Evening star., 1948-05-01
Senator Vandenberg Preferred

To the Editor OF The Star:
1t is the writer's opinion that Dorothy
Thompson, whose reasoning usually is on
sound basis, left herself wide open to criti-
cism as a result of her choice of Senator Taft
as the best COP candidate for the presidency
She writes: Il feel myself somewhat astonished
at my own conclusions, reached after much
thought. Perhaps others will come to the
same conclusions with equal astonishment
The times call for sobriety."
I would like to say to Miss Thompson that
I am aStoniShed that woman of her intelli-
gence could rationalize on the subject at such
length and fail to mention the name of
Senator Vandenberg who in my opinion, is the
best man the Republican party could nominate.
OF course, Miss Thompson is as much en-
titled to her opinion as I am to mine, but
believe I can indicate why her reasoning is
not logical. In the first place, she calls
Senator Taft the best choice despite lack of
political ocmph" and from there to her con-
clusion she seems to be apologzing for his
lneptitude on the one hand and extolling his
virtues on the other. 1t seems to me that
Senator Vandenberg has what Senator Taft
lacks plus great deal more. She labels the
Ohio Senator 'the strongest character, finest
intellect and most experienced statesman" 1t
seems to me that the matter of character is
one of the greatest differences between the
two men. Both were isolationists in l94O
both voting against selective service and send
ing arms abroad. Yet Senator Vandenberg
had the courage of self conviction and in
tegrity to realize that his stand was detri-
mental to his countrys welfare and went on
to become the father of bipartisan foreign
policy-largely at the instigation of President
Roosevelt, whom Miss Thompson so greatly
admires Senator Taft, am sorry to say, still
not only leans to the isolationist wing but, by
not rejecting the support of Col. Robert Nc
Cormick, openly accepts and welcomes it.
AS Miss Thompson must know it was Sen
ator Vandenbergs ability as statesman that
guided the formulation of ERP in the Foreign
Relations Committee and finally secured its
enactment by both houses. What was Sem
ator Tafts stand? I am convinced that only
his candidacy caused him to vote for it but
even then he wanted to cripple it by reducing
the first years allotment by one billion dollars
will not deny that Senator Taft is an in
telligent man and especially good in finan-
cial matters. I will give him credit for his
role in the Taft-Hartley and Taft-Ellender-
Wagner Acts. But glance at his record of
false predictions, dating back prior to Pearl
Harbor, makes the writer shudder to think
OF the gentleman from Ohio in the White
House. And why Miss Thompson, should it be
to his credit that he has the courage to be un-
popular when Senator Vandenberg has the
facility of being popular with and commanding
the respect of both parties?
To my way of thinking Senator Taft is a
politician. while Senator Vandenberg is a
statesman. The Senator from Ohio is all
right if limited to domestic affairs but has
had no real experience in foreign affairs in
spite of length of service. With foreign policy
all-important these days and Russia the chief
factor of that policy, what better man could
there be than Senator Vandenberg, who has
gained so much knowledge and experience from
his participation in the major Big -Four Con-
ferences?
No. Miss Thompson, believe that the pri-
maries in Wisconsin, Nebraska and Pennsyl-
vania have already shown-and Ohio's will
show-that Senator Taft is not the man for the
Republican Party. Yes. indeed, "the times do
call for sobriety," and for sound reasoning, too
CHARLES T. BOURNE