Evening star., 1963-05-05
BY DAVID S. BRODER
Star Staff Writer

BY DAVID 3. BkODER
Star Staff Writer
Attorney General Robert F
Kennedy yesterday vehemently
denied he was playing any part
in planning a reported purge
of Southern Democratic Con-
greSsmen who oppose the ad-
ministration.
Mr.. Kennedy said in an in
terview he had never heard
of the plan" until stories ap-
peared about 1t in The Star
and other newspapers last
week.
The Star story said certain
of President Kennedy's politi-
cal operatives favored giving
covert support to candidates
who appeared to have a good
chance Of defeating anti-ad-
ministration Democrats in the
1864 primaries.
Mr.. Kennedy declared, II
think anyone who makes that
kind of plan for purging Con-
gressmen is out Of his mind.
I hope ! have more sense than
that"
DOwdy Sees FavOritism
Meantime, a Texas represen-
tative who has been mentioned
as a likely purge" target, COM
planned that the pro-Kennedy
Democrat who opposed him in
the 1862 primary has been get
ting favored treatment from
the administration. His foe was
given a temporary Job on the
Democratic National Commit
/ tee and then an unsalaried ad-
visory post in the Commerce
Department.
Representative Dowdy, DEM
ocrat of Texas, said Benton
Musslewhite, his 1862 rival, has
been tabled as "the man to
see" about Area Redevelopment
Administration loans In that
area. Both Mr.. Musslewhite
and ARA officials denied the
charge.
They conceded, however, that
Mr.. Musslewhite was present
at a meeting in Mr.. Dowdy's
district last winter-a meeting
of which the member of con-
gress was not notified where
top ARA officials discussed
their plans for aiding the area.
The Attorney Generals COM
ments on the purge" plan
came after his return from a
visit to several Southern
States. Aides said the topic Of
the reported purge" was raised
at press conferences in the
South and Mr.. Kennedy was
at pains to diSclaim any con-
nection with it.
The new purge" plan, exist
ence Of which has been for
mally denied by Democratic
National Chairman John M.
Bailey, differs radically from
the abortive purge" Franklin
d. Roosevelt attempted in 1888.
No Direct Support
1t contemplates no direct in
tervention by the President in
primary contests. Instead. 1t
would rely on covert support
from Washington - chiefly fl
nancial aid and professional
political management advice
for challengers with substan-
tial local backing in a few Sc
lected districts where there is
a reasonably good chance of
toppling a conservative DEM
ocratic Congressman In the
primary.
Such efforts were made,
without publicity. in about half
a dozen Southern districts last
year, with mixed success.
White House advisers are d.
vided as to the wisdom Of the
plan. Most congressional Dem
ocratic leaders are opposed.
There Is no evidence the plan
has been approved by, or dis
cussed with, President Ken
nedy.
However, both supporters
and opponents Of the scheme
told The Star they believed 1t
was in line with Attorney Gen.
eral Kennedy's thinking.
The Attorney General
strongly challenged that belief
in the interview yesterday.
MY view is, and always has
BEEN" he said, that voters Of
each district should make the
decision on their candidates
uninfluenced by outsiders.
"Of course. 1t is true that
the President wants supporters
in Congress. The way to get
them there is for people who
support his programs to offer
themselves at the polls and let
the voters decide.
II would hope there would
be such people all over the
country"
In response to q question,
Mr.. Kennedy said he had made
no effort to determine II
others In the Democratic Party
hierarchy we're pushing tn e
purge" idea.
Not Active Politically
Running the Department of
Justice and my other govern
mental responsibilities take all
my time" he said. He also
noted that he had been travel