Prevailing Wants

Back home, U.S. Congressmen study the prevailing winds--and trim their political sheets accordingly. Last week, after a three-month vacation, the 87th Congress was preparing to reconvene in Washington, and its members talked about their barometric readings.

In recent years it was almost axiomatic that while international events hogged the headlines, the prospects for local sewer districts were of more concern to the folks back home. But not this time. Re ports Alabama's nine-term Democratic Representative Albert Rains: "It used to be the folks down here talked about rural routes and postmasterships, social security and farm roads and veterans' benefits. This year, for the first time since I came to Congress, people are genuinely concerned about war." Says Iowa's Democratic Representative Neal Smith: "Our people are more conscious of the bigger picture of foreign policy than they were a year ago. They are deeply concerned, angered and puzzled." While making 105 talks to his California constituents, four-term Republican Representative John F. Baldwin was bombarded by more questions on foreign affairs than were asked on any previous visit home.

There were not only questions, but persistent protests. "I have gotten more letters on the Congo than on any other subject, and it appears that North Carolina people feel the only offense the Katangese are guilty of is wanting to be free.'' observes Democratic Senator Sam Ervin. Michigan's Republican Representative Gerald Ford found "fear and apprehension that the Administration is too prone to negotiate and not firm enough in its attitudes." Says California's Republican Representative Al Bell of his constituents: "They feel strongly about aid to the Iron Curtain countries and the planes sent to Tito. The people are fed up with it." Says Iowa's Republican Senator Bourke Hickenlooper: ''There's a growing feeling that we're putting up a great portion of money and getting kicked around by foreign nations."

Inquisitors & Recorders. Lawmakers from Florida to California report that ultraconservatives flock to political meetings of both parties to register their complaints about the U.S. handling of the Communist threat. Florida's Democratic Representative Dante Fascell argues with the Birchites. but finds it tough going. "At almost every meeting I go to. there's an inquisitor somewhere in the audience." he says. "He's got chapter and verse, a list of questions and material a yard long." California's Democratic Representative James Gorman says: "I have spoken at over a hundred meetings, and these people are always there to ask the same questions with their tape recorders at the ready. They are in the minority, though always obvious and vocal."

On domestic issues, the Administration's medical-care-for-the-aged program has strong support in scattered urban areas including Detroit, Denver. Miami and Boston, but legislators elsewhere have found little interest. Federal aid to education, a prime Administration aim in the first sessions of the 87th Congress, seems all but dead. Complains liberal Democrat Gorman: "The general public seems to have lost interest in it." Adds his California colleague, Democratic Representative John J. McFall: "The teachers who you would assume to be militant about it don't take the trouble to tell us about it."

Caps and Sweaters. One domestic issue that does arouse interest--and controversy--is the Kennedy Administration's drive for liberalized foreign trade. But many Congressmen remain undecided about which way the wind blows, and are waiting before taking stands. One thing they agree on: foreign trade is going to raise a real ruckus. Observes Massachusetts' Republican Representative Brad Morse: "The concern isn't from industry; it's from the fellow who wears a cap and sweater to work. He just sees in any expansion of foreign trade a jeopardy to his own employment." Adds Detroit's Democratic Representative John Dingell: "It's awfully hard to convince a Ford worker when he sees a Volkswagen going down the street that he ought to be for free trade."

Almost apart from such issues stand the person and personality of President John Kennedy--and, virtually without exception, the Congressmen find that Kennedy's popularity remains unanimously high. Says Colorado's Republican Representative Peter Dominick: "To me. no one runs down Kennedy personally, even though the critic may be disaffected with something the Administration has done. He is a personable figure and people like him." Says Kentucky's Democratic Representative Frank Stubblefield: "I have the feeling they're aware he wakes up every morning with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and that he's doing the best he can." Even G.O.P. Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen reports that Kennedy's "personal popularity remains reasonably high. This stems from an appreciation of his sincerity and his desire to keep the country moving."

But Wisconsin's Republican Representative Vernon Thomson expresses the feelings of many Congressmen of both parties when he says: "Kennedy has a good personal image. In that sense he has overwhelming appeal. But he is more popular than any of the causes he espouses."

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