Evening star., 1949-12-24
The Political Mill
Presidential Office Seen
Seeking the Man in so
Truman Silent on Own Plans While
Telling of Gen. Eisenhower
By Gould Lincoln


By Gould Lincoln
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower has said he is
not seeking the presidency-and President
Truman says he believes him. That seems,
on the surface, to be the sum total Of
widely publicized interviews by both men.
It's 4 wise man, however. who can predict
what he will be doing three years in the
future. And Of course, It's entirely possible
The attitude Of the practical politician to
the Eisenhower and Truman interviews II
that mo man is 4 candidate (for . presi-
Dental nomination. today" Not even Mr..
Truman has said whether he Is or will b
4 candidate to succeed himself. Probably
he doesn't know-any more than Gen. Eisen-
hover, whether he will be q candidate-or
whether he would accept . nomination.
In 1852.
Neither Gen. Eisenhower nor PRESIDENT
Truman has changed the minds OF many
Republicans and Democrats that Eisenhower
is = likely selection Of the Republican party
for 4 presidential nomination in June, 1852.
The Democrats have heard and read the
generals speeches and are convinced he IL
attacking the Truman Fair Dea" program
AS he Is.
Seen Likely to Win.
The Republicans regard the general 40
the man most likely to win in race against
President Truman or any other "fair dealer"
the Democrats may name. There are re.
ports from all over the country Of Repub-
licans prepared to 60 to town for an Eisen.
hover nomination. A belief is growing that
many of the supporters Of Governor Dewey
of New York (men and women who fought
for q Dewey nomination IN 1914 and 1e4S)
are prepared to 60 strongly for Eisenhower.
Gen. Eisenhower said he did not intend
to let anyone talk him into being q presi-
Dental candidate. Democrats and labor
leaders, resenting EiSenhower's criticisms
Of their cradle -the-grave paternalistic
program, by their very attacks are forcing
him into a position where Republican, ap-
peals may become more attractive.
II, however, Gen. Eisenhower Is to be con-
sidered definitely out Of the 1852 presidential
picture, what's the picture for the Repub-
licans? Gov. Dewey has said his decision
not to be candidate for q presidential
nomination at that time is as certain as
death and taxes. Left In the field OF active
candidates in 1948 are Senator Taft Of Ohio
and Harold E. Stassen, president Of the
University Of Pennsylvania. Mr.. Taft, how
ever, has to win reelection to the Senate
next year. Should he fail, the probabilities
are he would have no chance whatever for
q presidential nomination. That would leave
Mr.. Stassen to face other potential candi-
dates for the nomination, perhaps Senators
Lodge Of Massachusetts and Ives of New
York, Gov. Driscoll Of New Jersey or . new
Wendell Willkie politically unknown today.
II MI. Taft wins reelection by . fair
margin-or wins ct all-and the Repub.
ncans gain . bit in the congressional elec-
tions generally next year, there will be .
great drive by many Republicans who ad-
mire the Ohio Senator's courage and ability
to name him the party's standard bearer
are out Of the way therefore. speculation
guessing game at best. For If the Republicans
gressional victories they will be encouraged
like Messrs. Taft, Driscoll, etc. On the other
elections they will turn to the man whom
probably Gen. Eisenhower.
Mr.. Truman has said nothing about his
own political plans for 1852. Republicans
are taking it almost for granted that he
will be . candidate to succeed himself. and
many Democrats are coming round to that
conclusion. Mr.. Truman will have had al-
most eight years In the White House when
his present term expires. Calvin Coolidge.
In . position almost identical, announced
he did not choose" to run. Since Coolidge's
day, however, the third term tradition went
by the board-Franklin Delano Roosevelt
was elected President four times.
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