WHO’LL BE THE LUCKY ONE?

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31902, 1 February 1969, Page 12

WHO’LL BE THE LUCKY ONE?

(By

WHIM WHAM)

Probably the most intriguing question about any new President of the United States is whether he is lucky . . Harry Truman was a lucky man ... He even dropped a couple of atomic bombs and got away with it ... If luck is a factor in human life—and who can deny it?—this would clearly be the moment for a lucky man to appear . . . James Reston, of the "New York Times”. There have been Presidents who had the Luck, None of their Plans came seriously unstuck: If Any did, the Odium stuck Elsewhere. Let no Man’s Luck be Someone else’s Share! There have been Kings, and Pontiffs too so What? Some (shall we say?) were Lucky, and Some not. Tyrants of Ancient Greece believed in Fate, The Gods were active in Affairs of State, A Ruler’s Luck was in and out, depending On Powers he had small Means of comprehending, The Oracles, supposed to be Divine, Never precisely laid it on the Line; Ambiguous at Best, the Gods’ Advice Was hard to follow, and Few tried it twice, ONCE being usually Enough to send The god-gulled Ruler to his god-ruled End, — Which, being happily achieved, as fated, The Oracles were always vindicated,— Like modern Analysts of last Week’s News, The Oracles played It so they couldn’t lose, — Or Cabinet Experts, who can always say They TOLD him so (having bucked It either Way), Somehow he goofed It, it was Not his Day. Luck, I suppose, is what we feel we need When Nothing seems as likely to succeed. Truman had Luck—but did he (as you say) with It “Drop two Atomic Bombs and get away with It”? Suppose he did?—How far does that get You? Sir, ask your Oracle its Point of View. And oh, James Reston, reading What you write, The Comfort I derive from It is slight. One Man’s mere Luck? You leave Me wondering what Else to depend on, if it’s all YOU’ve got!