Evening star., 1946-12-14
Message to Congress
To Avoid Controversy
Good Housekeeping Report to
Be Shaped by Clifford
By Doris Fieeson

President Trumans messages to Con-
gress are on the desk Of his counsel and
present No. man, Clark Clifford, the
young st. Louis lawyer who entered the
White House as an assistant naval aide
two years ago,
Mr.. Clifford, who is the hunted social
lion Of Washington by reason Of his
present eminence as leader of the palace
guard, is displaying the discretion
second nature to corporation lawyers
with influential clients. But the Presi-
dent still talks to old friends and those
who knew Mr. Clifford when" believe
they can predict what line his advice
will take.
The shape of things to come emerges
from these sources as good -housekeep-
ing report in contrast to the provocative
efforts Mr.. Roosevelt used to toss into
the congressional laps. There will be
little new business, much emphasis on
winding up the war and keeping un-
fulfilled promises. There will be i'm
portant recommendations for labor
legislation.
New Dealers Disappear.
Mr.. Clifford, his associates assert, will
shape the messages as persuasions. to the
twin jury of Congress and the public.
They do not anticipate controversy in
a carload.
All this doyetails with the complete
disappearance of New Dealers around
the White House, the Presidents own
Interpretation of the elections as free
economy" mandate and the cater-to-
Congress warnings handed down to the
bureaucrats around town.
The Presidents announced decision to
base his employment message on the
report of his economic advisory (maxi-
mum employment) council Is new
evidence of the kitchen cabinets de-
termination to remove him as much as
possible from direct controversial re-
sponsibility. Their attitude is that he
has done his duty by his Roosevelt In
heritance and is now entitled to look
to his own place in history.
The Republicans are also moving
closer to the good-housekeeping con-
ception for the next session. The prayer
probe-and -pass-the- mood
with which they hailed their victory has
passed. All their real leaders now ap-
pear resigned to long sessions over the
budget before they daily with taxes.
Hot Blood Cooled.
A new caginess regarding labor legis-
lation is also evident. Senator Taft has
indicated to friends q belief it might
be better to wait and see what the
President gives Congress to work on.
This sober second thought may have
some connection with presidential
politics.
The hot blood of the present leading
COP contenders has been slightly
cooled by the appearance of Gen. Eisen-
hover in the Republican column OF pub
lie opinion polls. Pooh-poohed still by the
Old Guard, the general is displaying q
catch-on quality that is highly notice.
able. 1t is bound to serve as a re-
minder to the others that it is still a
good idea not to have made too many
people mad at you when you raise your
standard in national convention.
The candidates are all plaintive about
the amount of attention paid their
motives, but it will increase rather than
diminish as I948 approaches. Next to
the maneuverings of the White House
palace guard, which are always sizzling,
the Republican presidential riyalries are
the hottest politics In town.
(Released by the Bell Syndicate. fns)