As the Senate battle over John Kennedy's minimum wage bill began, White House Aide Larry O'Brien sent a message to organized labor's lobbyists: "Leave the Democrats to us. You go after the Republicans." O'Brien figured he could twist Democratic arms by invoking patronage promises and the pressures of party loyalty; labor was delighted at the chance to prove to the Administration that it has the power to sway Republican votes. Last week the strategy worked perfectly.
Democratic Reluctance. For President Kennedy, passage of the wage bill was a must. Last month the House...
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