Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-02-13
The Political Min
Fortnight Statement
By Eisenhower Is Urged
General, Still Not Candidate,
Should Choose Party Now
The Political Min
By Gould Lincoln

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower might
have had either Republican or a Demo-
cratic nomination for President in 1913.
He said at the time, and at various
times. he was not candidate. But he
never said whether he was Republican
or Democrat-and he has not yet an
nounced any party affiliation or prefer
ence. Both Republicans and Democrats
continue to speak Of him as a likely
presidential nominee in 1852.
On a new military assignment, SUI
preme commander of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization forces, Gen. Eiseli-
hover is still mot a candidate" 1t
seems unreasonable of him, however, not
to say whether he is Democrat or a
Republican, at least at heart. He took
over the presidency of Columbia Uni
versity on June Z. 1948, and he had vir-
tually two and half years of civilian
life, and he made number of speeches
in which he was critical-or so 1t
sounded-of the Fair Deal program.
Gov.Dewey of New York. the COP
presidential nominee in 1914 and 1913.
last fall declared Gen. Eisenhower was
his candidate for the nomination in 1852.
He has just reiterated his hope that the
dls
Graceful Exit for Truman.
On the other hand, gossip has it that
President Truman has considered the
ACCESSIBILITY of stepping aside next year
and has in mind Gen. Eisenhower as q
Democratic nominee for President. II
this is fact. it is still without cor
roboration by Mr.. Truman. Those who
profess to believe it say that it would
give Mr.. Truman a graceful exit from q
hot spot.
To make the situation even more
ridiculous. in some quarters it has beer
suggested that Gen. Eisenhower should
be the nominee Of both the Republican
and Democratic Parties-a kind of
coalition government centered in one
man, who presumably would have a BIZ
partisan cabinet. Just another way of
saying farewell to the two-party political
system in this country, which 10 years
OF Roosevelt Truman rule has nearly
brought to an end, anyway.
The demand for Eisenhower for Presi-
dent Is likely to grow among the Repub-
licanS during the rest of this year. Next
year he may have to say yes or no
unless he is conducting military opera
OAoA1o o14Od0 DCNduOC VI 1e4SS1du dSS1 CD
sion. 1t is an extraordinary situation.
Democrats do not believe that they
could win a presidential campaign
against Republican Eisenhower, and
Republicans would have little hope of
defeating a Democratic Eisenhower
What. then, is to prevent the nominal
ton and election of Dwight D. Eisen-
hover? Nothing, apparently, except q
firm declination on his part to run for
the presidential Office.
Could Add to Stature.
What Gen. Eisenhower does as supreme
commander in Europe, and how success
full he is in the huge task of building up
forces which have real chance to chal-
lenge and turn back Russian attack,
undoubtedly may have bearing on his
future desirability as a presidential can
didate. 1t is entirely possible he will add
greatly to his Stature-and If he does, the
demand for him to head the executive
branch of the United States Government
will be all the more insistent.
Undoubtedly Gen. Eisenhower doesn't
wish to hoodwink the politicians and the
people (who after all have an interest in
the matter. He should make a forth
right statement. saying whether he holds
with the Republicans or the Democrats.
It's true that his present military assign
ment may be construed to give him an
out. 1t may look, however. more like a
screen-if he persists In silence-allow-
ing him to jump one way or another
when the time comes. That is not fair
to Gen. Eisenhower, man of great abili-
ties and character.
The fact that Gen. Eisenhower has so
far gone along with the Truman admin
istration in its plans for sending more
American troops to Western Europe has
seemed to place him in direct opposition
to Senators Taft of Ohio and Wherry OF
Nebraska Republican leaders, and former
President Hoover. On the other hand
Gov. Dewey's enthusiastic support OF
plans for building up allied strength
and he has with him in this number of
Republican Senators-gives an entirely
different slant to the situation and makes
Eisenhower still fairhaired boy among
many Republicans.