KENNEDY CAMPAIGNING

The System and the Style as Practiced by Senator Edward Kennedy"" (in the 1962 primary battle between himself and Massachusetts Attorney General Richard McCormack) is analyzed by Boston academic Levin with interesting results, if not valuable conclusions. Through interview and questionnaire he has compounded a narrative, in news magazine style, of the youngest Kennedy's campaign tactics which is more enlightening than his apprehension of the strategy. The manner in which the Kennedy machine engineered the success seems to Levin to be the evidence of ""pseudo"" reality. In other words, Levin contends that Kennedy was sold to the public as experienced, vital, etc., when he was not. He seems to be saying that the public was given psychic payoffs rather than promises of cash or jobs but his evidence points to the latter. Despite the preoccupation with his thesis, the book does remain a study of political organization that may well be studied for future campaigns by politicians and the public as well.