Republican for Democrat

For tradition-loving Maine, Democratic Governor Clinton Amos Clauson lived a notably unorthodox political life. To begin with, he was not a Down-Easter at all; he came east from Iowa as a young man, set up practice as a chiropractor in Waterville, later prospered as a fuel-oil dealer, and was elected Waterville's mayor in 1956. Then, as a conservative Demo crat, he skyrocketed out of comparative obscurity in 1958 to win the Democratic gubernatorial nomination away from the candidate of the Democratic liberals, led by Maine's popular Governor Ed Muskie (now U.S. Senator). Clauson was the first to run for Maine's new four-year (instead of two) term, beat out a Republican who was a heavy favorite.

Last week, a few hours after a hale and hearty appearance at a banquet in Lewiston, Governor Clauson died in his sleep at 64 -- the fourth Governor to die in office in the state's history. Since the state constitution has no provision for a lieu tenant governor, his successor was a Republican, John H. Reed, 38, president of the state senate. Reed was sworn in by Maine's chief justice in a somber evening ceremony in the Capitol's Executive Council Chamber. Said Republican Reed of Democrat Clauson: "He was a much beloved man."

Maine's new Governor is a native son, scion of a prosperous potato-farming family in Aroostook County. Boyish-looking John Reed got into politics only five years ago, winning a seat in the state house of representatives on his first try for public office. Last year he won the presidency of the Republican-dominated state senate in a surprise victory over the entrenched Old Guard Republican incumbent. A middle-road Republican, Reed will serve as Governor for only one year unless he decides to run in the November election for the last two years of Clausen's term. Reed is expected to run, and with good prospects of winning.

The sudden switch from Democratic to Republican control in the State House improved the chances that Maine's Republican Senator Margaret Chase Smith, only woman in the U.S. Senate, will win re-election next November. Until last week, her Democratic opponent in the Senate race seemed certain to be a two-term Congressman Frank Coffin, 40, a highly effective vote getter. But with a Republican in the Governor's chair, Maine organization Democrats will be pressuring Coffin to run for Governor instead of Senator, leaving Maggie Smith to face some less formidable opponent.

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