Time to right a wrong?

A New York Times story eight days ago included a reminder of the stiff price George Norris paid for his political independence half a century ago.

When a special Senate committee was assigned to select the five outstanding former senators who most deserved hall of fame recognition, the panel sought recommendations from an advisory committee of 160 scholars.

The winners would be forever honored with portraits painted on the walls of the Capitol’s Senate Reception Room.

The leading recommendation from the scholars was Nebraska’s George Norris, a force in the Senate from 1913 to 1943.

If you visit the reception room today, you will find portraits of Henry Clay, John Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Robert Taft and Robert LaFollette Sr., the winners named by the Senate committee in 1957.

The Senate added Arthur Vandenberg and Robert Wagner in 2004.

No George Norris.

“It’s somewhat of a mystery,” Senate historian Richard Baker said in a telephone interview last week.

“There were lots of rumors about who had a vendetta.”

It’s clear one member of the selection committee, Sen. Styles Bridges, a New Hampshire Republican, strenuously objected to the inclusion of Norris.

A 1957 article in Life Magazine  stated that Nebraska’s two Republican senators, Roman Hruska and Carl Curtis, also opposed selection of the Nebraskan who left the GOP to become an independent and support Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal agenda.

Life later published a letter from Sen. John Kennedy, chairman of the selection committee, stating he had not heard any adverse information from Nebraska’s two senators, Baker said.

However, there apparently was enough evidence of their opposition to Norris that it’s mentioned in an historical accounting on the U.S. Senate Web site.

“Senate panel member Styles Bridges, who had served with Norris from the late 1930s, harbored many ill feelings from that association and consequently, along with Nebraska’s two incumbent senators, blocked his further consideration,” the Senate history states.

Norris isn’t even one of the two Nebraskans allotted space in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall.

Those spots are occupied by William Jennings Bryan and J. Sterling Morton.

And so there is no honored place in the Capitol for Nebraska’s George Norris, who was named most often by scholars 51 years ago as their premier U.S. senator.

“It’s a shame,” Baker said.

Hey, maybe it’s time.

And it begins

Pressure’s on.

Mike Johanns and Scott Kleeb will appear on the same stage Thursday to answer questions posed by Boys Staters.

Most of the pressure is on Kleeb, who needs a defining issue or a breakthrough moment.

Or a compelling performance that propels his general election campaign and dramatizes his argument that this Senate contest is a choice between new and status quo.

Johanns doesn’t need to make a breakthrough. He begins ahead.

Almost out of sight, if you believe the 58-31 numbers in the May 19-21 Research 2000 poll for the Daily Kos blog.

But within reach if you believe the 55-40 numbers in a May 15 survey by Rasmussen Reports.

Both candidates sat down separately for some valuable — we say free, they say earned — air time last Tuesday, riding  Channel 10-11’s signal across the state.

During those interviews, a couple of issues began to take shape. No doubt, both candidates will be prepared to discuss them at Boys State in a way that more clearly distinguishes their differences.

Kleeb says the United States needs to “begin to draw down our forces” in Iraq.

Johanns says: “We shouldn’t leave until you have a secure place and let them finish the job.”

Those positions need a lot more detail.

Answering a question about the economy, Johanns emphasized his strong support for continuation of the 2001 and 2003 federal tax cuts.

Kleeb’s response on the economy did not address those tax cuts. But he may be prepared to support continuation of tax cuts for middle-income families without endorsing all the accompanying tax breaks in those Bush administration packages.

Let’s see whether those differences become more defined and distinct this week.

And, perhaps, after Johanns and Kleeb leave Boys State, there’ll  be more differences to explore.

The wrapup

So it gets settled in Winner tomorrow.  At last.

The final Democratic presidential primary battles in this year’s forced march occur in South Dakota and Montana on Tuesday. 

Good places to wrap it up.

In 1992, Bob Kerrey was elected president of neighboring South Dakota, winning his only presidential primary victory next door.

South Dakota is the native state of many of us Nebraskans.

Winner, pop. 3,137, is the old home town.  Surrounded by pheasants and prairie dogs, it’s located in Tripp County not far over the border northeast of Valentine.

It’s a Republican county, but there are 1,383 registered Democrats who get a chance now to participate in their party’s end game.

So, at long last, is it Barack or Hillary?  Let South Dakota make the final decision.

And the victor could claim the prize in Winner.

How appropriate is that?

Finishing up* Predictions by ebonyjet.com about key players in an Obama administration: Jim Webb, vice president; Bill Richardson, secretary of state; Chuck Hagel, secretary of defense.

* Joining Ben Nelson’s staff: Jake Thompson, formerly with the Omaha World-Herald’s Washington bureau, who will be the senator’s new communications director.

* Leaving Nelson’s staff: David DiMartino, deputy chief of staff, invaluable media contact and notorious Red Sox fan. He’ll be a vice president at BGR, one of Washington’s leading lobbying and consulting firms.

* On the list of applicants seeking to be chosen as Obama national convention delegates from Nebraska: Bill Avery, Tim Becker, Chris Beutler, Brenda Council, Jim Esch, Mike Fahey, Scott and Jane Kleeb, Amanda McGill, Kim Robak and 326 more.

* On the list of applicants to be Clinton delegates: Judy and Tom Monaghan, Danielle Nantkes, Coleen Seng and 104 more.

* Joba tomorrow.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com.