Evening star., 1948-01-03
vandenberg Rejection
OF Presidential Aims
Doesn't Hurt Chances
Despite His Wishes,
Senator Still Runs First
As Compromise Choice

S0SHItS IuS VtSuSSf
Senotor Still Runs First
As Compromise Choice
By Jay C.. Hayden
Senator Vandenberg's letter to
Republican leaders in his home
State, urging that my name shall
not be presented or supported either
In the Michigan State convention or
the National Convention at Phila-
delphia," neither adds to nor sub
tracts from his chance Of Presiden-
tial nomination.
Senator Vandenberg has said over
and over again that he does not
want to be President, and he means
every word Of 1t. Twenty years In
the Senate and ga years Of age,
both coming next March, he Is tired
Of the pressures and exactions Of
public life. For him the Presidency
holds no glamor; he has come to
know 1t too well as just the hardest
and most disquieting job In the
world.
But on the other side Of the pic
ture, there is no discussion among
informed politicians these days that
does not name Senator Vandenberg
in the first flight of Republican
prospects. This Is true especially
because Senator Vandenberg more
and more appears to be the one
man toward whom all aspirants,
active or potential, are friendly.
Should the convention deadlock to
the point where the early leaders
probably Gov. Dewey and Senator
Taft-decide that their case is
hopeless, almost inevitably Senator
Vandenberg's will be the first COM
promise name considered. Senator
Vandenberg has bitter enemies
within the party, particularly among
Middlewestern isolationists, but at
the moment he appears to be the
man easiest to assemble . majority
Of delegates-North, South, East
and West.
Decision May Help Him.
Concerning this compromise pos
sibility, 1t makes no difference
whether his name Is placed before
the convention or tho Michigan
delegation votes for him on the
early ballots. Indeed, scattering Of
Michigan's votes among other can
didates initially might promote
rather than hinder ultimate NOM
ination of Senator Vandenberg.
Contrary to wave Of reports that
Senator vandenberg Is In bad
health, ret of by the news last fall
that he was In q Grand Rapids
hospital. he emerged from that
checkup with the assurance OF his
doctors that he is with all respects
in better physical condition than
most persons of his age. Certainly
no man in American public life, not
excepting President Truman, who Is
a month younger, has undergone q
greater siege Of hard work. at home
and abroad, than Senator Vanden-
berg has during the past three
years.
The timing Of Senator Vanden-
berg's latest letter Of remuneration
may have been Influenced by desire
to absolve himself Of personal or
partisan motives in his handling Of
the European recovery program, be-
ginning next week.
Committed to Europe Aid.
Senator Vandenberg's only public
commitment on that subject Is q
statement that he is totally in
favor" of the general objectives Of
saving Western Europe on a self
help basis" He may differ with
President Truman and Secretary of
State Marshall as to details, but
there is no doubt that he regards
the effort to provide sufficient United
States aid to stem the spread of
communism in Europe as the most
vital Congressional battle he has
ever participated in.
Senator Vandenberg Is hoping to
avoid a Republican Party split on
this issue, but If his isolationist-
minded colleagues choose to precip-
itate that conflict, he certainly will
fight them with every means at his
command and with total disregard
for partisan consequences.
Itcould happen, for example, that
the climactic showdown as to Re-
publican foreign policy will occur in
the Observation-Disclosures conven-
ton next June. In that event, it
is unthinkable that Senator VAN
denberg would fail to take the plat
form to lead the fight for'hi side.
And the result. Of a debate so
staged might reach beyond the party
plank, Immediately at stake, to de-
termine both the Republican NOM
hee and the winner, In the final
presidential election.
Certainly, Senator vandenberg's
repeated disclaimer of candidacy
will not cause other presidential
possibilities, Republican or Demo-
crat, to watch him any less warily.
NlIsul