The Swoon Factor

Dear Boo and Bubble,

Today marks the 50^th anniversary of the assassination of John F. “Jack” Kennedy, the 35^th President of the United States.  All week, Captain and I have been watching some very interesting PBS documentaries on his life and rise to power.  One segment dealt with Kennedy’s first political race in the 1950’s, a congressional seat representing Boston.  At that point in time, he was very young for a politician, only in his early thirties, but he had several things going for him - he had come back from World War II a hero for saving the crew on the motor torpedo boat PT-109; he was from one of the most prominent and wealthy families in America; he was smart, witty and suave…… AND, he was very good looking.

In those days, women had the right to vote, but the mechanics of campaigning and the machinery of politics were pretty much left up to the men.  Kennedy’s mother and sisters, however, decided that if they could get Jack in front of groups of women, his looks and charm would win them over.  They orchestrated teas and solicited women’s groups offering Jack as a speaker for their meetings. His presence captivated them, creating legions of female supporters. This “swoon factor” ultimately played a significant role in his very close election over Richard Nixon in 1960.

Watching this part of the documentary reminded me of a story about great Granddaddy Schaefer and Mamaw Mary. 

On April 18 in 1965, Olin D. Johnston, a U.S. Senator from South Carolina, died.  At the time, a man named Donald Russell was Governor of the state and he resigned that post, which elevated the Lieutenant Governor, Robert E. McNair, to the governorship. McNair immediately appointed Russell to fill the vacancy left by Johnston’s death until a special election could be held.  This might not seem too out of the ordinary except that when campaigning for governor, Russell had specifically stated he had no intentions of using the position of governor as a stepping stone to higher office.  When he turned around and did that very thing, many people in the state became enraged. The special election was slated for November of 1966.

On the Democratic Party side, Russell was challenged by Ernest F. “Fritz” Hollings, a personal political nemesis who had already defeated him once for governor in 1958.  South Carolina was, and still is, a small state where many of the men in leadership positions knew each other from days in college, law school and military service.  Granddaddy Schaefer was acquainted with both Donald Russell and “Fritz” Hollings, but he decided to join Russell as the head of the Greenville County campaign.

Granddaddy approached his job with enthusiasm.  He organized barbecues and helped canvass door to door.   For weeks, the dining room table at 3 Lakecrest lay useless to its intended purpose what with all the pamphlets and campaign materials stacked all over it.  In the evenings, Mamaw Mary would ask Granddaddy how he thought things were going.

“I have a good feeling about this, Mary,” he’d reply.  “Things are looking real positive. I think we just might win this race.”

One Saturday morning, Mamaw Mary drove down from 3 Lakecrest to Stone Plaza Shopping Center for her hair appointment at the local beauty salon.  While there, sitting under the dryer along with several other ladies, in walked “Fritz” Hollings.  He was an extremely handsome man, a native of Charleston with the distinct infatuating brogue indigenous to the low country of South Carolina.  He shook each woman’s hand and asked them for their vote.  Curlers and all, they were mesmerized.

That night after dinner, as Granddaddy reported the progress in the campaign, Mamaw Mary dropped the bomb.

“Schaefer,” she said somberly, “I hate to say this, but Donald Russell is not going to win.”

Granddaddy was shocked that she would say this.

“What makes you think so?”

“Well, Fritz Hollings came into the beauty parlor today…..I’m just saying.”

Granddaddy chuckled.  After all, what did Mamaw Mary know about politics?  Really?

Hollings defeated Russell in the Democratic primary for the remaining two years of the term. He then won the special election. He won the seat for a full term in 1968, and was re-elected five more times, serving until 2003.

I don’t think Granddaddy ever fully grasped the “Swoon Factor” and I know for sure that, until the day she died, he never knew for whom Mamaw Mary voted…..rather imagine it’s that way for all eternity, too.   At least Greenville County went for Russell.