Wagner's Return

Robert F. Wagner voluntarily gave up New York's mayoralty in 1965, a spent man. When he said that "twelve years are enough," no one argued with him. He was succeeded by the bright, energetic figure of John Lindsay, a Republican who promised to turn Democratic New York upside down.

Last week a rejuvenated Wagner, now almost 59 and recently back from a stint as Ambassador to Spain, showed up looking for his old job. The images were almost reversed. Now it was Lind say, gaunter and grayer after. four years of grappling with crises, who seemed like a man on the defensive. Wagner, his hair slicked back and sporting a well-fitting gray suit and a television-blue shirt at his press conference, presented the fresh -- albeit unexciting -- face.

Wagner's latter years in office were dreary and ineffectual, and he invited --by continued public borrowing and eva sion of problems -- many of the troubles that beset Lindsay. But Lindsay's own record is now tarnished, and at the press conference announcing his candidacy, Wagner was in confident good humor. He proclaimed no bold new programs--of course. Instead, the soothing voice intoned: "I do not pretend or believe that I can solve all the problems of New York City." But he made it clear that he thought he could do a better job than Lindsay, whom he accused of multiplying the city's problems. Wagner's style is more Miltown than Fun City, and there were politicians who were betting that quiet is just what many of the city's white middle- and working-class voters will want after four turbulent years under Lindsay.

Narrowing the List. Wagner's entrance into the race is expected to add stability to the Democratic contest by inducing at least two of the seven other announced mayoral candidates to drop out in his favor. Wagner will have to face his rivals in the June 17 Democratic primary. His chances are no worse than those of Lindsay in the G.O.P. primary, where two conservative Republicans are challenging the mayor. Wagner presents a threat to Lindsay's renomination by the Liberal Party, which provided Lindsay's margin of victory last time. The Liberals have backed Wagner in the past, and at their convention this week, there will be strong labor-union backing for him.

Why would Wagner leave his prosperous law practice for another shot at a man-killing job? Some cynics suggest he is really angling for the Senate nomination next year; he has always hankered for his late father's seat on Capitol Hill. Perhaps, like many career politicians, he cannot abide private life. Or perhaps he wants to protect his party from the candidacy of Novelist Norman Mailer, who has been threatening to seek the nomination with Jimmy Breslin, journalist, author and character-about-town, as his running mate for city council president.

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