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Show l&fiind tlie Jeadlined At the same time U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts Massachu-setts and New York's Republican Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller are minimizing the importance of the Vice Presidency of the ( United States, many other leading lead-ing hopefuls in both parties are , eagerly seeking the office. Gov. Rockefeller has said with considerable emphasis in withdrawing with-drawing as an active candidate for the GOP Presidential nomination, nomi-nation, that the Vjce Presidency holds "no interest" for him. Senator Kennedy has said, in announcing his candidacy for the Democratic Presidential nomina tion that "The powers of the Vice President are limited to presiding presid-ing over the Senate, to voting in cases of ties, and to watching over the health of the President. I'd rather be in the Senate." While both could doubtless have his party's vice presidential nomination for the asking, each has said emphatically that it is the Presidency or nothing. And since both are considered young enough to bide their time and try again for the Presidency if 1960 is not their year, their disinterest dis-interest in the Vice Presidency is taken at face value. At the same t:'me, however, there is also a growing list of vice " presidential hopefuls in both parties. Since the Democrats Demo-crats have yet to resolve their presidential nomination, second place hopefuls are remaining in be by the Vice Presidency's importance im-portance and prestige, to quote only Mitchell, Keating and Scott. Actually, no Republican unless he is anti Nixon, can very well minimize the importance of the Vice President's office. But those , eager and available for the Vice Presidency do not aspire to the Presidency and regard the Vice Presidency as the summit of their ambitions. The more politically ambitious agree with John Adams, who termed the Vice Presidency as "... the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived." The many Democratic hopefuls n the Senate might tremble re-a'izing, re-a'izing, that no sitting Senator except Harding, ever won elec-ion elec-ion to the Presidency. Senators Mumphrey, Johnson, Kennedy, Symington, etc., are defying this jinx. But neither has any Vice President ever been elected directly di-rectly from that office to the Presidency since Van Buren in 1936. Small wonder that the story of two boys was once told: Grow'ng up, one became a sea captain and set out to sea, while the other became Vice President and nothing was ever heard from either again. The Vice Presidency may never again revert to such uselessness. Whatever their other contributions, contribu-tions, President Eisenhower and Vice President Nixon or the times have raised the Vice Lite; uaivgiuuiiu, i In the Republican party where all that remains to complete the GOP ticket following Rocke 'feller's apparent withdrawal is the vice presidential contest, the GOP's second place hopefuls art falling all over themselves for the honor. Labor Secretary-James Mitchell Mitch-ell is considered the front running run-ning contender for second place on the GOP ticket with Vice President Nixon, especially following fol-lowing the'r successful negotiation negotia-tion of the steel dispute. If Senator Kennedy is denied the Democrat presidential ncmi nation solely because of the religious re-ligious issue, many Republicans believe the GOP should attract disgruntled Catholics by having Mitchell, a Catholic, on the slate with Nixon. But if no religious issue arises youngish UN Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge appears favored, largely to balance Nixon's nor'1 fo- s ",vriv1 sppra1 with Lodge'. Presidency to a level and pres-I pres-I tige it cannot easily lose again. The crushing burdens of the Presidency have caused President Presi-dent Eisenhower and hereafter, most likely any President, tj look upon the Vice President as a very valuable aide with whom to share the work. The electorate has also come to expect higher qualifications in both; Always, there is the slim possibility pos-sibility that a President's death might catapault an obscure Vice President to Greatness. Seven Vice Presidents have ascended to the Presidency on the death or assassination of the President. The really intriguing fact is that for six, this has happened hap-pened on an as yet remarkably unbroken 20 year cycle ever since 1840. Every President elected during the 20 year cycle has died in office. The first President dying in office was William Henry Harri-on Harri-on elected in 1840 and succeed - liberal Republican following. House GOP Leader Charles Halleck of Indiana is frequently mentioned, although it's arg led that Halleck's appeal, like Mr. Nixon's, is primarily to conservatives, conser-vatives, which would leave the "Modern Republicans" with but little enthusiasm for the slate. Senators Keating of New York and Scott of Pennsylvania are also being boosted for the Vice Presidency, as are the names of Thruston Morton of Kentucky, chairman of the Republican National Na-tional Committee and, if feminine femi-nine appeal is sought, Senator d by John Tyler. Lincoln chosen cho-sen in 1860, was assassinated and succeeded by Johnson, Garfield, elected .in 1880, was shot, killed and succeeded by Arthur. Mc-Kinley Mc-Kinley was killed after re-election in 1900 and succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt. Harding, elected in 1920, died and was followed by Coolidge. Franklin Roosevelt, re elected in 1940 died and was succeeded by Harry S. Truman in 1945. Coincidence? Fate? Probably. But 1960 is another "Fateful Year." Margaret Chase Smith of Maine or even former Ambassador Luce have been mentioned as vici-presidential vici-presidential likelies. The intriguing fact about all these and others who have been mentioned is that they come "r. iii the East, thus balanein? " x:n'3 California background broadening the appeal of the lOP slate. But it is also a com- "'ing contrast to those blit l'n the importance of the Vice Prcs:dency, to hear all of those seeking second place nomination explain how honored they will |