Tough Battles Ahead In U.S. Congress

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29718, 11 January 1962, Page 9

Tough Battles Ahead In U.S. Congress

(NZ.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, Jan. 10. The 87th United States Congress will begin its second session today after a three • month recess, with the Kennedy Administration facing a tough battle over its new programme of legislation. Senators and members of the House of Representatives, with one eye on the Congressional elections later this year, will soon have before them some of the top priorities on President Kennedy’s programme. As it was during the last session, the main battleground from the President’s programme is likely to be the House which, in spite of a substantial Democratic majority, is often split evenly on Conservative - Liberal lines which cross party loyalties. The first business before the House today was the election of Mr John McCormack,

the Democratic floor leader for more than 20 years, as its new Speaker to succeed the late Mr Sam Raybum. A great part of 'the burden of steering the administration’s proposals through the house would fall on Mr McCormack and on the new Democratic floor leader, Mr Carl Albert, of Oklahoma. Mr McCormack, a representative from Massachusetts, has not always had happy relations with President Kennedy in the past. In spite of the earlier differences with the President over Massachusetts politics and some national issues, notably Federal aid to parochial schools, it is now widely believed that Mr McCormack will do his best to carry out the President’s legislative programme.

Hardly anyone beljeves that Mr McCormack will approach his predecessor, Mr Raybum, m power, prestige, or popularity. Yet there is a growing • feeling, even among some of his severe critics, that he may do a creditable job. The "New York Times" said colleagues differed on his oratorical effectiveness. He was highly regarded as a political ‘■needier," a seorer of points and a master of tite lightning-like courrtertforust and wisecrack. But his relentless attacks on the opposition, sometimes quite

harsh, usually loud and occasionally personal, were credited with winning more arguments than votes. Mr McCormack, who is 70, is the first Roman Catholic to become Speaker of the House. He is a close friend of many clerical leaders of his church and holds one of the highest Papal decorations, that of Knight Commander, Order of St Gregory the Great, with star. Mr McCormack is a tail, big-boned man with craggy features and grey heir. He wears rimless glasses. Memorandums and other papers protrude from the side pockets of his jacket. The breast pocket bulges with big cigars. A grandson of Irish immigrants on both sides of his family, Mr McCormack attended public schools in his native South Boston and taught himself law while working to support his widowed mother. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1928 after gaining a reputation as a trial lawyer. He has been re-elected to every Congress since then. Among the major items on the President’s programme in the coming session are proposals for tariff-cutting authority, medical care for the aged, a new farm plan, higher postal rates, aid to education and some tax changes.