Evening star., 1948-03-10
American Presidency
Seen as No Place for
A Retired General
Heroism of Macarthur
No Qualification for High
Office, Writer Contends
By David Laurence

Office, Writer Contends
By David Laurence
Military heroes have risen to the
presidency in America since the
founding Of the republic, so there
Is no surprise in the decision Of
Gen. Macarthur to accept nomi-
nation If 1t is offered to him.
But Washington, jackson, Taylor,
Grant and Theodore Roosevelt were
younger men when they became the
chief executive-younger than Gen.
Macarthur, who was 68 in January.
Without doubt Gen. Macarthur
has done an outstanding job in
the Far East and possesses more
Of the glamour Of heroism than any
other military man Of today. The
assumption, however, that this
qualities him for the presidency is
a reflection on the intelligence of
the electorate. For 1t means that
the citizens vote for q name or a
reputation and do not concern
themselves with actual experience
or personal qualifications for the
highest post in the Government.
Curiously enough, Of all the mill
tary men Of our times, Gen. Mac
Arthur is perhaps the broadest in
intellectual stature. He has also the
most powerful attributes Of leader
ship.
But the presidency Is not a place
for retired generals who have
finished their military careers. 1t Is
place for men of intimate expert
ence with the art Of civilian govern
ment itself-the art Of adjustment
Of majority and minority interests
in the legislative approach to ma
tional problems and Of the adjust
ment also of economic interests as
between the various classes which
make up our complex society.
Gen. Macarthur is great
man. He is just and fair. Had he
chosen national politics 80 or 40
years ago, he might well have
been President before now. His
aptitude for national questions is
extraordinary. This correspondent
first knew Gen. Macarthur as a
major In the War Department in
1916. He was the most popular
public-relations officer of those
troublous times which preceded our
entry into World War 7. He would
debate on almost any subject, from
the tariff to taxation and from
foreign policy to labor relations. He
has an all-around interest in public
affairs. If perchance he were
elected President, he would not be
as rigid as some OF the military men
who have held civilian Office
subsequent to their military serv-
ice.
Gen. Macarthur is fortnight
when he says he would accept If
asked to serve. He differs with
Gen. Eisenhower by stating that
a call to the presidency is a call to
public service which no man can
really refuse.
Logic is on the side of Gen.
Macarthur only on that point. Gen.
Eisenhower perceived the dangers
Of introducing into the presi-
dency Q man unacquainted with the
forces of political life. Gen. Mac
Arthur, for instance, has been
out of the United States a sub
stantial part of his adult life. He
does not have the feel of American
economics nor of the pressures for
position which make up the con-
f1icts between groups and which
whether one likes it or not-produce
the chief task of reconciliation and
adjustment for a President Of the
United States and a party leader. !
Gen. Macarthur is accustomed
to giving orders and to writing
directives. AS party leader, he would
find himself the recipient Of orders
from the political groups that in
fluence the day-by-day conduct of
party government. especially in
Congress.
There is something disappointing
In the theory that the American
people will vote for well-adver-
tised name about whose capacity to
perform the duties of the Presi-
dency they know little and will not
vote for less popular figures who
are admittedly trained by expert
ence for the presidency.
Mr.. Dewey as Governor Of New
York two times, Mr.. Stassen as a
former Governor of Minnesota, Mr..
Taft as Senator elected twice from
one Of the most populous States in
the union, Mr.. Vandenberg re-
elected Senator by the State of
Michigan in November 1916 by the
largest majority ever achieved in
that State and after a campaign In
which he took little part due to
absence abroad on public business,
and Earl Warren who was elected
Governor of California after receiv-
ing the nomination of both political
parties-these are the men being
prominently mentioned for the
Republican nomination, and any
one of them would make better
President of the United States than
a retired general.
Once Gen. Macarthur were
nominated, he would be transformed
from the military hero to an
ordinary politician. Leaving
highly critical post in Japan to en-
ter into the rough and tumble of
American politics, he would find
the burden of explaining why he
had done so and what he believes
on public questions almost more
than could be handled in the brief
months of campaigning that pre-
cede a national election.
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