Eisenhower Considered Resigning After Stroke

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30856, 15 September 1965, Page 20

Eisenhower Considered Resigning After Stroke

(N.Z.PA.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, Sept. 14. The former Persident, General Eisenhower, disclosed today that he considered resigning as President in 1957 after he suffered a stroke. But, defying his doctors, he set himself the test of attending a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation conference in Paris and proved that he was able to carry on. The former President gave details of his struggle against ill-health in extracts, published in the “New York Times” yesterday, of “waging peace, 1956-1960,” the second volume of his memoirs due for publication later this year. He expanded on passages in the book in an interview with a “New York Times" reporter. Mr Eisenhower, now 74, said he had told only his wife, his

son, his doctors and his close I associates of plans he made to ■ test his capacities after the* stroke. , “General Eisenhower suf fered a temporary loss of memorv of his vocabulary. This difficulty in speaking was irritating, out what concerned the President more was whether the stroke indicated he might not eventually be able to carry on,” the newspaper reported. “The President knew that the stroke, the third illness he had suffered in three years, could lead to further setbacks and a situation where he might not be able to analyse problems completely or express clearly his thoughts, or even an intention to resign. I "The test he set for himi self was to attend, over the ' protests of doctors, family and i friends, a conference of the I North Atlantic Treaty Organislation in Paris. If he could

successfully participate in the strenuous activities of the conference, he would stay on as President. If he felt the results were not satisfactory, he would resign. “The book describes bow the President passed his self-imposed test, even making some impromptu remarks at Marly, where he had served as first supreme commander of N.A.T.O. military forces “By the time he returned from France to the United States he had abandoned all doubts about continuing in office,” the “New York Times" reported.

Yesterday's ivory tower has become today s foxhole. The leisure of the theory class is increasingly occupied in the organisation of picket hues, teach-ins, think-ins, and stakeouts of one sort or another.— Dr. J. J. Ming.