Evening star., 1960-07-10

hinge on the man the Democra
the ticket in Los Angeles this "
Traditionally, the post has
| plishing a balanced ticket"
with fastener, the argument
Southerner or. going back to
the 1910 Republican ticket,
businessman with Senator -
when Wendell Willkie and
Charles McNary lost to Frank
lin D. Roosevelt.
Our own generation of Amer
leans has been made sharply
aware of the Vice President
three times running. Mr.. Roose-
velt's Vice President. Harry
Truman, succeeded to the Pres
idency IS years ago. Twelve
years ago the very popular
Weep" Alben Barley, made
the Nation most aware of the
Office during his four-year term.
But, more important, the vot-
ing public has witnessed the
elght-year career of the most
active Vice President of all,
Richard Nixon.
Balance the Ticket?
Against this background of
recent history, there is every
reason to believe that the vice
presidential candidate is more
important than ever. Will the
Democrats balance the ticket"
or will they look more deeply
into what Stirs voters to vote
one way or the other?
For example, if Senator Ken
nedy is nominated, it might
appear that Senator Hum
phrey would be an attractive
running mate. For, at least one
columnist has pointed out that
Democrat Quentin Burdick' S
victory in North Dakota Sug-
gests that it might be wise for
Senator Kennedy to WOO the
farm vote. Beyond the question
of the farm vote is the fact
that the Massachusetts Sen
ator knows that hs is "in
trouble" with such key groups
as Negroes-and Senator Hum
phrey is not.
If Adlai Stevenson is nomi-
mated, the obvious choice of
his political advisors would
start with Senator Kennedy.
The Senator would serve to
balance" the ticket with
youth, his religious back
ground. his senatorial expert
ence and his Eastern heritage.
On the other hand, if Lyn-
don Johnson were nominated,
his advisers might point to the
availability of such Northern
liberals as Robert Wagner,
Mayor of New York or Senator
Gene Mccarthy of Minnesota,
both Catholics.
Makes a Difference
Surveys by the Kraft firm
point clearly to the fact that
the man in second spot does
make a difference-he can, in
fact, decide the election. But
the overriding reasons behind
the choice are not based solely
on the fact that a voter is a
farmer, or Catholic, or a new
Suburbanite.
Outside Yuma. Ariz., a high
was safety patrolman had this
comment: Kennedy and Ste
venson? Noi!! Stevenson would
spend money building highways
in Russia if Kennedy would let
him. What Kennedy needs is
hard he AIDED business like
statesman to help him with
his good ideas. johnson is the
man to share the ticket"
! In Minnesota, a Negro pull
man porter told us: Il really
prefer to see Humphrey as
President. I think he's best for
the working man. Next to that,
I'd like to see Stevenson for
President and Kennedy for Vice
PreSident-but III take it the
other way around"
In Charlestown, w. Va. a
middle-aged widow said: Yes.
I'd vote for Kennedy even if
he is Catholic, but I'd have
to stay away from the polls if
they put johnson on the ticket
with him. johnson just repre-
SentS the big oil interests.
A TV repairman in Coos
County, Ore, who describes
himself as an independent.
chose Mr.. Nixon over MI
Stevenson. But when we asked
about full ticket, Nixon-Scott
VS.. Stevenson Kennedy, he
switched instantly. His reason?
Kennedy has the drive to put
into action some of the good
ideas that Stevenson could
never get off the ground-and
he has the good sense to know
what can work and what can't.
Stevenson by himself is too far
out-he'S ahead of his time.
Kennedy is right now!"
In Eugene, Ore, the manager
OF a large variety store-a
Catholic and Republican said