The Practiced Hand

The candidate's flushed face wore a beatific smile. He elbowed his way through the pressing crowd in the Congressional Room of Washington's Willard Hotel, stepped onto a platform and picked up a coonskin cap. He put it on, took it off, waved it, put it back, took it off again, tossed it aside. He enthroned himself in a large chair in front of a head photograph of himself that measured five feet from groomed hair to fighting jaw. Then Estes Kefauver, in his familiar, prim drawl, began to read: "I have received much encouragement, particularly from the rank-and-file members of the party. I therefore announce my candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination at the convention to be held in Chicago next August."

Rank & File Strength. Since Kefauver's vote-getting reputation rests almost solely on his showing in the 1952 primaries, reporters' questioning centered on his plans for next year's contests. Would he enter the California primary in a head-on collision with Adlai Stevenson? Kefauver, just returned from a six-day trip to California, said he had promised his followers to run there if he ran at all. What about Minnesota? Said Kefauver: "Well, I concede that things are pretty well stacked against me, apparently, but I have been receiving an awful lot of requests from rank-and-file people to enter. I will have to evaluate whether I have enough rank-and-file strength to offset the big bloc of political strength which has gotten behind Mr. Stevenson."

Does he intend to file in New Hampshire, where his 1952 win over President Truman gave him perhaps his finest hour? His grinning reply: "I heard somewhere or another that my political associates were already getting their snowshoes out." And Florida? Said Kefauver: "The sunshine is very beautiful in Florida this time of year."

Trouble with Postcards. The limiting factor, said Kefauver, is money. He explained in his best patched-pants style: "When I was out in California the other day, somebody told me that just to send a postal card to all the Democratic voters of California costs at least $115,000--one postal card. So that this campaigning has gotten to be very, very expensive . . . I do not have the money available and I do not know where I am going to get funds from. I do have reason to feel that some people will help me ..." Kefauver was asked what differences might arise between him and other Democratic hopefuls. Said he: "I do not expect at this time to try to point out the differences between the attitudes, for instance, of Mr. Stevenson or Harriman or Lausche or others, on public issues, as compared with my own position. These gentlemen are all vocal and speak frequently, and whatever differences there may be, and the differences that come up in the future, I'm certain the press and the public will be quick to discern them." What, Kefauver was asked, makes him think he can win if President Eisenhower runs again? Kefauver, with just the proper touch of humility, replied: "I certainly would not feel that I had anything like the personal attractiveness that President Eisenhower does." But, he was quick to add, the difference would be more than made up by the fact that "there is broader and wider and greater strength in the Democratic Party than in the Republican one."

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