The Press FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1956. President Eisenhower Decides

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27907, 2 March 1956, Page 10

The Press FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1956. President Eisenhower Decides

President Eisenhower’s strong sense of duty has persuaded him, against hir personal inclinations, to stand for a second term as President of the United States. The eagerly-awaited decision will be heard with mixed feelings everywhere except in the Republican Party, which knows that its only hope of regaining control of the Congress—and even that a faint one—lies in its candidates being carried to victory on a wave of public enthusiasm for the President. The Republican Party will also be spared, for the time being, the convulsions of a bitter contest for the leadership. Compared with these dire possibilities, the one big question that Eisenhower’s decision poses for the Republicans—the selection of a vice-Presidential candidate who might have to step into Eisenhower’s shoes at any time in the next few years—may seem insignificant, although it clearly has the deepest political implications. The .Democrats, it may be supposed, would probably prefer to face any opponent rather than Eisenhower, whose immense popularity and prestige have hardly been touched by his three years in the hurly-burly of politics. Some Democrats profess to believe that the large questionmark against the President’s health will turn many votes away; and the party organisation has wasted no time in announcing that it intends to make the President’s health a main issue in the election campaign. Yet this could be a two-edged weapon. It will be difficult to press this issue without calling into question, directly or indirectly, the President’s personal motives; and such is his standing with the American people that this might bring him a flood of “ sympathy ” votes.

Nevertheless, the President’s health is a proper issue for the consideration of the electors; and all who are moved by reason rather than by emotion or a slavish attachment to party must be bound to consider Eisenhower’s fitness to carry for another five years this most exacting of all offices of State. These electors, like the people of the

other Western nations that look to the United States for help and leadership, may applaud the bravery of the President’s decision; they must also ask, Is it wise? Walter Lippmann has made the point that it is not really a question of the possibility of the President’s dying or being incapacitated; the doctors’ reports are reasonably reassuring on that score. “The real question is “ not death or disability but “inadequacy, not being at his best, “ being able to carry on the routine “ of the office but not to supply the “ kind of energetic leadership which “ the world situation is certain to “ demand ”. President Eisenhower must have been very conscious of this when he was weighing his personal wishes for retirement against what he conceived to be his duty. The burden of office of the White House cannot be lightened; its responsibility can be delegated to no-one else. And no President, as Eisenhower himself has pointed out, has lived to the age of 70 in office—as Eisenhower will if he is to see out a second term.

These are the main doubts and anxieties about the President’s decision. In general, the countries that look to the United States for leadership would be glad to see President Eisenhower returned to office for a second term. His firm yet temperate policies have been a unifying influence in his own country and a pacifying influence internationally. Because America’s friends and allies count- upon the continuation of these policies they will watch with some anxiety the contest for the Republican Party’s nomination for the vice-Presidency —the man who would become President should Eisenhower die in office. The West will hope to see an internationalist and a statesman as President Eisenhower’s “ running“mate”; not just a politician.