The outbreak of war in the Middle East provoked an outbreak of emotion from Senator J. William Fulbright (D., Ark.), whose seething resentment of Senator Henry Jackson (D., Wash.) is exceeded only by (and is directly related to) his bitter dislike of Israel. In the last three years Senator Jackson has consistently bested Fulbright in Senate battles over foreign policy. The most publicized of these was Jackson’s successful battle to add tough language to the measure ratifying the Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement concerning offensive weapons. But in less publicized battles Jackson, Israel’s strongest supporter in Congress, has won for Israel aid that Fulbright directly opposed. So on ABC’s Issues and Answers the day after the war broke out Fulbright poured out his resentment. He charged that 70 per cent of the Senate is controlled by Israel; he implied that “Israel” and “Jews” are, in his lexicon, synonymous; he suggested that the UN be empowered to force Israel back to the borders that prevailed prior to the 1967 war. All this could have some significance next year. Arkansas Governor Dale Bumpers is thinking about challenging Fulbright in the Democratic primary in ’74. Bumpers is popular, young, and attractive, and thinks of himself as a dark horse presidential possibility. But he knows that it is dangerous for any Democratic presidential aspirant to offend the “peace” bloc in the Democratic Party. Fulbright, of course, is the hero of that bloc. But as Fulbright’s hostility toward Israel becomes more apparent, Bumpers could benefit from an inherent instability in the “peace” bloc, many members of which favor a policy of strong support for Israel. So Bumpers may be able to challenge Fulbright without totally alienating the “peace” Democrats, and he can count on significant campaign contributions from Israel’s friends.
The Walter Mondale for President Committee does not yet exist, but if it doesn’t hurry up and get born the New York Times is going to invent it. Twice in one week the Times featured Senator Mondale (D., Minn.) in page one stories. One—the sort of story that normally would land on page 67—concerned Mondale’s proposal that the “crisis”—what else?—of the “Presidency”—what else?—be met, head on, by a “commission”—what else? The second story concerned a toothless, grandstanding “resolution,” drafted by Mondale and duly passed by the Senate, asking the Soviet government to be nicer to its Jewish citizens. Betting here is that Mondale will be on the cover of Sports Illustrated before January.
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