Letter from Washington

Only five of the 45 incumbent Republican Senators (George Aiken of Vermont, Milton Young of North Dakota, Karl Mundt of South Dakota, Margaret Chase Smith of Maine, Wallace Bennett of Utah) were in the Senate of 1952-1954 when the GOP last held a majority, and all Republicans long for another crack at the majority’s power and perquisites. If the Republicans gain five seats, and Nixon wins, then Agnew will cast the deciding vote, and that will be that. It even is possible that if the Republicans gain only four seats Senator Harry Byrd of Virginia, a Democrat who won re-election in 1970 as an independent, might join with the GOP in organizing the Senate.

It is too early to tell whether a four or five seat gain is likely. Still, guessing is possible and fun. Guesses about some of the races herewith. Others in the next issue.

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Only five of the 45 incumbent Republican Senators (George Aiken of Vermont, Milton Young of North Dakota, Karl Mundt of South Dakota, Margaret Chase Smith of Maine, Wallace Bennett of Utah) were in the Senate of 1952-1954 when the GOP last held a majority, and all Republicans long for another crack at the majority’s power and perquisites. If the Republicans gain five seats, and Nixon wins, then Agnew will cast the deciding vote, and that will be that. It even is possible that if the Republicans gain only four seats Senator Harry Byrd of Virginia, a Democrat who won re-election in 1970 as an independent, might join with the GOP in organizing the Senate.

It is too early to tell whether a four or five seat gain is likely. Still, guessing is possible and fun. Guesses about some of the races herewith. Others in the next issue.