Imagine what it would be like if the vice president of the United States spent the entire day in your city, Secret Service agents in tow and press photographers and reporters nipping at his heels.
That is what happened 50 years ago last month in Rochester. Richard Milhaus Nixon came calling for a day honoring Rep. Charles Halleck, the most famous Republican ever to reside in the city limits of Rensselaer, where even the newspaper is called the Republican.
There’s been so much water over the dam since Nixon’s visit it’s almost too easy to think about it as anything but a political appearance.
But the way it was orchestrated suggests there was much more going on in Rochester that day than Nixon getting in touch with some Midwesterners. In reports before and after the appearance, there was speculation that Nixon would tap Halleck as his vice presidential candidate. That could explain why Nixon talked up a member of the House not only on the steps of the Fulton County Courthouse, but at an event later in the day, too.
At the least, Nixon had to have realized he needed Halleck’s support in Congress if he won the presidency a year later. Halleck had been one of the most powerful House Republicans in an era when Republicans controlled the House. What he also needed was someone with the ability to work with Congress to push forward any agenda he had, and Halleck was keenly positioned to be that person, though in the twilight of his political career.
In the end game that is politics, particularly the way it was played at that time, Nixon’s choice of Halleck as a running mate might have changed things not only for his own fortunes against John Kennedy in 1960, but for Indiana in an era when having a vice president meant there were spoils to be had.
What would it have meant for this area had that Nixon visit to Rochester for Halleck back in October of 1959 turned into a vice presidential bid? Would it have meant more federal dollars for road projects. Probably. Could it have meant more permanence for the then Bunker Hill Air Force Base. Most likely. Would it have been a plus for Purdue, St. Joseph College and much of northwest Indiana from Lake Michigan south to Remington?
In all cases, I have to believe the answer would have been yes. Halleck was an effective congressman, if for no other reason than he was able to stand and deliver projects.
His relationship with Sen. Everett Dirksen of Illinois was legendary. The two friends, blessed with a Republican president, might have brought billions to our state.
But we’ll never know.
We can only speculate.
And that’s half the fun of politics, especially when the Cubs are out of the playoffs and Purdue and Indiana have no hopes of reaching the Rose Bowl.
• Dave Kitchell is a columnist for the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached through the newspaper at ptnews@pharostribune.com.
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