Evening star., 1950-01-18
Eisenhower Is Seekinq
To Become America S
Most Useful Citizen
His Frank TuIks on Issues
Violate the Rules of
Presidential Ambition
By David Laawrence

ton. It is an ambition that is
more difficult to achieve perhaps
than to be nominated for the
presidency of the United States. It
is an ambition that seeks the op-
portunity to become Americas
most useful citizen.
To fulfill that role a man must
honestly disregard the rules of
politics and the pressures of those
political folks who would use him
In their party stratageras. He must
be prepared to have his forth
right utterances construed as
bid for political Office, and he must
be prepared likewise to say the
things which can weaken him as
the candidate of either party.
Today Gen. Eisenhower chafes
because what he said on the few
occasions recently that he has
spoken his mind has been dis
cussed in terms of presidential
aspiration. In effect, he feels now
that this treatment tends to de-
prive him of his own right of
free expression.
Importuned Constantly.
Whatever a man can say to
deny that he seeks Office, Gen.
Eisenhower said in 1948 and has
repeated since then. But despite
these efforts to keep out of presi-
dental races, the general finds
himself importuned constantly to
become involved therein, either
through Speechmaking or through
conferences with men who quite
conScientiously are striving to
utilize him in the improvement of
their party's chances in a political
campaign.
Gen. Eisenhower doesn't want to
be President of the United States.
He doesn't think his background
fits him for that high Office. He
has spent his whole life as a SOL
dier. He has not learned the ways
of government on the civilian side.
He points to his own inadequacy as
a student of government and eco
nomics.
But. as this writer mentioned
the other day to Gen. Eisenhower,
no man, strictly speaking, is quail
fed for the American presidency.
The job is too big for any human
being to master in a professional
or career sense. But it does call
for certain qualiflcations-absolute
honesty, courage, a keen percep-
tion of human relations. and an
instructive faculty for co-ordina-
tion that can bring men with spe-
cialized kinds of knowledge to-
gether to find the right solution
for particular problems of gov
ernment. Toward the last years of
his life, as the late President
Roosevelt philosophical to some
members of Congress about the
presidency, he emphasized a col
lateral qualification-good health.
For with good health come the
energy, the poise and even temper
so essential in helping men to
work harmoniously with each
other wherever authority has to be
exercised.
Gen. Eisenhower wants to say
what Is on his mind. He wants
to provoke the thinking of the
people on fundamentals. He has
no feeling of party affliation or
partisanship! In his mail every
day are letters from veterans who
ask his advice on everything. To
them personally he feels sense
Of obligation not unlike that
which he feels toward his country.
For America isn't partisan at
heart. It looks with disdain on
the wiles of party politics and
politicians. It yearns for some
one to supply the leadership so
urgently needed in this postwar
era Of materialism, attended as it
is by Establishments in world
that appears almost as confused
as it was during the war.
Concerned at Passing Scene.
Naturally the general surveys
the passing scene with deep con-
Germ. The international picture is
a sad one. The domestic picture
is one of strife that puts material
gain too high on the list of proper
objectives. He looks askance at
what has happened in Britain and
prays that the extremes of social
upheaval will not reach to our
shores. He sees excessive CEN
tralization in government here as
having been too long ignored. He
fears that "gradualism" has made
too many people Indifferent to the
subtle encroachments that cause
government to become the master
and not the humble servant or
agent of the people.
The general feels deeply that
spiritual values are given too little
weight in present-day affairs and
that the dignity and freedom of
the individual can be strengthened
If, In behalf of the individual,
some earnest words are spoken
and public attention is focused on
the fundamentals that have
brought social upheaval.
II Gen. Eisenhower could be-
come a leader of national thought.
II he inspired a non-partisan and
truly patriotic approach to the
vexing question of the hour, if
he said what he pleased even
though 1t antagonized this or that
political group or faction, if he
helped to mould the opinions of
his countrymen, he would be serv-
ing. as BELTS the president of a
great university, in the role of
Americas most useful citizen.
Where will all this lead? To the
Presidency, perhaps? For isn't
-shis the very essence of the states
manship America Graves today?
The people in due time will give
their answer. This is only 1850.
The very fact that the general
speaks frankly on public issues TO-