Kenny Comes Home

As a charter member of John Kennedy's Irish Mafia, Kenneth O'Donnell has spent most of his career in the back rooms of politics. Now he plans to come into the parlor as Governor of Massachusetts. For six months, Kennedy's former appointments secretary has been traveling the state as an unannounced candidate, getting acquainted with the folks and telling them about his days with J.F.K. in an accent almost indistinguishable from the late President's. Last week in Boston, he was guest of honor at a testimonial dinner that was organized, in the best political tradition, by himself.

Nearly 2,000 guests paid a modest $15 a ticket for the ostensible purpose of welcoming O'Donnell home--even though he returned from Washington nearly a year ago. Bobby and Teddy Kennedy were there. Dave Powers, White House jester during the Kennedy years, served as master of ceremonies. Benjamin Smith, who was J.F.K.'s Harvard roommate and later warmed the U.S. Senate seat to which Teddy Kennedy was elected, was on display. Others on the dais included Andy Hatcher, a former White House press aide, and Dick Goodwin, a Kennedy speechwriter who was drafted by Lyndon Johnson to help with this month's State of the Union address. Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield gave the principal speech.

Missing Face. There was a notable absentee. Postmaster General Lawrence O'Brien, an old Mafia comrade, stayed away in order to retain maximum room for maneuver in case he, too, should decide to go home and run for office this year. Though he says he has no such intention, some Massachusetts politicians believe that he will seek the Democratic nomination to fill retiring Leverett Saltonstall's Senate seat.

Reviewing his guest list before the dinner, Kenny exclaimed: "I don't think there will be a soul there who wouldn't campaign for me." Actually, most of those who attended were there to honor a friend rather than board a bandwagon. Teddy Kennedy, who does not like backing losers, may well stay on the sidelines until the June convention or even the September primary. Many politicians doubt in any case that O'Donnell can wrest the nomination from Edward McCormack, nephew of House Speaker John McCormack, who has held statewide office (Attorney General), has been campaigning longer than O'Donnell and would also like Republican Governor John Volpe's job.

Fresh Face. So far, McCormack and other potential candidates have all run well behind Volpe in public-opinion polls (Kenny has not been tried yet). On the other hand, O'Donnell, 41, a bemedaled World War II bombardier and onetime Harvard football captain, is certainly a fresh face in Massachusetts politics. And that may turn out to be what Massachusetts voters want.

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