Can He Take The House?

DICK GEPHARDT LONGS TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT. BUT FIRST HE HAS TO ENGINEER A DEMOCRATIC TAKEOVER OF CONGRESS THIS NOVEMBER

When control of Congress is at stake, a politician can't afford to miss even the smallest opportunity to gin up votes. That's why Dick Gephardt, the Democratic minority leader of the House of Representatives, found himself having coffee one morning last week with nine party activists at Mr. C's Family Restaurant in Knoxville, a speck of an Iowa town that boasts the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum. With embattled Congressman Leonard Boswell at his elbow, Gephardt implored the faithful to pour on the energy: "Iowa literally has the ability to tell us who will control the House." But...

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