Dallas Trip Initiated by Ken
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14 CHICAGO DAILY NEWS, Tuesday:2an,1 1967 Dallas Trip Initiated by Ken Democratic National Commit- By Drew Pearson aged to defeat in the final tee. andlack Anderson run-off by only 20,000 voles. During the campaign, Con- AFTER GOV.-elect Con- WASHINGTON—The chief nally had said he was opposed nally's negative response, Pres- reason for Kennedy family bit- to most of Kennedy's program, ident Kennedy checked with terness against L13.1 immedia- while Yarborough supported tely after the assassination was Kennedy. Connally made it Vice President Johnson about the belief that it was the vice clear it would be embarrassing the trip. Mr. Johnson agreed president who had persuaded to have the President come to with Comially and urged delay. John F. Kennedy to go to Texas during the middle of Six months later, in June, Texas. the campaign. 1963, President Kennedy told If it had not been for Mr. After Connally's victory in both Vice President Johnson Johnson's persuasiveness. Ken- November, 1962, McGuire and Gov. Connally that he nedy never would have gone telephoned Connally about the wanted to go to Texas. He to the dangerous anti-Kennedy proposed Kennedy trip and said that McGuire was breath- City of Dallas and would be the fund-raising dinner. Con- ing' down his neck to raise alive today—or so the Ken- nally replied that the time was some Texas money, and that nedy family believes. still not ripe. He wanted to Rep. Thomas was still promis- This has contributed to the pay off his own debt, which ing a big dinner to tap Texas enmity between the two most amounted to nearly $1,500,- millionaires. powerful political families in 000 — the biggest in Texas Connally didn't give all the reasons to Kennedy, but he America and may influence politics—and he didn't want the next election for President. money drained off to the felt the Kennedy visit would However, we have done Gov. John Connally some careful research regard- ing the reasons Kennedy went Albert Thomas of Houston, to Texas and find that the who had helped make that city facts are exactly the opposite. an important capital for the It was President Kennedy him- space program. Thomas sug- self, not the vice president, gested a presidential fund-rais- who initiated 'the trip. ing dinner in Houston could raise a lot of money for the HERE IS THE clironological story of what- happened: Democratic Party. At that time Dick McGuire. In August, 1961, eight chief Democratic money-rais- months after Kennedy was in- er, had been pressing Kennedy augurated, he approached because no funds had been col- Speaker Sam Rayburn regard- ing a trip to Texas and asked lected in Texas since 1960. him to handle the preparations. AFTER. TALKING to Rayburn said he would he glad Thomas, Kennedy phoned Vice to do so, but the time was not President Johnson, who advised ripe. He suggested Kennedy him to check with John Con- wait until after the 1962 con- nally, Kennedy's secretary of gressional and gubernatorial the Navy who was running for elections. governor of Texas. Rayburn died on Nov. 16, Connally was then embroiled 1961. In August, 1962, Ken- in a tough primary election nedy conferred with another with Don Yarborough, a liber- Texas congressman, the late al Democrat whom he man- nedy, Not Johnson, Pearson Says Connally trumped the liberal not help him politically at all. nedy had appointed Connally Bobby Kennedy, then attorney secretary of the Navy, Con- dinner by announcing that general, had supported Don nally owed him some support President Kennedy was coming and finally agreed on the No- to Texas. This caused a furor. Yarborough in the bitter pri- Sen. Yarborough scurried down vember date. mary. Bobby's name was anath- to the White House to ask ema to conservative Texans. Significantly, the President about it, but the White House The Beldon poll also showed actinonished Connally was nontaritttal. tell Lyndon. He'll Ft his nose Kennedy's political prestige at t. 20. one day after ourof toint if I _go_ dawn- an all-time low in Texas. Re- _Lbe—higgest—clinneriiiMxas against his aYjgg•g " _ sult: Both Connally and Mr. history for Sen Yarkrvmgh, Johnson advised the President VICE_ PRESIDENT J.bn- t e House officially to wait. son didn'Llearn about the din- confirmed the fact jjaat_li.en- ■ LATER IN the summer ner until September. The anti- Ile& al_going113:ms on while Connally was visiting in Connally liberal Democrats tsinu Washington, President Ken- were planning a big statewide It was only at this point nedy proposed that the Texas However, he agreed that the salute to Sen. Ralph Yarbor- that Vice President Lohnaon, fund-raising dinner be held dinner should be held in No- ough, no relation to Don Yar- WITfiaTICautioned against the Aug. 27, Lyndon Johnson's vember. He was still far from borough, but long a Connally Texas trip in the first place, birthday. Connally said no, it enthusiastic, since he was still opponent. got official confirmalion. He was too close to Labor Day raising money to pay off his One night before the Yar- then telephoned several Texas and too many monied Texans own 1962 campaign deht. borough dinner invitations leaders to helm y assuiat the would he out of town. However, insomuch as Ken- were put in the mail. Gov. dinner would he a success. .