popular adulation

In terms of political selling-power. Kennedy's greatest asset is the legacy of indiscriminate popular adulation of the late President. In his absence, the electorate chases his ghost, in the substantial form of Robert. The Manchester affair, we hear, caused concern and disillusion to the camp-followers, as shown by a substantial decline in the weekly (daily?) poll rating of the Kennedys.

The legend tells of an arclit, sparkling, loquacious era in the days of John F. Kennedy, one to be applauded, [unclear: ulated], execrated, [unclear: envied] desired. His winsome [unclear: sonallty], his style, his [unclear: atory] and writing, his spirt-[unclear: al] kinship with intellectuals [unclear: id] youth were unprecedented American leadership.