He Who Smiles Last

No one really disliked New Jersey's junior U.S. Senator, Robert Hendrickson, but he was considered a political deadweight. Private polls showed that he could not win the general election in November, and perhaps not even the primary. The G.O.P. turned on the pressure, urged him to withdraw in favor of able ex-Congressman Clifford Case. Finally, party leaders told Hendrickson bluntly that he must go --but let him know that such unselfish sacrifice would not be forgotten. Hurt, and a little bewildered, Hendrickson withdrew this spring. Thus Case was assured the Republican nomination.

Not long after these careful arrangements were made, the New Jersey G.O.P. was rocked by a full-blown scandal: the late Harold Hoffman, onetime (1935-37) Republican governor and later an appointed state official, had embezzled $300,000 while in office (TIME, June 28). The explosive revelation meant real trouble for every New Jersey Republican running this year, including Clifford Case.

One day last week, as the scandal still simmered, it was announced that Hendrickson will be appointed to the federal bench (he turned down the ambassadorship to New Zealand). Loyal Partyman Hendrickson smiled broadly for the photographers, as well he might. Not many Republican politicians in New Jersey know exactly where they will stand after November, but Bob Hendrickson does.

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