CAPITAL NOTES

Block & Tackle

House Speaker Sam Rayburn won the battle (217-212) for control of the powerful House Rules Committee, but his war with Chairman Howard Smith has just begun. Vengeful Judge Smith has been trying to get back at Speaker Rayburn by calling up for a floor vote bills that would embarrass the Democratic leadership, particularly those that are anathema to Mister Sam (such as a bill to televise any House committee session). Thus far, the committee majority of eight pro-Rayburn Democrats has closed ranks, refused to let the bills reach the floor. But this puts the Rayburnites in the awkward position of blocking legislation, something they held to be downright dangerous when Smith controlled the committee.

Three to Make Ready

The latest Kennedy joke going the rounds of capital Republicans: "First we're going to have Jack for eight years. Then we're going to have Bobby for eight years. Then we're going to have Teddy for eight years. Then it'll be 1984."

Ringing Out

As a courtesy to a former prospective occupant, the White House switchboard has been handling any calls for Richard Nixon that come to NA 8-1414. Kennedy Administration telephone operators would ring Nixon's unlisted number, pass along the message, or connect the caller if the family approved. The service is now at an end. Nixon has changed his telephone number without telling the White House where he can be reached.

The Clause That Represses

For years top Government officials have knuckled under to the standard District of Columbia real estate covenants that prevent the sale or lease of many capital homes to Negroes or Jews. Standard rationalization: Supreme Court decisions have rendered the restrictions invalid anyway. Georgia-born Secretary of State Dean Rusk flatly refused to sign a restrictive clause attached to the sale of the house he wanted in exclusive Spring Valley. The clause was scratched.

Breaking the Law

New Federal Aviation Agency Administrator Najeeb Halaby is learning something about the pressure groups that dogged his predecessor, Elwood ("Pete") Quesada. Air Line Pilots Association Boss Clarence Sayen told Halaby that their relationships could easily be improved by transferring FAA Counsel Daggett Howard to some other job. Unmentioned by Sayen: Howard has won case after court case against the A.L.P.A.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.