Tails of Jersey City

T. (for Thomas--"or, as my friends suggest, for Tummy") James Tumulty, 41, is a beefy, bumptious New Jersey politician* whose oratory has a Jersey bounce ("If I must kiss a rump, let it be the biggest in town") and whose party loyalties have a two-way stretch (he has been a Democrat, a Republican, a Democrat again, a good friend and hot opponent of Democratic Boss Frank Hague, a warm supporter of Dwight Eisenhower, Estes Kefauver and Joe McCarthy). Last week freshman Congressman Tumulty (currently a Democrat) faced a problem. He had gained 30 pounds during last fall's campaign, now weighed an imposing 320 lbs. ("In campaigns now," he explained, "you don't make speeches, you just eat canapes"), and nowhere in Washington could he find a dress suit to wear to the President's congressional reception. After trying all the local tailors, resourceful Representative Tumulty hurried back to Jersey City to see a tailor he knew. While he was waiting for alterations, a photographer showed up, and Tumulty posed (see cut) for the latest published photograph of a politician in underpants.* After all, said Tumulty, "if Marilyn Monroe can do it, why can't I?" At the reception, Representative Tumulty was impeccably turned out in a stylish-stout size 56 tails, trousers and all.

* His uncle, the late Joseph P. Tumulty, was Woodrow Wilson's secretary.

* Other publicly untrousered high officials were John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, Marion Zioncheck, Eugene J. Keogh and James P. Richards. Adams, when President, was observed swimming in the Potomac. Roosevelt, when Pre-ident, frequently made trans-Potomac swims when the river got in the way of his point-to-point hikes around Washington. Representative Zioncheck of Washington state waded in Manhattan's Prometheus Fountain, a week later was arrested in an advanced state of undress in the capital. Brooklyn's Representative Keogh and South Carolina's Representative Richards were de-pantsed in a sleeping car in Spain, later recovered the trousers, $3,800 expense money and a rabbit's foot.

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