"Off & Running"

The man on the taped television program spoke haltingly, his face haggard, a toupee over the shaved spot on the right side of his head. "This," he told his California constituents, "is Clair Engle speaking from Washington, D.C. After consultation with my doctors I am happy to announce that I am a candidate for reelection. The medical men have given me the green light and I am off and running."

Ordinarily, this announcement would have been cause for celebration among California Democrats. For liberal Democratic Senator Clair Engle, 52, is immensely popular, and if he were in good health, would be almost certain to win re-election this fall. But last August Engle underwent exploratory brain surgery, and he is plainly far from recovered. State Democrats fear that he cannot stand the campaign pace, that even if he were nominated he might have to withdraw, leaving a last-minute scramble to pick another candidate.

Biding Their Time. At the same time, other possible candidates are leary of announcing against Engle lest they be charged with taking political advantage of his illness. At least three have thus been biding their time. They are Representative James Roosevelt, 56, F.D.R.'s oldest son; State Attorney General Stanley Mosk, 51, best known for the memorable description of Birch Society members as "wealthy businessmen, retired military officers and little old ladies in tennis shoes"; and State Controller Alan Cranston, 49, a leader of the liberal California Democratic Council.

Since Engle's operation, California Democrats trying to see him and learn his plans have been fended off by the Senator or his wife Lucretia. Even Governor Pat Brown was turned away. "I spoke with Senator Engle on the telephone on my last trip to Washington," said the Governor, "and I tried to suggest that he invite me over to see him, but they didn't follow through." Until last week, Engle had dropped virtually from public view, appeared only in a wheelchair at President Kennedy's funeral. There, California State Chairman Eugene Wyman gently asked him his plans, was told only that a decision would be made in January.

The Answer. At week's end, after Engle's announcement, a group of California leaders, including Wyman, finally got to see Engle. They were stili unconvinced that he would actually be able to make the Senate race, requested that he provide "all medical facts about his condition" in time for study by the state party executive committee when it meets in Los Angeles next week. If the committee decides that Engle's condition will permit a vigorous campaign, the leaders told him, he will have full-fledged Democratic support; otherwise, California will have an "open" primary. As for Clair and Lucretia Engle, they still remained stubbornly hopeful. She said she sometimes feels "bitter or disillusioned" about the many doubts that have been cast on her husband's recovery. But, she continued, "the answer is performance--and my dearly beloved husband and candidate will provide that performance."

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