Evening star., 1951-11-13
Eisenhower Drive Seen
Clarified in Many Ways
Process Believed Due PortIy
To Generals Own Statements
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln


To Generals Own Statements
By Gould Lincoln
The Eisenhower-for President drive
has been clarified in some important
respects during the last two weeks. The
process is due in part to Gen. Eisen-
hoWer's own statements while recently
in Washington, to published reports Of
his conference with President Truman.
and to increased activity on the part Of
his supporters
1. Gen. Eisenhower said that if the
time ever came when he believed it his
duty to speak out, he would do so imme-
diatefy. This was in reference to politics.
This has been Interpreted as meaning
he would give ample notice.
2. The general seemingly invited his
friends to take gamble-that he would
accept nomination-when he said they
knew, or believed they knew, how he
would react, and he would not under
take to interfere in their business.
Always Republican.
8. The evidence has piled up that
Gen. Eisenhower would not accept a
Democratic nomination-and that he is
and always has been Republican.
4. That he does not regard himself as
the indispensable man in his present
job as NATO commander in Europe. This
idea was further bolstered by the report
that President Truman had offered to
back him for the Democratic presiden-
tial nomination.
5. The understanding that Gen. Eisen-
hover accepted his present assignment
for one yar-which meant his leave of
absence from the presidency of Colum-
bia University-seems to be more clearly
defined. He said himself, while here,
that he had told President Truman he
hoped it would not take too long
although he also said he had no idea
how soon he would be through with it.
IF he Is to remain on the job for year,
mis- time will be up In February.
The Eisenhower Republicans are pro-
ceeding with their campaign to boost
the general for the presidential nomi-
nation-and there is evidence that the
tempo Of their drive win soon greatly
increase. Most of them understand
that the general will not make any
statement regarding his possible candi-
dacy while he remains in Europe, doing
a non-partisan job for the American
people. It leaves them in an embarrass-
ing position-since they cannot parade
their man as an avowed or even recep-
tive candidate, from statements Of his
own. The Eisenhower Republicans, how
ever, have managed to go ahead with
their campaign for a long time under
these conditions-and they hope to con-
tinue to do so, at least until February or
March, when the first presidential pref
erential primary is held in New Hamp-
shire.
Results of Recent Poll.
They have been acting under the
assumption that neither Senator Taft
Of Ohio nor any other candidate for
the G. O. p. nomination would be able
to "sew it up" before early spring. The
results of a recent Associated Press poll
of Republican Governors, Republican
State chairnen, and members Of the
Republican National Committee bear
out the correctness of this assumption.
OF lat persons in these combined groups,
80 said they had not made up their
minds whom they would support for the
presidential nomination or said they
time. Senator Taft was the choice Of a.,
and Gen. Eisenhower Of 25. Since Mr..
Taft is an avowed candidate for the
nomination, there would seem little
reason why any one Of these party lead
ers should not plunk for Taft-if he or
she wanted to see the Ohio Senator
nominated.
It is entirely natural that some of Gen.
Eisenhower's supporters should declare,
as did Senator Bridges Of New Hamp-
shire recently. that they must have some
statement from the general by the first
Of the year. They understand very well
that the Taft campaigners are making
the best possible use of Gen. Eisenhower's
silence-suggesting the general would
not accept nomination and could not
be counted upon as q candidate. These
supporters Of Gen. Eisenhower want to
end this kind of argument once for all.
Many of Gen. Eisenhowers close
friends have said they did not believe the
general would actively campaign for a
presidential nomination-but that he
would accept one. That is entirely cor
rect as long as he Is on active service in
Europe. II and when he. returns to q
civilian status, however, Gen. Eisen-
hower's activities could easily embrace
public statements on all the issues Of
the day-so that the people would have
q clear picture and decide whether they
wanted to draft" him.
It might be mentioned that it took the
late Wendell L. Willkie-a virtual un-
known as . presidential candidate in
1939-only about three months to put
across his views on public issues in the