Football Players to Guide Politicians To Testimonial Dinner for O'Donnell

Gubernatorial candidate Kenneth P. O'Donnell '49 has carved himself a piece of Harvard's Jock Bloc.

At least 20 Harvard undergraduates, most of them football players and members of Winthrop House, will usher political dignitaries around Boston when they come to town for an O'Donnell testimonial dinner Saturday.

They will be greeting, driving, and arranging hotel accommodations for such Democratic Party leaders as Mike Mansfield and the two Kennedy brothers. Most of the members of the late President John F. Kennedy's "Irish Mafia" will attend the dinner, ostensibly to honor O'Donnell for his work as Special Assistant and Appointments Secretary to President Kennedy.

The entourage was organized by Bobby Leo '67, a Harvard halfback from Everett. Leo was recruited by A. David Mazzone '50, a personal friend, who is O'Donnell's campaign manager.

Massone denied that the participation of Harvard students had been sought as part of an attempt to build a campaign structure at Harvard.

Few of the students have any strong preferences for O'Donnell.

"I'm just doing it to help a friend," a football player said. "I know very little about politics, actually."

"I don't know much about O'Donnell, to tell the truth," another athlete said. "But it's a good opportunity to learn."