December 22, 1970
Page 43515
FARLEY FORESEES MUSKIE VICTORY
HON. JOHN J. ROONEY OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Monday, December 21, 1970
Mr. ROONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, under the privilege heretofore granted me by unanimous consent of the House I include with these remarks a newspaper article by Walter Trohan, quoting my good and respected friend, former Postmaster General James A. Farley, published in the Chicago Tribune of Friday, November 27, 1970:
FARLEY FORESEES MUSKIE VICTORY
(By Walter Trohan )
WASHINGTON.– The day after the recent elections, this commentator received a telephone call from the venerable, but sprightly, James A. Farley in which the architect of the long Democratic dominance in Washington said:
"Write this down in your diary or what have you and put it away for two years and then look at it: The Democratic ticket in 1972 will be Sen. Edmund S. Muskie of Maine and Sen. Henry M. [Scoop] Jackson of Washington, and they will defeat Richard M. Nixon and Spiro T. Agnew."
Since I have no other notebook than this column and because Farley is a prophet with honor in his country, I take this means of sharing his latest prediction. It is newsworthy because Sen. George S. McGovern, [D., S. D.] is about to jump the gun and be the front runner for the Democratic nomination.
Some may be interested in my reply, which was: "Don't you think the ticket is a bit bottom heavy?" Farley's answer was, "That could be, but just put it down."
I had no intention of being facetious in my remark about the Farley ticket. No one can say I am anti-Muskie, because I was among the first to propose him as a running mate to Hubert H. Humphrey, the 1968 Democratic standard bearer – who is about to return to the Senate, where he may again promote his political fortunes.
However, it is my serious belief that Jackson is one of the most underrated Democrats and one of the best of senators. Few remember he was Democratic national chairman in the campaign that brought John F. Kennedy to the White House. Altho J. F. K. and his various rat packs took Jackson's work for granted generally, they could not have won without him.
Farley made his reputation as a prophet in 1936 when he predicted F. D. R. would carry every state but Vermont and Maine. Some may say that as party chairman he had no choice but to make such a prediction. However, he organized the machinery that won the phenomenal victory.
Since that time, Farley has picked every Democratic nominee except one. In 1960 he favored Lyndon B. Johnson over Kennedy and it can be argued he was picking a winner even when he lost. He missed out on both Dwight D. Eisenhower elections, but he was misled by party loyalty, which seems to be a dying virtue, if it is a virtue.
Finally, I must confess I suggested that it will be most difficult to beat a somebody in the person of Nixon with a comparative nobody in Sen. Muskie. Nixon is bound to grow as time goes on, because he is in the White House, while Muskie is certain to be the target of all aspirants – open and secret – because he is now recognized as the leader.
It is sad but true that both parties stand in the need of leadership. Take away Nixon and Agnew from the Republicans and what have you got? Charity forbids the mention of names.
And take away Muskie and what have the Democrats got? Another collection of names, relatively unknown and certainly untried, except for Humphrey.
If any of us could get a dollar for every man who has dreamed of redecorating the White House we would have a campaign chest that would enable us to challenge Sen. Edward M. [Teddy] Kennedy [D., Mass.] and the family fortune said to be available to promote his ambition.
Many, yea multitudes, call themselves, but only one is chosen.