Diplomacy: Penny Ante

In 300 U.S. embassies, legations, consulates and special missions around the world, nothing is more likely to cause hot blood and cold sweat than mention of Brooklyn's Democratic Congressman John J. Rooney. As chairman of the House subcommittee on State Department appropriations, Rooney keeps a harsh eye and a hard thumb on what he calls "booze allowances for cooky pushers"—the representation allowance diplomats get for official entertaining. Last week the department's representation allowance request for fiscal 1962 was up before the parent House Appropriations Committee. Pared to meet Rooney's tastes, the $953,000 budget was well below the level provided...

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