Evening star., 1961-01-17
The KENNEDY CABINET r@-
!. Vests UdotI Seeks Interior Ideas

an old man when came back,
he remarked. His team went
up against a University of Ken
lucky team then at the peak
in the basketball world. "They
gave us quite q lesson," said
Mr. Udall. '"That was the last
basketball I played"
He is also a self-taught ten
mis- player with something M
freely admits is an 'unorthodo1
STYLE" and he has played
enough football to feel quail
fled for q White House touch
team If there should be one.
Mr.. Udall, who stands five
feet II inches and at l80 weighs
only 10 more pounds than ir
his basketball days. keeps I'll
by hiking with his family and
by exercising In the House gym
One Of Fearless Five
When he first came to Con-
gress in 1855, after practicine
law in Tucson, he Joined with
other freshmen Democrat men,
bers in establishing a study
group. "This was an attempt
OF the younger members to
help understand issues better
and to provide pressure fol
what we considered the Demo-
cratic platform" Mr.. Udall
said. The young Arizonan,
who became known to his
House friends as "the Navajo
chief" soon became q leader
in the movement.
Mr.. Udall was q supporter Of
Adlai E. Stevenson for the DEM
ocratic presidential nomination
in 1855. At that time he also
backed Senator Kennedy for
second place on the ticket. But
his close ties with the Presi-
dent-elect were forged, not in
politics, but in the bitter 1859
battle over the labor reform
bill.
He was one OF a group on
the House Labor Committee
dubbed "the fearless five" who
stood out for a moderate bill.
Mrs. Green, who was a men,
ber Of the group said. I'VE had
a rough time from extremes
on both Sides"
Mr.. Udall was in the thick Of
the fight. I'VE were called all
sorts of Names he said. "Our
group held the balance Of power
in the committee. We wanted q
moderate bill-but an effective
bill"
When Representative Elliott,
sponsor Of the bill, became Ill,
Mr.. Udall led the floor fight
for it. BY a narrow margin the
House adopted the stringent
Landrum Griffin bill. I'VE
lost" said Mr.. Udall. But the
final legislation was nearer our
bill than any other. :"
The Arizona Der ocrat
worked closely with the Ken
nedy forces while the legisla-
ton was in conference. my
work with him on that" he
said, made me decide to 60 all
out for him"
Had Busy Convention Role
He was q vocal supporter
months before Senator Ken
nedy formally announced he
was q candidate for the Demo-
cratic nomination. While Sena-
tor johnson Of Texas was
claiming Arizona in the battle
for the nomination. Mr.. Udall
fought to carry the States del
egation into the Kennedy camp.
When Senator Kennedy
turned to his Texas rival as a
running mate, Mr.. Udall waged
a battle of q different kind.
Amid liberal discomfort over
Senator Kennedy's choice, Mr..
Udall toured the convention
floor as "a one-man fire de-
partment" quenching SIN q II
fires Of revolt against the
Texan.
In this way the Secretary
designate stands apart from
many liberals as a man Of sweet
reasonableness. It Is a part Of
his whole background and it
has been strengthened in the
crucible Of House debate.
Il think we must have q
lively sense Of compromise" he
explains. you can't accomplish
anything in a legislative way
unless you have an attitude Of
give and take and q willingness