High Spirits

"Lord, we pray that you will not become impatient with us as. year after year, we look toward the next election--for, Lord, we are Republicans." It was the invocation at the final meeting of the Republican National Committee before the November election. And as they convened in Seattle's Olympic Hotel, Republican spirits were high. Or so they seemed.

The Republicans clearly sensed that John Kennedy's political halo was beginning to tilt. In their two-day session, the committeemen repeatedly cited the President's harsh action against U.S. Steel, his economic troubles, his request for power to change tax rates and spend heavily for public works, his support of his brother Ted's U.S. Senate candidacy.

"He's giving us openings." observed Massachusetts' Ralph Bonnell. Texas Senator John Tower said that Kennedy's "power grab'' will "serve as a rallying point for Republicans all across the ideological spectrum." Said Michigan's John B. Martin: "A lot of people are getting the feeling that the President is throwing his weight around. He's doing this damage to himself, and it could turn out to be our strongest asset." Kennedy's action in the steel crisis, he said, was "more characteristic of Louis XIV than of the President of the U.S." National Committee Chairman William Miller said that if Teddy Kennedy is elected, "he may nudge Bobby out as second man. He's the only Kennedy to go through Harvard twice." The committeemen unanimously approved a new statement of party principle drawn up by congressional Republicans (TIME. June 15), expect it to provide an effective campaign platform. The G.O.P.'s highest hopes centered on the possibility of Republicans unseating Democratic Governors in four key states: Michigan (George Romney), Pennsylvania (William Scranton). Ohio (James Rhodes) and California (Richard Nixon). ''Holding a Governor's office gives you a key to basic statewide strength." said one committeeman. There was also talk of new vigor in the committee itself. Said a Midwest committeeman: "The oldtimers are finally fading. At each meeting now. one or two more are gone, and that's all to the good." But despite the lightheartedness. Chairman Miller's declaration that "I have never seen the enthusiasm greater" seemed overblown--as did his apocalyptic statement that "if we don't win this year, we may never win." Privately, few committeemen believe Miller's claim that the party will gain the 44 congressional seats it needs to control the House, figure that about 20 is the most they can expect.

Many will be content if the party merely holds its own in the Senate.

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