University of Virginia Library

United Public

"What we won with all our
people united," he said, "must not
be lost in suspicion, distrust and
selfishness among any of our
people."

Mr. Kennedy said he was "following
the lead of President
Johnson, my long-time political
mentor and close personal
friend," in doing "what seems
best for my party and my country."

"In the perilous situation the
U.S. is in today," he continued,
"the office of junior senator from
New York should be above partisan
politics."

Senator Kennedy's resignation
from the campaign immediately
aroused speculation that Sen. Eugene
McCarthy, the only announced
candidate still in the
race, might also drop out. Sen.
McCarthy would only say that
he was "reassessing" his position,
but a close advisor allegedly said
that "perhaps the Democrats
should not run anybody this
year."