Evening star., 1962-01-10
Mansfield Sees.
'GoodCIimate'.
For Legislation
BY CECIL HOLLAND
Star staff Writer

senate Democratic Leader
Mansfield said today public
confidence in President Ken
nedy's leadership means that
the climate for progressive leg
islation is good" in the new
session of Congress.
The Montana legislator spoke
at a caucus of Senate Dem
ocratS preceding the beginning
of the new session.
Fifty-one of the 81 Senate
Democrats turned out for a
harmonious meeting which
lasted less than an hour.
At the invitation of Senator
Mansfield, Vice President john
son presided over the meeting
without causing comment. Last
year Senator Gore of Tennes-
see and others voiced objections
when the Vice President, long
time Senate Democratic leader,
was asked to preside over a
similar gathering.
With no party post to fill, the
Democratic Senators confined
themselves to discussion of leg
islation, without touching on
civil rights or other contro-
versial measures. 1--WE didn't
have anything but moonlight
and roses" Senator Clark of
Pennsylvania said.
Night Work Ruled Out
Senator Mansfield said the
new session faces a heavy cal
endar of work. However, he
cheered his colleagues by a
pledge of no night sessions. so
far as I have anything to say
about it," he told the caucus,
classes will usually end in time
for dinner"
The Democratic leader praised
the record made by Congress
in the first session and it's CO.
operation with the President
and the administration.
ITO Democrats in Congress-"
Senator Mansfield added, "the
Presidents strength in the
country-the confidence people
have in his ability to lead us
in the very tumultuous world
we inhabit-is an asset of in
calculable value.
1T means that the climate
for progressive legislation is
good. 1t means that the country
can face its problems with
greater unity. And it means
that Democrats will enter the
1862 elections supported by a
public servant whose leader
ship is firmly approved by the
electorate"
Senator Mansfield said he
thinks Mr.. Kennedy has the
capacity ito be one of our
greatest Chief Executives" and
expressed the hope that the
President will find the great
majority of his party behind
him when it counts" on his
Legislative program.
Cites Service in Congress
He added that the President
is mo admirer of monolithic
thinking" and was too long a
member of Congress to believe
that all wisdom resides in the
Executive Branch.
The best service we can rem
der the President. and the
country at large" Senator
Mansfield continued, lis to
speak our minds after mature
reflection. and to make such
laws as our conscience and rea-
son demand . There are those
who believe the President must
propose a recipe for instant
Utopia, and that Congress
should then be challenged to
cook it.
I'm my opinion that recipe
has not been found, and the
President will be suspicious Of
anything put up as qualifying
for it. He knows that advances
in human affairs are made
painstakingly by the co-opera-
ton and hard work of men Of
good will. I believe he will re-
ceive both from the Senate this
year"
Senator Mansfield said the
Senate will consider no legisla-
ton this week. The Senate
Democratic Policy Committee,
he added, will meet next Tues
day to determine in what order
legislation will be brought up.