Aug. 5, 1964 - Pierre Salinger survived a near filibuster over fine points of constitutional law and Senate rules today before being sworn in as a Democratic Senator from California. His appointment was confirmed, 59 to 29, on a roll-call vote.
While it was the Republican minority that raised the only serious obstacle to his confirmation, the most profound plea on his behalf came from his California Republican colleague, Senator Thomas Kuchel.
Salinger, who has been campaigning for the seat of the late Senator Clair Engel since last March, received an interim appointment to the post yesterday from Governor Edmund Brown.
The opposition to seating him today was led by the Senate minority leader, Everett Dirksen of Illinois. Dirksen’s objection was based on the same question that had plagued Salinger’s nomination and subsequent campaign — his status as a legal resident of California.
Mr. Salinger is a native Californian, but he has not lived in the state since 1955. During most of the time since, when working as a Senate investigator and later as White House press secretary, he has maintained a home in nearby Virginia and has voted there. However, the California courts affirmed his eligibility to run for the Senate from California after he announced his candidacy in March.
Once sworn in, Salinger received a standing ovation that lasted almost a minute and a half. First in the line of congratulatory handshakers was the minority leader, Mr. Dirksen.
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