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He moved their minds and stirred their hearts ... Do not leave this prophet without honor in his own party. Do not reject this man." With that, the hall exploded into the fiercest demonstration of the week. From his command post, Bobby Kennedy set out to snuff out Stevenson flickers in wavering delegations. But it did not take long to discover that the delegates themselves were largely unmoved, and that the Stevenson revival was largely a mirage. Bobby phoned Jack. "It's O.K.," he said. "We're in." The roll call told the story. As each delegation registered its declaration, Bobby Kennedy examined his lists. When Vermont was casting its vote, Bobby had already concluded that Wyoming's vote could put Jack over the top on the first ballot—without switches. Ted Kennedy edged down the crowded aisles and joined the Wyoming delegation. There, Delegate Dale Richardson penciled the tally, looked up and grinned. Rising, he shuffled excitedly down the rows of his group, shouting "Let's go! Let's go!" Though the delegation had decided to split their vote among Kennedy, Johnson and Symington, one after another yelled, "O.K.!" and waved their arms in assent. Moments later the clerk called "WYOMING!" and Delegation Chairman Tracy McCracken, his white hair glistening in the spotlight, cried: "Wyoming's vote will make a majority for Senator Kennedy!" And through the thunderous tumult came Missouri's move to declare the nomination by acclamation (final roll-call tally: Kennedy, 806; Johnson, 409; Symington, 86; Stevenson, 79?).
Hospitality & Restraint. By the time it was all over, Lyndon Johnson, who had been watching his TV set with glum resignation, was dressed in gaudy Paisley pajamas and ready for bed. Jack Kennedy was calmly accepting congratulations in his hideout and putting through a phone call to his wife on Cape Cod. At first, he planned to stay away from the wild mobs at the arena, but Bobby advised him to make the trip, and Jack sped off at 60 m.p.h.
In the Kennedy "hospitality house," outside the arena, the brothers met with restrained congratulations. The only sign of emotion came from Bobby, who pounded his right fist triumphantly into the palm of his left hand. A few minutes later the weary candidate walked into the roaring arena, flanked by his beaming mother and sister Pat Lawford. And back at Marion Davies' Beverly Hills home, old Joe Kennedy picked up the phone. It was Bobby.
Cried the head of the Kennedy clan to his second son: "It's the best organization job I've ever seen in politics."