1973 Special Election in Congress
January 6, 1973, 13:00
Smith: Good morning and welcome to coverage of ABC. Today we will see one of the most memorable moments of that country.
Reasoner: You can feel in the air the smell of history being made.
Smith: The Senators and Congressmen are already assembled in the Chamber of the US House of Representatives. The Vice-President Romney is chairing the session.
Reasoner: Note that the place of the Speaker of the House is vacant, unlike previous years when an agreement was made to elect the party leader with more Congressmen, this time the AIP refused to vote for Ford yet.
Smith: It is a rare and curious case not have a President or Vice-President Elect, and adds to the fact that the House also has not elected a President.
Reasoner: The lack of a Speaker in the House may be important at the end of the day. According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 in the January 20 we do not have a President or Vice President-elect, who would take over as Acting President would be the Speaker.
Smith: In this case the President would be the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Which currently does not exist, because the AIP prevent his election. If it came to the extreme case on January 20 have nobody taking any of these positions, we do not make the slightest idea happen.
Reasoner: But let's stop imagining the future now, the Governor Wallace gave us an interview this morning and assured that there will be someone to take on 20 January. He also said that elections eventually going to the Congress will be normal from now.
Smith: The joint session has just begun, we will follow the counting of electoral votes.
Smith: As expected, the score was as follows:
Rockefeller/Romney 252 EVs
Muskie/Bentsen 194 EVs
Wallace/Herlong. Jr 92 EVs
Reasoner: We have confirmation that the election did not get a winner. We will return soon to cover the election.
Smith: Both sessions have started, soon the first votes will be known.
-The State of Alabama vote for George Wallace.
-The State of Alaska vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of Arizona vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
Reasoner: So far no unexpected result here, Rockefeller 2, Wallace 1. Let's see how is the Senator, where Romney VP presiding officer will decide their future.
- Senator George Aiken vote for George Romney.
- Senator James Allen vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
- Senator Gordon L. Allot vote for George Romney.
- Senator Howard Baker vote for George Romney.
- Senator Dewey F. Bartlett vote for George Romney.
-Senator Birch Bayh vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
Reasoner: Romney 4, Bentsen 2. If the AIP vote as Senator Allen, Bentsen will be elected Vice-President.
Smith: Let us return to the House.
-The State of Arkansas vote for George Wallace.
-The State of California vote for Edmund Muskie.
-The State of Colorado vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
Reasoner: All as expected in the House, Rockefeller 3, Wallace 2, Muskie 1. Likely to have a halt here.
Smith: We go to the Senate, where Senator Bentsen soon will vote in itself.
-Senator Henry Bellmon vote for George Romney.
-Senator Wallace F. Bennett vote for George Romney.
-Senator Lloyd Bentsen vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Alan Bible vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Joe Biden vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Edward Brooke vote for George Romney.
Smith: Nothing new in the Senate, Romney 7, Bentsen 5. Let the House.
-The State of Connecticut vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of Delaware vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of Florida vote for George Wallace.
Reasoner: Rockefeller 5, Wallace 3, Muskie 1. You need 26 votes to become president.
-Senator Quentin N. Burdick vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
- Senator Harry F. Byrd vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Robert Byrd vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Clifford Chase vote for George Romney.
-Senator Margaret Chase Smith vote for George Romney.
- Lawton Chiles votes on Lloyd Bentsen.
Smith: Romney 9, Bentsen 9. A draw at the moment but the forecast is that Bentsen be elected.
-The State of Georgia vote for George Wallace.
-The State of Hawaii vote for Edmund Muskie.
-The State of Idaho vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
Smith: Rockefeller 6, Wallace 4, Muskie 2.
-Senator Frank Church vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Marlow Cook vote for George Romney.
-Senator Norris Cotton vote for George Romney.
-Senator Thomas B. Curtis vote for George Romney.
-Senator Carl Curtis vote for George Romney.
-Senator Bod Dole vote for George Romney.
Reasoner: Romney 14, Bentsen 10. No unexpected vote yet.
Smith: Please note that at this time the state of Illinois will vote in the House. The forecast is that the state abstains.
-The State of Illinois vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
Smith: This seems to be a great clue to Rockefeller, he managed to convince a Democratic congressman to change his vote. Rumors of a Bentsen presidency may have scared some Democrats. Rockefeller have converted some other vote or just this one?
-The State of Indiana vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of Iowa vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
Smith: Rockefeller 9, Wallace 4, Muskie 2. Nothing new in these two states.
-Senator Pete Domenici vote for George Romney.
-Senator Peter H. Dominick vote for George Romney.
-Senator John A. Durkin vote for George Romney.
Reasoner: A Democratic senator just vote for Romney, but it is unlikely that this affects Bentsen election.
-Senator James Eastland vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Sam Ervin vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Paul Fannin vote for George Romney.
Reasoner: Romney 17, Bentsen 13.
-The State of Kansas vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of Kentucky vote on Edmund Muskie.
-The State of Louisiana vote for George Wallace.
Smith: Rockefeller 10, Wallace 5, Muskie 3.
-Senator Orval Faubus vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Hiram Fong vote for George Romney.
-Senator J. William Fulbright vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator John Glenn Beall, Jr. vote for George Romney.
-Senator Albert Gore, Sr. vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Mike Gravel vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
Reasoner: Romney 19, Bentsen 17.
-The State of Maine vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
Smith: Another state expected to abstain from voting at Rockefeller Republicans control 21 delegations, they need to get 5 extra states, so far got two. Rockefeller is to be congratulated for convincing an own state congressman to vote against Muskie.
-The State of Maryland vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
Smith: Rockefeller need to get only two swing states now.
-The State of Masschussetts vote for Edmund Muskie.
Smith: Rockefeller 12, Wallace 5, Muskie 4.
-Senator Robert P. Griffin vote for George Romney.
-Senator Clifford Hansen vote for George Romney.
-Senator Philip Hart vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Vance Hartke vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Mark Hatfield vote for George Romney.
-Senator Jesse Helms vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
Reasoner: Romney 22, Bentsen 20.
-The State of Michigan vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of Minnesota vote for Edmund Muskie.
-The State of Mississippi vote for George Wallace.
Smith: Rockefeller 13, Wallace 6, Muskie 5
-Senator Albert S. Herlong, Jr. vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Bourke B. Hickenlooper vote for George Romney.
-Senator Ernest Hollings vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Roman Hruska vote for George Romney.
-Senator Hubert Humphrey vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Daniel Inouye vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
Reasoner: Romney 24, Bentsen 24.
-The State of Missouri vote for Edmund Muskie.
-The State of Montana vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of Nebraska vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
Smith: Rockefeller 15, Muskie 6, Wallace 6.
-Senator Henry M. Jackson vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Jacob K. Javits vote for George Romney.
-Senator Robert F. Kennedy vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Ted Kennedy vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Thomas Kuchel vote for George Romney.
-Senator Paul Laxalt vote for George Romney.
Reasoner: Romney 27, Bentsen 27.
-The State of Nevada vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of New Hampshire vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of New Jersey vote for Edmund Muskie.
Smith: Rockefeller 17, Muskie 7, Wallace 6.
-Senator Russell B. Long vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Lester Maddox vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Warren Magnuson vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Mike Mansfield vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Charles Mathias vote for George Romney.
-Senator Eugene McCarthy vote for George Romney.
Reasoner: It's not a surprise that McCarthy vote. Romney 30, Bentsen 30.
-The State of New Mexico abstains.
Smith: The first state to abstain in the election in the House.
-The State of New York vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
Smith: This is really impressive. Rockefeller had to convince two Congressional Democrats to change their vote. Victory in New York was extremely unexpected. I bet this time in a new Presidency Rockefeller.
-The State of North Carolina abstains.
Smith: Rockefeller 18, Muskie 7, Wallace 6. 2 abstentions.
-Senator James A. McClure vote for George Romney.
-Senator Gale W. McGee vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator George McGovern vote for George Romney.
Reasoner: Another Democratic betrayal. In the end we can have the Rockefeller / Romney ticket winning both elections.
-Senator Lee Metcalf vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Jack Miller vote for George Romney.
-Senator Joseph M. Montoya vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
Reasoner: Bentsen 34, Romney 32.
-The State of North Dakota vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of Ohio vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of Oklahoma abstains.
Smith: Rockefeller 20, Muskie 7, Wallace 6. 3 abstentions. With these states, both Muskie as Wallace can not afford to get there 26 votes.
-Senator Wayne Morse vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Frank Moss vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Karl E. Mundt vote for George Romney.
Reasoner: The defeated presidential candidate Edmund Muskie vote this time, with a face clearly dejected after the news of the House.
-Senator Edmund Muskie vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Gaylord Nelson vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Louie B. Nunn vote for George Romney.
Reasoner: Bentsen 38, Romney 34.
-The State of Oregon vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
Smith: With this state Rockefeller won five states not covered beyond 21 delegations. If there is no Republican betrayal, Rockefeller will be re-elected president in a surprising election.
-The State of Pennsylvania vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of Rhode Island vote for Edmund Muskie.
Smith: Rockefeller 22, Muskie 8, Wallace 6. 3 abstentions.
Senator John O. Pastore vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator James B. Pearson vote for George Romney.
-Senator Clairbone Pell vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Charles H. Percy vote for George Romney.
-Senator William Proxmire vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Jennings Randolph vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
Reasoner: Bentsen 42, Romney 36. Bentsen is only 9 votes to be elected Vice President.
-The State of South Carolina vote for George Wallace.
-The State of South Dakota vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of Tennessee vote for George Wallace.
Smith: Rockefeller 23, Muskie 8, Wallace8. 3 abstentions.
-Senator John Rarick vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Abraham A. Ribicoff vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator William V. Roth vote for George Romney.
-Senator William B. Saxbe vote for George Romney.
-Senator Richard Schweiker vote for George Romney.
-Senator Hugh Scott vote for George Romney.
Reasoner: Bentsen 44, Romney 40. Bentsen is 7 votes to be Vice-President.
-The State of Texas vote for Edmund Muskie.
-The State of Utah vote for Edmund Muskie.
-The State of Vermont vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
Smith: Rockefeller 24, Muskie 10, Wallace 8. Rockefeller needs to win only two more delegations.
-Senator William L. Scott vote for George Romney.
-Senator Robert Stafford vote for George Romney.
-Senator John C. Stennis vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Ted Stevens vote for George Romney.
-Senator Adlai Stevenson III vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Stuart Symington vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
Reasoner: Bentsen 47, Romney 43. Bentsen need 4 more votes to reach the vice presidency.
-The State of Virginia vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of Washington vote on Edmund Muskie.
-The State of West Virginia votes for Edmund Muskie.
Smith: Rockefeller 25, Muskie 12, Wallace 8. President Rockefeller needs only one more delegation to be re-elected President.
-Senator Robert Taft, Jr. vote for George Romney.
-Senator Herman Talmadge vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Strom Thurmond vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator John Tower vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
Reasoner: This Republican betrayal bury the chances of Romney be elected. We consider 99% sure that Rockefeller and Bentsen will be elected today.
-Senator John Tunney vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
Reasoner: With this vote Senator Lloyd Bentsen was elected Vice President of the United States of America.
-Senator Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. vote for George Romney.
-Senator Jack Williams vote for George Romney.
-Senator Harrison A. Williams vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
-Senator Milton Young vote for George Romney.
-Senator John Sparkman vote for Lloyd Bentsen.
Reasoner: The final score is Bentsen 53, Romney 47.
-The State of Wisconsin vote for Edmund Muskie.
Smith: Pay attention now, the last state will vote. And probably deliver the presidency again to Nelson Rockefeller.
-The State of Wyoming vote for Nelson Rockefeller.
Smith: Viewers, President Nelson Rockefeller was re-elected President of the United States of America. The final score was Rockefeller 26, Muskie 13, Wallace 8. 3 abstentions. I repeat, Nelson Rockefeller was re-elected US President.