Some observes thought Owens would relent when Aflorence Cheatham, a black, was designated Cambridge Superintendent of Schools. Apparently, Owens's wigh to humiliate the four other CCA endorsed councillors was deeper than racial bias.

And the four other "liberal" councillors must also share the blame. Why did they sell Owens he could go find another qualified black candidate back in March when is own had dropped out and Peterson was the clear choice of the citizens' panel?

Or on the other hand, why didn't Ackermann, Duehay, Graham and Moncreiff have two or three compromise condidates of their own in back of Peterson, so fall back on in case something prevented Peterson's appointment?

Asked for their reactions to the controversy, the five CCA councillors were subdued.

Mayor Ackermann: "I think it's highly unfortunate. Peterson would have made a tremendous difference to the City. But the longer it dragged on, the harder it would have been for him to work...Henry Owens has made it very clear that he does not consider himself part of a team.

"Maybe it's a good thing we don't have a new City Manager since we don't have the support for him."

Duehay: "I'm not very impressed with this one councillor's (Owens's) ability. Obviously it does affect the ability of five councillors to come in with things prepared and thought out. I'm very disappointed about things."

Graham: "I'm just numb. After you try to get a City Manager which the people picked...you feel pretty depressed."

Moncreiff: "I think it's time to close the book on it...The ability of people to work together is obviously hampered."

Owens: "Of the leading candidates, when one withdraws, the other is the logical choice. To me the most qualified person was Johnson. In the long run the people of Cambridge are the losers."

And what about the man at the center of the storm, where all is calm--John H. Corcoran. Asked last week if he expected back in November that he would still be City Manager now, Corcoran replied, "Well, hope springs eternal. You just figure it doesn't happen to you. It happens to other people, but not to you.