"Some conservatives," the Boston Globe has editorialized, "will not be overjoyed with the Brooke-Tsongas senate choice." Brooke is a well-known fighter for fair housing, aid to the elderly, women's rights (funds for poor women to have abortions, ERA) and civil liberties. In 1977, Tsongas received a 100 per cent rating from the Americans for Democratic Action. His strong points are energy, the environment, urban reconstruction and African affairs.
Aside from Brooke's support of the recent tax bill, which Tsongas calls one of the worst ever to come through the Congress because its benefits are directed at the upper-income people, the biggest split seems to come over military and foreign affairs. Spurred on by Avi Nelson's right-wing challenge in the primary, Brooke reaffirmed his support for increased defense spending. He has criticized the administration for continuing with the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT) without obtaining further concessions from the Soviets. Tsongas, on the other hand, is a full supporter of SALT, an opponent of the B-1 bomber. He has voted against every major increase in defense spending since he first took office. And now that Brooke's challenge comes from the left, the Senator has waffled over the neutron bomb.
Brooke says the race comes down to a "difference in effectiveness." Brooke is the ranking Republican on several Senate committees and a nationally recognized black leader. Tsongas, in his four years in the Congress, has proven that he is capable of bringing home the bacon. But if elected, he'll be the new man on the block. Balance that against Brooke's marital and financial problems and you've got a race that some say is too close to call.
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It's not a good year for incumbents. Senators Percy, Hathaway, Haskell, and Clark are all running for their liberal lives. Ed Brooke is running too. Up the stairs in the Hampshire House Restaurant in Boston to a fundraiser. Gloria Steinem and Coretta King are there, lauding the role Brooke has played in the struggle for women's rights. It is a partisan crowd and Brooke looks pleased. He has trouble moving through the crowd to get to the door. There is nothing but praise.
Praise is all that Cecil Andrus has for Paul Tsongas at the Chart House Restaurant in Boston. There's Brooke's challenger--navy blue suits, white shirt and conservative tie. He rocks on his feet nervously. When he talks, he tries to joke at times, tries to convince people that he deserves to be Senator. He's tired of being a representative and is an ambitious young man. On the wall behind Tsongas is an old World War II poster. "Victory," it reads, "is a question of Stamina." You can see it in his eyes.