Special to the Princetonian
“The only trouble with the Kennedy win,” said one slightly disappointed Democratic supporter in Washington last night, “was that it went pretty much as expected.”
In both Washington and Hyannis, Mass., where Kennedy’s official party was headquartered, the victory was generally anticlimactic. Though some doubt had been abroad in the last few days of the campaign as a result of Nixon’s final two week blitz, the election outcome was never in much doubt after 9:30.
It was too early then to start celebrating, and by the time the victory was definite, wild enthusiasm was hard to mount. Announcements of key states in the Kennedy column brought applause and cheering, but the noise was more the result of dutiful loyalty than exultantly released emotions.
In Washington at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in the Mayflower Hotel, thousands of persons milled on the hotel’s ground floor watching the tote board set up by Democrats in the Ballroom or watching television in the quieter East Room.
Upstairs on the second floor closed to the press and the public, the Democratic big-wigs received the results and then flashed them to the ballroom board. The atmosphere upstairs was said to have been one of quiet confidence all night.
As early as 9:00, Democratic Chairman Henry (Scoop) Jackson had told the ballroom crowd that “you are not going to be disappointed.” His hand formed the familiar V.
Jackson made frequent appearances through the evening, announcing the key happenings and assuring the crowd that things were going well. During the lulls, an M.C. and the Kennedy Golden Girls led songs and cheers. Liquor was available, but it wasn’t free, and only some were drinking.
The crowd was made up of all ages, though there were not too many older people. A good college crowd showed up, and even a 1961 Princeton beer jacket was seen on the back of one girl.
Family at Home
In Hyannis, the scene was even more sober. The only facilities available were restricted to the press and Kennedy’s official party. Located in the National Guard Armory, the headquarters housed some 400 persons while a crowd of 250 stood outside waiting for Senator Kennedy to arrive from his home in nearby Hyannis Port.
Three members of the crowd waved Nixon signs and said they had come 150 miles to taunt the defeated Kennedy. They left shortly after midnight when the decision was beyond doubt.
All of Kennedy’s family stayed away from the press headquarters most of the night. The senator remained quietly in his own home, while his brother Bob’s home was set up as a central command post. Twelve operators manned 90 private lines to what the Kennedys had considered key indicator precincts throughout the country. Teletype receivers were also set up.
‘Prince’ Coverage
A team of nine staff members and three stringers provided the Daily Princetonian with extensive on-the-spot coverage of the election.
These reporters were located in Hyannis Port, Washington, Newark and Trenton, as well as locally and on the rewrite desk.
Staff men in the field were sophomores Lloyd Axelrod, Allen D. Black, John H. Hawes, David S. Hodes and William A. McWhirter.
The three stringers, also in the field, were Paul A. DePrez ’63, Donald W. Kramer ’60 and James M. Robinson ’62.
The Princetonian is also indebted to Whig-Clio and WPRB for permission to use their facilities.
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