Word: speaker
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Dates: during 1970-1970
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...fights next January will be over the second and third spots in the leadership, majority leader and whip; for these posts there is no shortage of candidates, and lively scraps between reformers and old-liners could develop. But it is the Speaker who sets the chamber's pace and tone. McCormack, the last man born in the 19th century to hold top congressional leadership, never made it to high school and never got over the New Deal tradition of a Congress that takes its cue from the White House. Albert, a Rhodes Scholar and affable companion, is likely...
Durability Test. McCormack took personally the uprisings against him. One move to replace him in 1968 crumbled before a test could be made because Chairman Wilbur Mills of the Ways and Means Committee declined to be the opposition's candidate for Speaker. Mills, an Arkansan popular with fellow Southerners, is one of the few members who might have been able to rally a majority of the Democratic caucus against McCormack. Last year part of the liberal faction put up Arizona's Morris Udall, but a coalition of Southerners and members loyal to big city Democratic machines re-elected...
...best test of McCormack's durability came last fall when a senior aide, Martin Sweig, and a longtime friend. Nathan Voloshen, enmeshed the Speaker's office in an influence-peddling scandal. McCormack, under heavy criticism outside the House, insisted that he would run again both for his seat and for the Speakership. He immediately began soliciting support and got more than enough pledges to assure continued power...
...Nincompoops. He might have run again in 1970 despite everything were it not for the rapidly failing health of Mrs. McCormack, 85. The Speaker has been spending much of his spare time nursing her. That burden, together with his age and his devotion to duty, may have become too heavy. By announcing his retirement in May, he gave his Boston allies time to organize a primary campaign against independent candidates who are seeking his congressional seat. "I didn't want to hold off," he said, "and let some nincompoop get the nomination...
There is little doubt who McCormack's successor as Speaker will be if the Democrats hold a House majority in the 92nd Congress. Just as McCormack moved up from majority leader upon Rayburn's death, the present majority leader, Carl Albert of Oklahoma, 62, is assured of succession. Slightly more flexible than McCormack on questions of congressional organization, slightly less adamant in support of the war, Albert is acceptable to all the Democratic factions. Both Mills and Udall promptly announced that they would back Albert...