New England's Lesson

Teddy Kennedy, yes. "Chub" Peabody, maybe. But who was Phil Hoff? Or John King? Or Tom Mclntyre?

On Nov. 5, such names had no faces to most of the U.S. But in last week's elections, the nobodies became the somebodies who helped the Democratic Party score major breakthroughs across New England. Some won only by a flicker--and even then the results might be changed by recounts. In most instances, an argument could be made that local situations outweighed national or even regional trends. But the fact remained that New England's voting was a cause for Democratic rejoicing and G.O.P. gloom.

Republican Rancor. In Massachusetts, Teddy Kennedy's rout of George Cabot Lodge was perfectly predictable. Far less so was Peabody's apparent win over Republican Governor John A. Volpe. In Connecticut, former Health, Education and Welfare Secretary Abraham Ribicoff, long touted as the greatest Democratic vote getter in the state's history, had his troubles beating Republican Representative Horace Seely-Brown Jr. in the senatorial race. Ex-Governor Ribicoff ran far behind his ticket mate, Democratic Governor John Dempsey, who appealed to the- voters to "please give me your prayers." Dempsey's Republican opponent, Insurance Man John Alsop, made a point of telling campaign audiences about Dempsey's wonderful smile--while warning them not to believe in it. As it turned out, they liked the smile.

New Hampshire Republicans were hopelessly split and the results were disastrous. Defeated in his party's primary, Republican Governor Wesley Powell denounced the winner, State Representative John Pillsbury. Last week Powell's stubborn stand contributed to the defeat of "Big John" (6 ft. 4 in.) Pillsbury at the hands of "Little John" (5 ft. 9 in.) King, 44, minority leader of the state's house of representatives. Republican factionalism spilled over into the race to fill the Senate seat of the late Styles Bridges. In the primary, Widow Doloris Bridges fought bitterly before losing to able U.S. Representative Perkins Bass who ended up with so little support that he lost last week to Democrat Thomas Mclntyre, 47, former mayor of Laconia.

Democratic Dander. But the real shocker came in Vermont. There, unless a recount changes the result, a Democrat was elected Governor for the first time in 108 years. He was State Representative Philip H. Hoff, 38, who made a strong campaign plea for Vermonters to bring an end to decades of "one-party government." His opponent, Governor F. Ray Keyser, 35, was too conservative even for Vermont tastes. And Hoff was helped by an attractive family that campaigned enthusiastically for him--one of his four daughters actually stomped on Keyser's foot in a painful display of partisanship.

All of New England's Democratic winners were strong supporters of President Kennedy, and there could be no doubt that his personal popularity in his native region contributed to his party's sweep. But the real lesson lay in the fact that New England was ready for some fresh young political faces--and Democrats offered more of them than Republicans. That lesson was underlined in the case of one Republican who showed great strength, if in a losing cause. In normally Democratic Rhode Island, State Representative John H. Chafee, 40, a Marine captain who fought both in World War II and in Korea, was the image of crew-cut integrity as he shook hands 16 hours a day and campaigned on the slogan: "A man you can trust." His appeal worked so well that at week's end the count slipped him past Democratic Governor John A. Notte Jr., 53, by 67 votes.

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