Evening star., 1960-01-24
AIfoIfo Club Chooses
Keoting for President

0
Brushing aside avowed and
announced candidates, the Al
falfa Club last night nominated
Senator Heating, Republican
Of New York, as its choice for
the next president of the Unit
ed States.
Of course it was all in fun
to the exaggerated relief Of a
more serious contender, Vice
President Nixon, who as an
Alfalfa member attended the
annual dinner at the Hotel
Statler-Hilton with $50 other
members and guests, many Of
them notables.
The Alfalfa Club has little
to do with alfalfa, farming,
soil banks, politics, or any,
thing but fun and oratorical
nonsense. Traditionally the AL
falfa dinners climax is a mock
political convention. at which
AlfalfanS nominate one nf thoi'
members as a candidate for
the White House.
Senator Keating's acceptance
speech, entertainment by opera
and Concert Star Lily Pons, the
Air Force Band. directed by Col
George S. Howard. and Sid
ney's Orchestra. highlighted the
midwinter frofic.
Eyes of Nixon Are Upon Him
All eyes, including those of
Alfalfan Nixon, were upon the
stalwart Senator from New
York as he took up the 1860
cudgels.
In ringing tones, he stated
MY platform is brief. and this
is 1t: More Of the same, only
better. Forward"
He chose. as the Alfalfa Party
symbol. a chameleon.
Senator Heating also listed
his qualifications:
IT look older than Jack Ken
nedy.
Il am more northerly than
Lyndon johnson by 13 degrees
Of latitude.
MY running shoes are in
better shape than Adlai Ste
venson's.
Il talk less and have even
fewer campaign funds than
Hubert Humphrey.
II still live in Rochester
N. Y, while Stu Symington fled
the citv three decades ago.
And as TO nv superiority
as a candidate over Richard
Nixon. let me point out that
Cartoonist Herblock ignores my
existence"
Platform PIanks
Some of the blanks in Sena-
tor Keating's alfalfa platform
National transport problem
Equality Of luxury" in the
Chavez Bridges-So Southeastern
rail line from the New Senate
Office Building to the CAPITOL
National labor MANAGEMENT
relations: Compulsory co ex-
lstence liEa between the
Democrats and Republicans"
National harmony: A manful
new act making it illegal etc
carry a grudge across a State
line"
On a more serious note. AL
falfans installed bona fide
president during the evening.
Corcoran Thorn, ir., senior vice
president Of the Riggs National
Bank, accepted the clubs gavel
from retiring President Henry
CABOT Lodge. the United States
Ambassador to the United
Nations.
New Members Enter
BRINGING the Alfalfa Clubs
prescribed membership to a
total Of $50, the following new
members were welcomed: Sec
retary Of the Treasury Ander-
son, DR.. Leonard Carmichael,
secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution; George Champion,
president Of Chase Manhattan
Bank; Clark M. Clifford, at
torney; T. Howard Duckett. at
torney and banker; Edward T.
Folliard, White House corre-
spondent for the Washington
Post-Times Herald: Secretary
OF Defense Gates; Senator
keating; DR.. William P. Nc
kelway: Gen. E. R. Quesada
administrator Of the Federal
Aviation Agency; Charles S
Thomas. president of Trans
World Airlines, and Admira,
Jerauld Wricht. supreme allied
commando in the Atlantic.
Club officers, in addition to
President Ehom, are: Senator
Symington. first vice president;
George E. Hamilton, attorney
second vice president; DR.
Thomas w. McKnew, executive
vice president and secretary OF
the National Geographic So
ciety, treasurer. and Mai. Gen
Robert L. Walsh, secretary.
AS Alfalfa presidents are wont
to do, Mr.. Lodge relinquishec
his post with feigned reluc.
tance. He gave a iubilant &C.
count of his tenure. not ignor-
Ing the incidental non-Alfalfar
chore Of accompanying Soviet
Premier Khrushchev across the
United States.
Lodges Deficiencies Noted
From Disneyland and the
can-can dane RS of Hollywood.
said the U. N. Ambassador, "tc
the Garst cornfields Of Coor