Evening star., 1950-10-17
Eisenhower Viewed
AS 1852 Possibility
Despite Statement

Gen. Eisenhower today was re-
garded again as a presidential pos
sibility for 1852 despite new
statement that he has not changed
his mind about staying out of
politics.
The man who led the Allied
armies to victory over Nazi Ger
many in World War II said yes
terday that his position as presi-
dent of Columbia University offers
him "rich opportunities for serv-
ing'' and his convictions about
how he can best serve "the cause
of freedom" have not been
changed.
His statement was issued after
Gov. Dewey of New York, titular
head of the Republican Party,
came out Sunday with a boost for
Gen. Eisenhower as the Republi-
can presidential candidate two
years hence.
Regarded as Threat in Race.
Despite the statement, sources
close to Gen. Eisenhower reported
that he would submit to a draft
as the Republican presidential
candidate although he would not
actively seek the nomination. The
view was that Gen. Eisenhower
would continue to be a big threat
to all would-be candidates, Demo-
Gratis and Republicans alike, un-
less he takes himself out of the
running with a statement far more
emphatic than the latest one he
has issued.
In his statement following the
Dewey Endorsement. Gen. Eisen-
hover said:
ANY American would be COM
plimented by the knowledge that
any other American considered
him qualified to fill the most i'm
portant post in our country. In
this case, the compliment comes
from man who is Governor of a
great State and who has devoted
many years of his life to public
service. So. of course, am CRATE
full for Gov. DeWey's good opinion
of me.
Cites Columbia Opportunities.
"As for myself, my convictions
as to the place and methods
through which I can best con-
tribute something to the cause
of freedom have been often ex-
pressed. They have not changed.
Here at Columbia University l
have a task that would excite the
pride and challenge the qualifica-
tions and strength of any man.
1 still believe that it offers to such
an individual as myself rich op-
portunities for serving"
Gen. Eisenhower has said over
and over for more than two years
that he is not a candidate for
public Office. that he is a man
without political connections or
ambitions, and that he has a job
to do at Columbia University.
But his latest statement was not
as strong as the one he issued in
1948 when Democrats and Repub-
licans alike were boosting him for
the presidential nomination. Att
that time, he refused to let either
party draft him and said he could
not be candidate for any public
Office.
Stronger Than Press Interview.
Nor was it as strong as he put it
IN an interview published yeSter-
day by the university newspaper,
the Columbia Daily Spectator. In
that interview, he said:
II don't know of any one in
modern times who has made him
self clearer on the subject. So far
as am concerned. I put my hand
to job and am doing my best. II
don't know why people are always
nagging me to run for President.
I think I've gotten too old. I have
no desire to go anywhere else if I
can help do what want here at
Columbia. This is the place for
me-"
However, that interview had
been given a full week before Gov.
DeWey's Endorsement"
After his statement yesterday,
the New York Journal-American
and the New York World -Tele-
gram and Sun quoted sources
close to Gen. Eisenhower as say
ing he would submit to a Repub-
lican draft. but would not say so
for sometime.
Recent Comment Cited.
This was the opinion of some
Republican leaders and some
Democrats. too. Some of the Dem
ocrats privately expressed the
opinion that Gen. Eisenhower
has sounded like a Republican
presidential candidate in recent
months with speeches hitting at
high taxes, Government subsidies
and unbalanced budgets and de-
that the country be pro-
tected against insidious and even
traitorous corruption in RESPONSE
BILE places"
Gen. Eisenhower has insisted he
has right to discuss public ques-
tions and issues without being
called a political candidate for
doing so.
In the light of Gov. Dewey's
however, it will take a
much stronger statement to re-
move his name from the list of
potential presidential candidates
in 1852. At the moment, no one
else of prominence in the party is
actively seeking the nomination,
although there is plenty of time
for that.