Man with a Charm

California Democrats sighed with relief. For weeks, party leaders had been trying to nudge State Attorney General Robert Walker Kenny into running against Republican Governor Earl Warren. For weeks Kenny had shied--he had his eye on bigger things, and the governor's mansion had been a political dead end for many a California politician. But last week, with some misgivings, he announced his candidacy:

"I guess I should accept congratulations in about the way that a pregnant woman does. She didn't want to get in that condition, but as long as she is--."

Californians were not surprised at his decision, nor at his wisecrack about it. During 16 years in California politics, 44-year-old Bob Kenny had advanced steadily by dint of "a series of political suicides." For a long time after abandoning a career as a foreign correspondent (for U.P.) to become a lawyer-politician, he had even refused to take on a party label--"I was afraid to be a Democrat and ashamed to be a Republican." He had never bridled his sharp tongue. But able, personable Bob Kenny had led a charmed life in politics.

As a Los Angeles municipal judge he acted, off the bench, with unjudicial sprightliness, marched in parades to protest prohibition. Finally, fearing to become a "political eunuch," he resigned his $10,000-a-year seat on the bench, got elected to the State Senate.

"Ham & Eggs" & Harry. He campaigned without fear against "Ham & Eggs" in 1939 when it was in its full flower in California. He also posed--while party workers wrung their hands--for pictures with Harry Bridges, then the state's No. 1 Bogeyman.

His independence paid off. "People may call me a radical," he says, "but they never got me confused with the crackpots and funny-money boys. . . ." In 1942, when California gave Earl Warren and his Republican Administration a landslide vote, a lone Democrat--Bob Kenny--was elected.

Although this made Attorney General Kenny titular head of the state Democrats, and automatically a plotter for Warren's downfall, he got along well with the Governor. With his usual unorthodoxy he had crossed party lines to back Warren in a previous campaign.

It was too early to guess, last week, whether Kenny could beat Earl Warren. But it was obvious that the race would be tense and close and that Kenny would pitch his full share of curves.

He threw one immediately: as soon as he filed he headed for Germany to observe the Nuernberg trials. And--while minor politicos shuddered--he also explained why. "The first month of a campaign is when things go wrong and all the silly little decisions have to be made and when party members begin to hate the candidate. I'll be away."

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