The Most

Readying himself to take over one of the world's roughest jobs at one of history's toughest times, Jack Kennedy has plenty of ring-tailed problems. But before he is through, some of his biggest headaches may well come from an ardently pro-Kennedy Hollywood clique that is known variously as The Rat Pack or The Clan and peopled by such as Actor-Singer Frank Sinatra and Kennedy's own brother-in-law, British-born Peter ("Pee-tah") Lawford.

Despite the zeal of its members, The Clan was wisely kept pretty much offstage during the late political campaign. Now, however, there seems less need for discretion and more for money. Last week The Clan made known its plans to rescue the U.S.'s Democratic Party from debt. Twitching with excitement, Clan leaders announced their high-priced ideas about an all-star gala to be held in Washington's Armory (capacity: 12,000) on the eve of Kennedy's inauguration. Purpose of the entertainment: to pay off this year's $2,000,000 Democratic campaign deficit--and, Pee-tah said grandly, if there is anything left over for incidentals and has-beens, perhaps another $500,000 left over from poor Adlai Stevenson's 1956 campaign as well, since Adlai, lacking such a glittering galaxy, had had to take on dozens of speaking dates in order to bring the debt down.

Co-producers of the 1961 extravaganza will be Sinatra and Lawford. The idea for the big show came from Philadelphia Contractor Matt McCloskey, the Democratic Party's national treasurer. "Frankie's an old friend of mine," explained McCloskey. "He told me, 'Matt, if you want me to do this thing, I'll get you all the talent you want.' " Frankie was as good as his word, thereupon unreeled a cast of characters that would stretch from Mocambo to Vegas. It includes Clansmen and Clans-women Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Curtis, Shirley Mac-Laine. The big show, said Sinatra, has the approval of "the gang in Washington, including Jack."

"We've already sold out the 72 boxes, which seat ten people, at $10,000 a box," cried Pee-tah Lawford. "This will be the biggest take in show-business history for a one-nighter." Added Frankie: "We expect to raise $1,700,000 for the one night. There's never been anything like it." That's for sure.

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