Evening star., 1960-10-28
VIP Lounge Provides Touch
Of Lightness on Nixon Train
By MARY McGRORY
star STAN Writer

Speclal, now somewhere IN 4IIl-
noiS, it is the VIP lounge, where
politicians are rewarded fol
ringing doorbells with a free
ride across their districts.
In the last car, which is the
first when the train stops, the
candidate, sucking a lemon
against a sore throat, is brood
ing over the fifth debate.
Strung along behind him are
the quarters of his top-level ad-
viserS, busily clearing things
with the White House. AL
around them is the ceaSeleSs
clacking Of the mimeographists
and typists.
But in N-4, which is fur
nished wholly with armchairS,
the atmosphere is lighter.
It has its tensions, too, Of
course. The national commit
teewoman sits at the door,
fearful lest the national COM
mitteeman and the State chair
man should sneak in for q con-
ference with the Vice Presi-
dent.
The candidate for State
treasurer may be Sulking
about his place in the motor
cade.
Symbol Of Status
But generally speaking an
invitation to ride on the train
is in itself a status symbol and
everything is done to make it
seem like a treat and a reward.
AS each new batch boards
the train. Nixon aide Charles
McWhorter, the host of Ma,
bids them welcome. Staff aides
come through dispensing ro-
sette corsages, badges and SOU
venir train menus autographed
by Dick and Pat Nixon. Just
before they get of they are
shepherded into the candidates
car for q handShake.
There wasn't a man or woman
in Ma yesterday as 1t chugged
across Michigan who didn't
feel the candidate would bene-
At from a little advice. But for
the most part, they are salts
fed with the way he is running
at the moment.
Mrs. Albert Koese, national
committeewoman from Grand
Rapids, who was wearing a din
ner-plate size Pat for First
Lady" pin, said that all she
would suggest would be that
Mr.. Nixon smile a little more.
$4,000 Phone Calls
She announced that her
women had made 10000 tele-
phone calls in the last two
weeks urging people to come
to the rally in Grand Rapids
yesterday afternoon. She re-
ported they were so diligent
they even called her.
The youthful State chairman,
Larry Lindemer, said it was a
tight race, that he thought the
Vice President was political
genius that Senator Kennedy
had peaked" too soon. Like
every soul who has crossed the
threshold Of Ma since it pulled
out of Washington last Sunday,
he regarded the first television
debate as an unmitigated dis
aster for the Vice President
But he is saying something
new every day now and Ken
nedy is just repeating himself"
he said.
John B. Martin, national
committeeman, a h a n d o m e,
medieval-looking man, who was
assisting in ministering to the
rampant egos in the car, said
he thought the Vice President
was coming up strong and that
the fight could be won in the
precincts.
Sees Tide Turning
William E. Kreger, candidate
for Secretary of State, an.
nounced at intervals in ear
splitting tones that the nixon
tide was turning"
Generally speaking, things
were far gayer in the lounge
car than on the back platform
The first stop Of the day was
at Monroe. Mich, which some
over-zealous local announced
was the birthplace Of Gen
Custer.
Did we have to mentor
that?" muttered a staff man.
The candidate was making {
losing fight against the com
mon cold. His voice was husky
he looked pale.
At Ann Arbor, he was greetel
by q number Of mordant ant
heretical signs. Among a hill
side full of people stood on
dissenter who at every pause il
the Vice Presidents remark
held up a long scroll whicl
read. Say something please.
The candidate inadvertently re
ferred to my opponent, Nj
Lodge"
At Jackson, the birthplace O
the Republican Party, thre
eggs were aimed at the Pat an
Dick special. All missed.
Slip of Tongue
At Battle Creek, the birth
place of cornflakes, the trai
was parked in such a way ths
only half the crowd could sc
him. The rest could scarcel
hear. The Vice Presider
dispiritedly told them tbs
Washington was not really s
far away. His mind was, how
ever. He said, "as we NOV
across England. :"
At Kalamazoo, where he Wa
greeted by a churning, push
ing 5000 people, he said re
peatedly, What am I tryir
to say?"
BY the time the train move
into Grand Rapids, appreher
sion had set in in the lounS