Evening star., 1947-11-25
Chief Of Staff Change Seen
As Shrewd Political Move
Democrats Believe Truman Action Has
Placed Eisenhower on Spot
The PoIiticoF Mil
Bv Gould Lincoln


President Trumans appointment Of Gen.
Omar N. Bradley to succeed Gen. Ike" Eisen-
hover Army Chief of StafT, with orders to
return to the War Department from the Vet
Grams Administration December l. Is regarded
by Democrats on Capitol Hill as O shrewd
political move. 1t puts Gen. Eisenhower more
or less on the spot. With his successor
named, it Is reasonable to expect he will 60
without further delay to retirement, making
himself available for his new job president
of Columbia University.
When Gen. Eisenhower enters . civilian
status-as much civilian as he ever can
become, for he remains q general Of the Army
with full pay as long as he liyes-he will be
called upon promptly to talk about politics
and to say whether he Is or Is not q candidate
for presidential nomination. 1t has been an
easy thing for him to decline to talk politics
while he is on active service in the Army All
he had to do was say he was a soldier and not
in politics He has not, up to date, even said
whether he was a Democrat or a Republican
although most people shrewdly suspect he Ia
a Republican
Shipping at Dewey.
1t is easy to imagine the pressure that will be
put upon the general to discuss politics and
the issues of the day. Two Of the announced
candidates for the Republican presidential
nomination-Senator Taft of Ohio and former
Gov. Stassen of Minnesota-wiu probably shrek
aloud for public statements by Gen. Eisen-
hover. They have been snipng at Gov Dewey
of New York for weeks, criticizing the Governor
because he is not out making campaign
/ speeches and stating his views every possible
| subject.
| With an Eisenhower President League
and scores of Eisenhower Clubs functioning
$l,n0
longer be able to sit back and say nothing
in the opinion of shrewd politicians. No one
knows what Gen. Eisenhower thinks about any
of the major domestic and foreign problems
which confront the country. No one
knows, for example, what he would do about
high prices and imitation, or whether he has
any ideas about this pressing matter.
1t has been intimated that Gen. Eisenhower
when he leaves the Office of Chief of Staff, will
take so days terminal leave-a vacation before
entering upon the presidency of Columbia. This
might delay his going to Columbia until around
February l, but in all probability it would not
delay the political questions which will be fired
at the general. He will either have to admit he
is a candidate, or remain quiet.
Might Bar Nomination.
If President Truman has to run against his
present Chief of STAFF next year. 1t will benefit
him to know, too, just where Gen. Eisenhower
stands, as early as possible Furthermore. II
Gen. Eisenhower is exposed to the wolves-the
other candidates for the Republican nomination
and their adherents-the effect might be to
choke of an Eisenhower nomination altogether.
There is of course, the other side of the picture.
Gen. Eisenhower might make very good in his
| discussion of public questions and his candidacy
might receive q great boost should his friends
enter him in some Of the presidential preferen-
tial primaries. The last, however, would be per-
haps dangerous test.
For example, a check In Kansas-whch In
supposed to be Fundamentally for Gen. Eisen-
hover because 1t was from there he was ap-
pointed to West Point-made by O shrewd
political observer with replies from 90 Of the
105 counties in the State, shows Gov. Dewey in
the lead with Mr. Taft a close second, Gen.
Eisenhower third and Mr.. Stassen fourth. This
does not mean that If Gen. Eisenhower an
nounced himself, he could not jump into the
| lead in Kansas. 1t does mean, however, that
| Kansas Republicans have to be shown
1t has been suggested that if Gen. Eisen-
hover became a candidate for the presidential
nomination he would have to give up his presi-
dency Of Columbia. This does not follow, at ALL
Nicholas Murray Butler his predecessor at CO.
| lumbia, was perennial candidate for presi-
Dental or vice presidential nomination. Fur
ther, neither Gov Dewey nor Senator Taft.
! Gov. Warren nor Senator Vandenberg, all of
whom have been mentioned prominently for
| the presidency, would think of resigning their
| present offices, either to seek nomination or
to run after nominated.