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Under the leadership of Charlie Halleck, party discipline is stricter than at any time since the regime of Illinois' tough, pink-bearded "Uncle Joe" Cannon (1903-1911 as Speaker). Sometimes Halleck goes too far. He admits that more than one Republican has been forced into line under threat of being cut off from party campaign funds. At least one Republican, pushed beyond endurance, had to be restrained from swinging on Halleck. Charlie Halleck recognizes the problem. "Some guys say I drive too hard," he says. "You've got to know when to let up. You can go too far, though, and I have a few times on fellows this session."
In return for the loyalty he demands, Old Pro Halleck is especially careful to care for his walking wounded. When Indiana's William Bray gave in to Halleck and voted to sustain the Rural Electrification Administration veto, he feared that it would cost him his career. After the vote he told Halleck he was finished—there were just too many REA supporters in his district. Halleck got on the telephone, called Republican leaders in Bray's district (Martinsville), told them to rally behind the worried Congressman.
Up at 7:30 each morning, spending hours in consulting, cajoling and even bullying his colleagues, directing the tactical battles from his command post on the House floor after wolfing a hot dog as he moves swiftly about Capitol Hill, Charlie Halleck at last has a job to satisfy his energies. When and if the Republicans regain control of Congress, he is sure to be Speaker. So far this year, his main efforts have been essentially defensive—holding the line in the battle for a balanced budget. But before this year's session ends, he must move to the offensive, trying to push through such controversial measures as foreign aid and labor-rackets legislation.
To achieve his goals will require every one of Charlie Halleck's gut-fighting talents. "Once you are in a war," he says, "the only thing to do is win it." To Indiana Republican Halleck, after his years of frustration, politics is the greatest, toughest war of all. He intends to win it.
* Halleck has come to insert a "Lincoln" in his father's name because, as a brother explains, it "sounds good to say that in Lincoln Day speeches."