Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-04-14
PRESIDENTS RGHT,HAND BROTHER
Trouble Triggers Operation Send for Bobby
BY ARTHUR EDISON
Associated Press Staff Writer

During the frantic Demo-
cratic primaries of 1860 two
brothers met at a West Vir-
GINA airport.
Hi. Johnny" said Bobby
Kennedy, "how are you?"
Man, I'm tired" said SEN
ator John F. Kennedy.
What the hell are you tired
for?" asked his campaign man
ager. I'm doing all the work"
Then. and now, this fraternal
jest contained considerable
truth.
For Attorney General Robert
F. Kennedy deals directly with
civil rights, the hottest and
most tragic dilemma Of our
time. Yet this, plus his work in
battling assorted crime and
corruption, doesn't keep him
fully occupied and he is apt
to grow FESTIVE.
So when difficulties arise
far from the Justice Depart
ment's normal haunts - Cuba,
for instance - President Ken
nedy turns to operation SFB:
"Send For Bobby"
Seen No. 2 Man
Most observers agree that
Robert Kennedy, because he has
the Presidents ear and con-
fidence, is the No. 2 man in
Washington, and thats because
he is young, ambitious and has
that magic name, he has a
sporting chance of becoming
No. /.
= But that is about all they
do agree on.
With brother John in the
White House and brother Ed
ward in the Senate, Robert has
managed, on his very own, to
be the most hated, the most
fiercely supported by local CO.
workers, the most prolific
,(seven children, going on eight
the most competitive and the
most misunderstood of the
three extraordinary Kennedy
Sboys.
; At 81, he has been the subject
of one book Qaudatory) and of
.innumerable articles, varying
from ecstatic to $3.50 to was
'pish.
: The most virulent attack was
by New York playwright Gore
Vidal, who as a Democrat ran
'unsuccessfuly for Congress in
1850 and who is distantly con-
:riected with the Kennedys. JAG
:queline Kennedy and Mr.. Vidal
have the same Stepfather.
Forecasts '6S BuiIdup
|. But Mr.. Vidal has never been
"a friend Of Robert Kennedy's, as
his Esquire magazine article
iabundantly proved.
Mr.. Vidal said Bobby Ken
.nedy would be built up as the
only logical Democratic candi-
date for President in 1968--and
.this, he said, would be q dis
,aster. n'7' s1 7taH iv@
. His obvious characteristics"
Mr.. Vidal said Of Bobby, ARE
energy, vindictivenesS and a.
simple mindedness about hui
man motives he would be
a dangerously authoritarian
minded President"
- Mr.. Vidal thus joins such
.non-admirers as certain politi-
clans moved down by the Ken
.nedy scythe, Teamster boss
james Hoffa, Chicago hoodlums
who put Bobby first on their
most hated list, and some lib
erals who believe he Is dan
'gerously soft on protecting civil
liberties.
A glance at those who have
spoken kindly Of Mr.. Kennedy
is even more startling.
. Conflicting Endorsements
They include the late Sena-
tor Joe Mccarthy, New Deal
historian Arthur SchleSinger,
.jr., Herbert Hoover and SUI
.preme Court Justice William o.
Douglas.
Despite these conflicting, and
often disturbing, Endorsements
and disapprovals, Bobby Ken
,nedy is almost invariably pic
tured as a young man who
,ruthlessly rolls over everyone
in his way. Indeed, of all the |
adjectives tackled on Bobby,
none has stuck as securely as
ruthless"
I this a true picture Of the
Attorney General? Is he, as
his foes allege. a man who sees
everything in blacks and
whites? Or is he, as his friends
insist, far more complex?
. Even his appearance has
contradictions.
His clothes may be well
made, but they are scarcely on
before they are all rumples
and wrinkles. At work his coat
is off, his sleeves rolled. his