Next in Line

A law passed in 1947 moved the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate ahead of the Secretary of State in the line of succession to the presidency. The theory was that elected, not appointed, officials should have precedence--and for so long as Texas' revered Sam Rayburn was Speaker, there were few questions about the law. But now, with Speaker John McCormack standing next to the President, arguments against the law have been expressed by some who doubt McCormack's capacities.

The main counts against McCormack are his age, his background as a South Boston machine politician, his intellect, and his lack of experience in foreign affairs. At 72, he would indeed be older than any previous U.S. President. Yet McCormack appears mentally alert and, despite his gaunt, 6-ft. 2-in., 168-lb. frame, physically fit. "I have never been sick in my life," he says. "I have never spent a day in a hospital." A tireless worker, he lives austerely, does not drink, rarely attends social functions.

Best Behind the Scenes. A member of the House since 1928, McCormack served ten years on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, was Democratic floor leader for 17 years before succeeding Rayburn as Speaker in 1962. Although his name is associated with few major bills, his influence has been vast in the legislative field. McCormack is not a bookish man; his curiosity has seldom fastened on subjects outside his own political sphere. His skills are great as a behind-the-scenes negotiator, but House critics, mostly Northern and Western liberal Democrats, insist that he is too willing to compromise on basic principles. McCormack denies the charge, argues that all he is doing is "harmonizing differences."

If McCormack is to be judged on the amount of major legislation he has pushed through the House, then he must be found lacking. But it is likely that no Speaker, not even Rayburn, would have scored high with the Kennedy Administration's programs. For a House majority was simply against them. As for the charge that McCormack's knowledge of foreign affairs is sketchy, not even he would claim to be an expert (he has never been outside the U.S.); by instinct, he has followed the internationalist policies of Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy.

"I Am Amazed." These are the qualifications questioned since Kennedy's death. New York's Republican Senator Kenneth Keating proposed a constitutional amendment providing for the election of two Vice Presidents to "strengthen the line of succession." New York's Republican Senator Jacob Javits and Virginia's Democratic Representative J. Vaughan Gary proposed that the Congress be empowered to elect a new Vice President. Indiana's Democratic Senator Birch Bayh suggested that the President himself nominate a new Vice President, his choice subject to approval by Congress. Editorialized the New York Herald Tribune: "Whatever John McCormack's qualifications as Speaker of the House, it's hard to imagine that even he could consider himself fit for the presidency." Then, incredibly, the Tribune added: "It's no denigration of Mr. McCormack to say this."

With all this being said, it was no wonder that McCormack's patience gave out. At a news conference, he was badgered by Newshen Sarah McClendon. Would he resign as Speaker and remove himself from the line of succession? McCormack cried: "I am amazed that you would ask such a question. I was elected Speaker and I'm going to remain Speaker. I'm amazed."

At his press conference last week, President Johnson made it clear that no changes would be made. Asked if he planned new legislation to deal with presidential succession, he replied: "I have no plans. I have already carefully considered the disability matter and taken the action that I thought was necessary and desirable. I have a complete understanding with Mr. McCormack." Under that arrangement, McCormack would become Acting President if Johnson were disabled; Johnson alone would decide when he was fit to resume presidential duties.

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