Word: misters
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...attacking the "committee packing": "I will cooperate with the Democratic leadership just as long and just as far as my conscience will permit me to go." When laughter rippled across the chamber. Smith retorted: "Some of these gentlemen who are laughing maybe do not understand what a conscience is." Mister Sam based his case on the nation's obligation and need to back up its new President. "He demonstrated on yesterday,'' said Rayburn. referring to Kennedy's State of the Union address, "that we are neither in good shape domestically or in the foreign field...
...call was almost cruelly suspenseful. Though both camps had counted the votes in advance with exquisite care. Congressmen hovered tensely over tally sheets. In the galleries, as the roll call seesawed toward an end. each new no drew a low, hissing gasp of disappointment. The galleries were clearly on Mister Sam's side...
...courtly, conservative Howard W. Smith. Over the years, in alliance with committee Republicans, Smith had repeatedly held up legislation he disliked by keeping it in the Rules Committee, through which most bills ordinarily pass before they can get to the floor (TIME, Jan. 13). By adding new members Mister Sam could gain a working majority on the committee and clear away a formidable congressional roadblock to the Kennedy Administration's legislative programs. But first Rayburn had to leap across the chasm: a showdown floor vote on his proposal. Defeat would gravely weaken his own prestige, strengthen Smith...
Into the Fight. The day before the scheduled showdown, it appeared that the outcome might be decided by a margin of three votes, or even less. "That's too close for comfort," said a Rayburn lieutenant. Mister Sam decided to postpone the floor battle until this week. "The New Frontier," jeered Charlie Halleck, "is having trouble with its first roundup...
Rayburn decided to add three new members-two Democrats and one Republican-to the committee, bringing the membership up to 15 (ten Democrats, five Republicans). If the two new Democrats were men who would go along at Rayburn's bidding-and Mister Sam would see to that-the change would drastically curb Smith's power. In the past, Smith formed a bloc with the committee's four Republicans, plus Mississippi's conservative William M. Colmer. Since nearly all major bills require a positive O.K. from the Rules Committee before they can come to the House floor...