After Stevenson finished his speech, he withdrew for a little serious politicking. In a low-ceilinged room behind the rostrum, the candidate and the President gathered with Democratic leaders to pick a Veep. The others present: Illinois' ex-Senator Scott Lucas, House Majority Leader John McCormack, Sam Rayburn, National Committee Chairman Frank McKinney, Jack Arvey.
About 20 "witnesses" paraded through the room to give their opinions on who should be Veep. The field quickly narrowed down. Out went Kefauver (unacceptable in the South), Russell (unacceptable in the North), Barkley (too old), Oklahoma's Mike Monroney (not well known enough). The final choice: Senator John Sparkman...
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