Love & Hisses

Forsaking wrestling, homespun comedy, and a war movie on other channels, perhaps as many as 1,000,000 New Yorkers--an impressive 8.1 Nielsen rating--turned one evening last week to a political telecast that combined all three. After ten days of negotiations between staffs, Democratic Incumbent Robert F. Wagner and Republican Challenger Louis J. Lefkowitz met dais to dais in their campaign for mayor of New York.

Most New Yorkers have long since given up hope of ever having a ready effective city government; in the Wagner-Lefkowitz debate they neither expected nor got a serious discussion of municipal problems. But if the purpose of the debate was to project personalities, it was a considerable success. Manhattan-born Bob Wagner came across as a bland, coolly confident politician of the collar-pin set.

State Attorney General Lefkowitz* appearedCUR as an earnest candidate with a machine-gun style of indignant speech. Wagner, who won his primary victory last September by denouncing New York City's Democratic bosses, now aimed at pinning the boss tag on Lefkowitz. Republican Lefkowitz, on the other hand, simply wanted to make it clear he thought Wagner was a bum.

So he came out swinging. Cried Lefkowitz of Wagner: ''He's not positive. He's known all over, by even those who work close with him at city hall, as a man who delays, puts matters over and procrastinates...He asks you to give him four years to clean up a mess which he created for eight years." Retorted Wagner: "Since our victory in the primaries, there cannot be any boss influence at all even in the lower levels. I'm afraid my Republican opponent can't say that because he's a boss-picked candidate." Wagner charged that Lefkowitz had been selected in "a smoke-filled room" by Republican Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Replied Lefkowitz: "You couldn't get Governor Rockefeller in a smoke-filled room if you stood on your head. He doesn't smoke, and he hates smoke."

Bob Wagner, whose eight-year administration as mayor has been studded by scandal, shrugged off all Lefkowitz charges. He denied anything unethical about his presence at a Brooklyn luncheon (TIME, Oct. 6) at which contractors doing city business pledged contributions to his campaign chest. Said he: "I did not know what type of luncheon I was going to. I knew very few of the people there. We did not accept the money." He shrugged off a charge that schools were crumbling. "The board of education is autonomous, and the one authority over the board is the state commissioner of education."

During most of the evening, Wagner's calm, slightly amused manner appeared to good advantage. But Lower East Sider Lefkowitz evened the score with a closing speech that approached eloquence. "Give me a chance," he cried. "I love this town. I love this city. I love every borough in it. I want a chance to prove to people that no matter how big the city is, no matter how complex its problems are, I'll find the necessary talent, men and women to do a job. This could be done. You can't do things by letting them fester."

Though spot surveys next day indicated the debate had changed few minds, Lefkowitz was eager to try again. Not so Bob Wagner. Said he: "I'm not going to give him any free publicity." With 3-1 Democratic registration working for him and a sorry two-term record against him, it was one of his wisest decisions.

* To plug Lefkowitz and running mates Paul Fino and John J. Gilhooley, the G.O.P. last week, cranked out a rollicking campaign song. Sample verses: You'll be safe in the park Any time after dark With Lefkowitz, Gilhooley and Fino. That fine city hall Will be open to all With Lefkowitz, Gilhooley and Fino.

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