For the Record

Backfield political plays, end Feb: In New York, Jacob Javits’ expected announcement he’ll run for re-election was unexpectedly far-out to doveward. Morris Abram, the Democrat about whom most Democrats indicated they might unite, quit in a huff as Demos’ senatorial candidate, retreating all the way to the presidency of Brandeis. That leaves Reps. Joseph Resnick and Otis Pike still in the anti-Javits race. … In California, Max Rafferty has declared in against Thomas Kuchel, and liberal columnists are whispering that the California fatcat money may be with Rafferty despite Ronald Reagan’s admonition to cool it . . . Gen. James Gavin’s supporters have folded shop in Boston —Gavin ceased being the darling of the liberals when he suggested we should use force, if necessary, to get back the Pueblo. … It won’t be Adlai and Sarge in Illinois; Mayor Daley has chosen two more dependable party hacks to run for governor and senator, to make certain Dirksen will be reelected . . . Thruston Morton became the third GOP senator to announce he would retire this year (the others: Frank Carlson, Kansas; Bourke Hickenlooper, Iowa), to despair of the moderate (né liberal) GOP wing that was grooming him to replace the irreplaceable wizard of ooze as Minority Leader.

On Presidential level: Latest Gallup showing Nixon on par with LBJ (42 %-42%) was the 22nd, out of 23 times, since November 1964 that Nixon has rated first among Republicans. (Exception: In Nov. 1966, just after George Romney won re-election in Michigan.) . . . Rep. Melvin Laird urges all four leading Republican contenders to enter Wisconsin primary; says he’ll vote for whoever wins it . . . Straw in the wind? National Information Center of Citizens for Reagan (Box 640, Topeka, Kans. 66601) has just opened for business, is offering Reagan backers a selection of literature, films, etc. . . . American Conservative Union head Rep. John Ashbrook believes Rockefeller was net loser in Rocky-Lindsay garbage brawl. “He disillusioned a lot of conservatives—people who wanted a winner in 1968—who were getting ready to accept Rockefeller as the man who could win,” says Ashbrook . . . Kind of interesting: The far-liberal National Committee for an Effective Congress kicked in two Gs on Nov. 8, 1967 to Ripon Society for “research project”; and paid $500 to John Saloma, past president of Ripon, on Dec. 20 for “professional services.” Punch Ben Roth Agency

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Backfield political plays, end Feb: In New York, Jacob Javits’ expected announcement he’ll run for re-election was unexpectedly far-out to doveward. Morris Abram, the Democrat about whom most Democrats indicated they might unite, quit in a huff as Demos’ senatorial candidate, retreating all the way to the presidency of Brandeis. That leaves Reps. Joseph Resnick and Otis Pike still in the anti-Javits race. … In California, Max Rafferty has declared in against Thomas Kuchel, and liberal columnists are whispering that the California fatcat money may be with Rafferty despite Ronald Reagan’s admonition to cool it . . . Gen. James Gavin’s supporters have folded shop in Boston —Gavin ceased being the darling of the liberals when he suggested we should use force, if necessary, to get back the Pueblo. … It won’t be Adlai and Sarge in Illinois; Mayor Daley has chosen two more dependable party hacks to run for governor and senator, to make certain Dirksen will be reelected . . . Thruston Morton became the third GOP senator to announce he would retire this year (the others: Frank Carlson, Kansas; Bourke Hickenlooper, Iowa), to despair of the moderate (né liberal) GOP wing that was grooming him to replace the irreplaceable wizard of ooze as Minority Leader.

On Presidential level: Latest Gallup showing Nixon on par with LBJ (42 %-42%) was the 22nd, out of 23 times, since November 1964 that Nixon has rated first among Republicans. (Exception: In Nov. 1966, just after George Romney won re-election in Michigan.) . . . Rep. Melvin Laird urges all four leading Republican contenders to enter Wisconsin primary; says he’ll vote for whoever wins it . . . Straw in the wind? National Information Center of Citizens for Reagan (Box 640, Topeka, Kans. 66601) has just opened for business, is offering Reagan backers a selection of literature, films, etc. . . . American Conservative Union head Rep. John Ashbrook believes Rockefeller was net loser in Rocky-Lindsay garbage brawl. “He disillusioned a lot of conservatives—people who wanted a winner in 1968—who were getting ready to accept Rockefeller as the man who could win,” says Ashbrook . . . Kind of interesting: The far-liberal National Committee for an Effective Congress kicked in two Gs on Nov. 8, 1967 to Ripon Society for “research project”; and paid $500 to John Saloma, past president of Ripon, on Dec. 20 for “professional services.” Punch Ben Roth Agency