent Nixon and Henry Cabot
Lodge. Senator johnson did
not reach his peak of partisan
persuasion and general pub
licity until almost the end of
the campaign.
At the outset and even as
recently as his Dixieland
whistlestop train trip, he usu-
ally was written up If not
written off-as a subject for
feature stories that stressed
simply his folksy ways. Nor
did Senator Kennedy's sparse
public references to him do
much to focus Nationwide
attention on the hitherto COM
parative little known Senate
Democratic Leader.
In an era when the Vice
Presidency continues to be
upgraded, however, Senator
johnson has put UP a fighting
finish which-win or lose-did
not downgrade him.
Builds to Climax
His characteristic brand of
stump speaking typif1es his
whole campaign, with its
shortcomings as well as
achievements. Almost invari-
ably, talking to friendly, skep-
tical or merely curious audi
ences, he starts in a soft
persuasive voice. He often
uses his favorite Senate
phrase: II am confident all
reasonable men and women
will agree that :"
Then he builds up to a
smashing and often slashing
climax of partisan argument
for the Democrats and hard
hitting refutation and biting
ridicule for the Republicans.
! He can be as sweet, smooth
and soft flowing as molasses
and then suddenly pour in the
castor oil. He can be as out
spoken as former President
Truman (although he seldom
uses the same kind Of words
and he can be a shrewdly
homespun and gregarious a:
Senator Kefauver. the 1856
vice-presidential nominee. He
can shower an audience with
governmental statistics anc
congressional records and ther
WOW them with vast variety
of cornball jokes and needing
stories at the expense Of the
Republicans.
And all the while he sizes
up each audience and local
situation and prospects with
the seasoned skillful eye of a
practical politician.
Non-TexaS newsmen and
other observers in the "LBJ
Victory Special" campaign
plane generally have seen and
heard him in action only in the
Senate. Most of them are sur
prised and impressed by his
performance in the wind-up of
this presidential election cam
paign.
Pulls His Weight
Until the November 8 ballots
are counted. and perhaps for a
long time after that, it will be
impossible to measure precisely
his contribution to the Demo-
cratic cause in the campaign
and to determine whether Sen
ator Kennedy chose wisely and
well in having him as running
mate after defeating him fol
the No. nomination. And also
whether Senator johnson him
self was smart in taking the
No. 2 spot.
Senator Johnson's conduct as
a campaigner in often adverse
as well as favorable situations
nevertheless prompts a conclu-
sion that he has pulled his
weight in the Democratic boat
without rocking it.