Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • 29

Austin American-Statesman Support for O'Neill blamed in Panhandle defeat 1 Thursday, December 13, 1984 Texas loss on one vote congressman pins WASHINGTON (AP) Jack "Sr. Democratic leadership has abandoned the old ideals of the party and turned it into a party of big spenders and minorities. "There are Democrats who'd like to see people like me leave the party," Hightower said. "They'd -like to run us off, to make Republicans out of us. But I'm not going to give them the satisfaction, because I think they're the ones that are wrong." trict, and they were not about to support the top of the ticket, and they were not about to support the candidate for the United States Senate," he said.

"So it made it extremely difficult to pull them back over into the Democratic column." Despite the Republican leaning of his district, Hightower said he had never considered switching parties. He said he is "comfortable" as a Democrat He said the Hightower. who represented his conservative, Texas Panhandle district In Congress for 10 years, says he lost his job because of one vote. "I think that if two years ago I had stood up in the caucus or on the floor of the House on the first day of the session and voted against the speaker. I would have sioner from Amarillo.

As one of Hightower's colleagues said, the surprise was not that the five-term congressman lost, but rather that he was able to hold on to the district for so long. The liberals at the top of the Democratic ticket were too much weight for him to carry this year, Hightower said. "I have a very conservative dis- Beau Boulter Jack Hightower r.I hi 0 ggr HMMH iBBKI SAVE. UP TO 50 ON EVERY PAIR IF BOOTS ACMEDINGO LAMA LUCCHESE JUSTIN DAN POST ZODIAC WRANGLER been a hero, at least among these people, and probably would not -even have had an opponent," High-tower said in an interview. But like every other Democrat in the House, Hightower cast the ceremonial vote on the first day of the session for Speaker Thomas O'Neill.

REPUBLICANS used middle-class America's disenchantment with big government against Incumbent Democrats this year. That disenchantment was symbolized by O'Neill, a Massachusetts congressman. "I think Tip O'Neill was the name mentioned always in all of my opponent's advertising. He ran a tremendous amount of advertising saying I was Tip O'Neill's boy," Hightower said. Hightower was one of three Democratic incumbents defeated In Texas.

Tom Vandergriff, the for- mer longtime mayor of Arlington, lost to economics teacher Richard Armey of Denton. Vandergriff had spent $1 million, much of it his own money, in a narrow victory for the newly created seat in 1982. It had been expected to go Republican then. DEMOCRAT BILL Patman had represented his Southeast Texas district for two terms. He lost to Mac Sweeney of Wharton, a young, politically sawy former aide to John Connally and John Tower.

Sweeney waged a well-financed campaign that caught Patman by surprise. Hightower had been one of the Democratic "Boll Weevils," who went against party leaders in the Discontinued Handcrafted Boots For Men Women 25 OFF Reg. 89.99-255.00 Handsome all-leather boots In Western and fashion styles, all handcrafted for the utmost In quality and comfort! A ft' 4 Hi 'l'f t. ii i I House and supported President Reagan's economic program in Men's Women's Discontinued Machine-Made Boots 25 OFF Reg. 39.99-90.00 Choose from ACME, DINGO, SHEPLERS OWN, KENNY ROGERS, WRANGLER every pair of discontinued machine-made 1981.

Nevertheless, Republicans tar geted Hightower's district this II year. Even he admits it was ripe. It boots at great savingsi previously naa Deen neia Dy Republican Bob Price, and Hightower had less than a firm grasp on it. He won re-election with only 55 percent of the vote In 1980. 'I think the Republicans are happy to have the assistance of Boll Weevils when it's to their ben efit; but as has been demonstrated in my case, when they think tney can claim the seat, they'll claim it," Hightower said.

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