Steve For Congress! (1965)
On October 25, 1965 (E621), Henry Morgan stepped out from behind the curtain as the substitute host. This was not unusual in the Garry Moore era. Henry had filled in for Garry many times, especially in the early years when the show was always live and produced year-round. Still, this was the first show, and would be the only show, that Steve missed in his three seasons at the helm. Henry did not specifically give a reason for Steve’s absence. Instead, he quipped that he was selected to host because, “I am probably the only guy in show business my age and weight who is not running for public office.” The unstated point, familiar to the well-read studio audience and millions at home: Steve was running for public office. Or at least was thinking about it.
By the mid-sixties, Steve’s liberal views were well known. In an era when most television personalities kept their political persuasions private in fear of alienating a segment of their audience, Steve often used his various talk shows, as well as his speaking tours, to offer his opinions on issues he felt passionate about. One of the issues he was most passionate about in these early Cold War years was nuclear disarmament. His efforts on behalf of the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE) gained him a certain amount of political notoriety, and incurred the wrath of such conservative columnists as William F Buckley and Ralph de Toledano. He was still a political neophyte, just an entertainer with an opinion, until an opportunity presented itself that could conceivably catapult him into a position of power.
Earlier in the year, President Johnson had appointed James Roosevelt, the eldest son of FDR, to a position in the UN’s Economic and Social Council (UNESCO). This created a vacancy in the US House of Representatives, where Roosevelt had been representing California’s 26th District since 1955. A special election would be scheduled for December to fill the seat. The election attracted the interest of many liberals in the reliably Democratic district covering parts of LA and Beverly Hills. Most were members of the party establishment, including many current and former office holders. One was just an entertainer with an opinion.
Steve began making overtures about his interest in the seat by late August. In early September, a citizens committee formed to encourage his candidacy, made up of such average American citizens as sci-fi author Ray Bradbury and comedian Bill Dana, Steve's Tonight show co-star. He seemed to have it all: Name recognition, solidly liberal credentials, and the backing of prominent Democrats such as Hubert Humphrey, Robert Kennedy and Edmund Brown. What did him in was something so small and seemingly inconsequential it was practically a clerical error.
While Steve was certainly a liberal, it turns out he wasn’t actually a Democrat. According to California State Law, a candidate had to be registered with his party for three months before filing his candidacy papers. Steve, ever the independent, had declined to declare a party affiliation when he registered to vote in California back in 1960. He registered as a Democrat on September 18, far too late to make the deadline. When he officially announced his candidacy in mid-October, neither the Los Angeles registrar nor the California Secretary of State were willing to make an exception for the political neophyte. Steve sued to get his name on the ballot.
All of this happened quite rapidly, and CBS, concerned about running afoul of "equal time" rules, played it safe and had Steve sit out until the whole matter was settled. The network even took the precaution of approaching Merv Griffin about hosting the show in Steve's absence if his candidacy kept him from the show. At it turned out, that wasn't necessary. In fact, the California Supreme Court had already ruled Steve ineligible a few days before the October 25 episode that Henry hosted. At the time, Steve vowed to continue to fight, either by appealing to the federal courts (legally shaky for a statewide race) or by running as an independent. Only a few days later, however, he changed his mind and announced he would not be pursuing the vacancy after all. Tom Rees, a longtime Democratic party member and California State Senator, would win the December election and go on to be reelected five times before retiring from politics in 1976.
In the end, Steve had the last laugh, or at least the last punchline. Returning to the show on November 1 (E622), Steve first thanked Henry for filling in the week before, then added, "and I'd also like to thank the members of the California Supreme Court for making it possible for me to be here this week."
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