Campaign by Consensus

"I guess we are pretty much agreed on everything," admits Democratic Candidate Orin Lehman. "There isn't much difference on issues," says his Republican opponent, Theodore Kupferman. Their Alphonse-Gaston dialogue has brought stupefaction to voters of New York's 17th Congressional District, one of the most sophisticated, issue-conscious constituencies in America. Covering the east-central quarter of Manhattan Island, the district includes the art, music, publishing, theatrical and television nerve centers of the nation, upper-level Greenwich Village latitudes, and the gold-paved stretches of Fifth and Park avenues. Next week the 17th elects a successor to John Lindsay, who resigned after seven years as its Representative to become mayor of New York City on Jan. 1.

Kupferman and Lehman concur on virtually every major question, from bombing North Viet Nam (they oppose it) to abolishing the House Un-American Activities Committee (in favor). Both candidates fit the liberal, independent mold dear to the hearts of 17th District voters. Party labels mean little there; the Democrats have a registration edge of 38,000, but the district has elected Republican Congressmen since 1937.

Tammanyphobes. Theodore Roosevelt Kupferman, 45, a former show-business lawyer and a city councilman, is what his name implies, a direct political descendant of Teddy Roosevelt's Progressives, and a Tammanyphobe from the school that brought on Fiorello La Guardia, Senator Jacob Javits and Mayor Lindsay. In the absence of debate, Kupferman has emphasized his legislative experience, reminds everyone that he is a "man like Lindsay," and even has Javits, Lindsay's chairman, to supervise his campaign--assisted by Tom Brownell, 25, son of Dwight Eisenhower's Attorney General.

Lehman, 46, has no need of borrowed names. Grandnephew of the late Herbert Lehman, who as financier, philanthropist, Governor and Senator made the name part of New York lore, Orin took up the family's anti-Tammany tradition last fall when he ran against the organization in a primary for the Democratic nomination as comptroller and came in second. Though he lost a leg in World War II while serving as an artillery-spotter pilot, Orin is hyperactive in a multiplicity of good works, ranging from civil rights to rehabilitation of the physically handicapped, stumped seven gallant miles on crutches in the Selma-Montgomery march last spring. A former history professor and publisher of small newspapers, Lehman is now chairman of a group of radio stations.

Flipflops. Early in the campaign, the candidates almost had an issue. Lehman's name appeared on a newspaper advertisement supporting Johnson's policy in Viet Nam while Kupferman said that the U.S. should get out of Viet Nam "as soon as possible." Lehman withdrew his name from a second pro-Johnson ad. Kupferman explained hastily that it would be "unthinkable" for the U.S. to dishonor its commitment. Each accused the other of "flipflopping" as they came out shoulder to shoulder in favor of continuing the war and all-out efforts to seek peace. In 1964 Lindsay got 71.5% of the vote and ran 91,000 ahead of his closest opponent. The plurality this time figures to be minuscule; the odds makers, like the voters, cannot see much space between the candidates.

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