The Congress: The Freshman Class That Votes Like a Bloc

At a party caucus just before the opening of the 89th Congress, Ohio’s veteran Representative Mike Kirwan had some words of wisdom for freshman Democratic Congressmen. “Just follow the leader,” said Kirwan, “and use your franking privilege. It’s free.”

The freshmen have followed that advice—and, with the exception of seven Southern Congressmen who owe their allegiance elsewhere, their fidelity to the programs of their party leader, Lyndon Johnson, has established them as just about the solidest voting bloc in Congress. The 58 non-Southern-bloc freshman Democrats differ greatly. Oklahoma’s Jed Johnson is 25, while Iowa’s John Hansen is the oldest at 63. Wisconsin’s John Race is a machinist and New York’s James Hanley is a mortician. California’s John V. Tunney, son of the ex-heavyweight boxing champion, is a muscular 205-pounder; and Hawaii’s Patsy Mink, the prettiest of the lot, is a petite 5 ft. 1. But they have one thing in common: all are in President Johnson’s political debt. Explains Indiana’s Lee Hamilton: “The President’s election and immense popularity helped me get elected. In a sense, we’re all tied to him.”

“The Difference.” Last week the freshmen voted 54 to 0 for an increased authorization for President Johnson’s anti-poverty program. The freshman countdown on previous key votes:

> 54 to 3 for the $1.1 billion aid-to-Appalachia program. The total House vote: 257 to 165.

> 58 to 0 for the $1.3 billion education bill. House vote: 263 to 153.

> 57 to 1 against a Republican attempt to recommit medicare. House vote: 236 to 191.

> 58 to 0 against recommittal of the voting-rights bill. House vote: 248 to 171.

> 50 to 6 against efforts to drop the controversial rent-subsidy provision from the Administration’s $5.3 billion housing bill. House vote: 208 to 202.

For this record, senior Democrats are generous in their praise of the freshmen. “They’re the reason we’re doing so well.” “They’re the difference,” says Majority Leader Carl Albert. And the gratitude takes tangible forms. Vice President Hubert Humphrey meets with the freshmen every three weeks, gives them all manner of political advice. Example: If they don’t agree with U.S. policy in Viet Nam, just “nod or grunt” to constituents, but let Lyndon run the war. House seminars are held to advise the freshmen about organizing and staffing their office. Photographers are provided to take their pictures for home distribution. The departments of government are under instructions to notify each freshman Congressman about announcements dealing with his district, so he can get local credit for them.

Dial 333-8260. The Democratic National Committee has been particularly helpful—even to the point of providing plane tickets for fence-mending trips back home. And, in a system set up for the freshmen, by dialing 333-8260, a Congressman can get a special National Committee phone. Through it, he can dictate onto tape any announcement or statement he wants to make. Then the committee sends the tape to radio stations in the Congressman’s district.

Fact is, most of the freshmen may need all such help they can get. Most of them come from marginal districts, or normally Republican districts that went Democratic only in Lyndon’s landslide. Next year, with Johnson absent from the ticket, things may be different. Says a top Administration official: “We’ll be performing a major miracle if we can re-elect 75% of them.”