In Orbit

Just back from outer space two years ago, Astronaut John Glenn said: "I have no political ambitions, none whatsoever." But before long, his Mercury colleagues noticed that he was devoting most of his time to being a public figure, suspected he might have the political bug. So it hardly came as a surprise last week when Glenn announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate from his home state of Ohio.

As Glenn explained at a conference, his knowledge from the three-orbit flight of Friendship 7 had long since been assimilated into the space program. Also, by the time the U.S. is ready to launch the Apollo man-on-the-moon shot, Glenn, now 42, will be "near 50--not very old for most occupations, but on the edge of doubt for astronauts." Glenn therefore decided to run for the Senate because "this is an area in which I have had a lifelong interest. I feel that it provides the best opportunity to make use of the experience I have gained in 22 years of Government service."

Sought After. Although Glenn had never registered with either party, he felt right at home as a Democrat. "My mother and dad have been lifelong Democrats," he said, neglecting to mention that his wife Annie is a Republican. "But aside from these family ties, careful consideration of the current positions and leadership of both parties leads me to the choice of the Democratic Party."

Actually, Glenn had been sought after by both parties for months. Ohio G.O.P. State Chairman Ray Bliss courted him, offered him support for a House seat. But Glenn had his eye on the Senate, and for that job Ohio Republicans were already pretty well committed to the candidacy of Representative Robert Taft Jr.

As for the Democrats, Glenn's chief suitor was a sometime swimming-pool host and water-skiing companion--Attorney General Bobby Kennedy. But Glenn kept hesitating. He was finally persuaded to make the move by Ohio's Representative Wayne Hays, who is feuding with the state's regular Democratic organization and figured that a successful Glenn candidacy would help his own group seize control. Meanwhile, the regular organization had committed itself to incumbent Senator Stephen M. Young, 74, for renomination.

"Hero's Pawn." Glenn's announcement brought bitter remarks from both sides of the Ohio congressional delegation. "The high office of United States Senator should not be made a hero's pawn," declared Democratic Representative Charles Vanik. Said Republican Representative Charles Mosher, shedding a few crocodile tears: "I am sorry to see Steve Young's loyalty to the White House ignored and see him shoved aside because of the Johnson Administration's decision to grab every possible means to win Ohio in this year's election." That was not quite fair: Young has indeed been a down-the-line supporter of Democratic Administrations, and Johnson, although a charter member of Glenn's fan club, stayed out of the Ohio hassle.

At week's end Glenn, who by law must retire from the Marine Corps before actually starting his campaign, decided to stay in Columbus for this week's Democratic state convention, which will endorse candidates for the May 5 primary. The convention keynoter: Steve Young.

Other Senate candidates who have announced, or are about to:

> George Murphy, 61, onetime cinema song-and-dance man and a longtime behind-the-scenery G.O.P. worker in California, is running for the seat of ailing Democratic Incumbent Clair Engle (TIME, Jan. 17). Murphy may have as many as eight opponents in the G.O.P. primary, including Joseph C. Shell, who ran unsuccessfully against Richard Nixon for the gubernatorial nomination in 1962, former San Francisco Mayor George Christopher, and pole-vaulting, Wheaties-eating Rev. Bob Richards.

> Oklahoma's Charles B. ("Bud") Wilkinson, 47, resigned after 17 years as football coach at the university and will probably announce his candidacy as a Republican this week. Wilkinson is after the seat now held by Democrat J. Howard Edmondson, 38, who resigned as Governor last year to have himself appointed to the late Senator Robert Kerr's seat.

> Joseph D. Tydings, 35, adopted son of Maryland's late Democratic Senator Millard E. Tydings, announced for the Democratic nomination against State Controller Louis Goldstein, the choice of the state Democratic organization. If he is nominated, Tydings, a U.S. attorney, will face incumbent Republican J. Glenn Beall, 69.

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