The political issue of the year had been set by Republican Dwight Eisenhower in his dedication to a balanced budget. Since the heavily Democratic 86th Congress convened in January, few of its members had been more restless within the restraints of the balanced-budget idea than House Speaker Sam Rayburn. He was plainly and openly chafing—and when Mister Sam chafes, he chafes hard. His best opportunity so far to tilt the Eisenhower budget came last week, when the House considered housing legislation. The result was one of the roughest and tumblingest congressional fights in a long while.
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