How to Make Friends

For the first time since he went into politics, New York's Republican Governor Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, one of his party's most marketable presidential prospects, last week ventured out of his home state for a frankly political appearance. For his audience, Rocky picked one of the nation's toughest: Washington's Republicans-only Capitol Hill Club, whose 1,300 members, centering around the G.O.P. members of Congress, have seen many a bright-looking Republican come and go.

Beaming happily in the stifling Washington heat (90DEG), Rockefeller turned up at the Capitol Hill Club headquarters at 214 First Street S.E. /-for Pepsi-Cola-on-the-rocks (later sipping Dubonnet, he professionally held it under the table whenever he saw a photographer approaching) and an informal feed of Maine lobster and corn on the cob in the club garden.

In its specifics, his performance would have set the Republican pros to sniggering contemptuously at another man. Pointing to New York's Representative John Taber, senior Republican on the House Appropriations Committee and as given to penny pinching as Governor Rockefeller is to free spending, Rockefeller said he had "learned all I know about budgets from John Taber." Pointing to New Jersey's Representative James Auchincloss, Rockefeller said that "anything Charlie Auchincloss does is usually good for Republicans," joined in the general laughter when he discovered he had used the wrong name.

Rockefeller also told one of the oldest of all political jokes -- the one about a Western Governor attending his first hanging. When the condemned man declined to make a departing speech, the Governor offered to say a few words. The sheriff asked the prisoner if the Governor could have the time. Replied the prisoner: "Yes, but only on the condition that you hang me first."

Yet, as New York's voters had discovered, such was the force of Rockefeller's ergful personality, such the warmth of his smile and the enthusiasm of his full-Nelson handshake that the Capitol Hill Club Republicans were entranced. At evening's end there was no question whatever in their minds about his being a formidable presidential rival to Club Member Richard Nixon (by then in California on a long-scheduled visit). Said Indiana's conservative Senator Homer Capehart of Rockefeller: "A fine personality -- a compelling personality." Glowed New Jersey's James Auchincloss: "I don't think he can make himself any more popular. He's a natural."

/- Once the home of Peggy ("The Gorgeous Hussy") O'Neill (1796-1879), beautiful daughter of an innkeeper, who precipitated a historic scandal in Andrew Jackson's Administration. A widow, vivacious Peggy was for years the reputed mistress of Tennessee's Democratic Senator John Henry Eaton. Because there was a frightful flutter of gossip hovering over the pair, President-elect Jackson urged Eaton to "go marry her at once and shut their mouths." After Jackson appointed Eaton his Secretary of War, the gossip only worsened, and capital society, led by the wife of Vice President John Calhoun, barred Peggy from Washington's drawing rooms. Calhoun and Jackson bitterly split, and the ensuing political brawl finally destroyed Calhoun's presidential hopes, paved the way to the White House for still another of Peggy's great and good friends: Martin Van Buren.

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