Evening star., 1951-12-13
The Political Mill
Eisenhower Available
For @. 0. P. Nomination
Fully Cognizunt of Moves
To Get Pledged Delegates
By Gould Lincoln


firm belief that Gen. Dwight D. Eisen-
hover will be available" for a presi-
dental nomination and that he will run.
It leads, too. to an even more firm be-
lief that Gen. Eisenhower will be
available only for Republican nomi-
nation.
Further Gen. Eisenhower is not only
fully cognizant of the moves which his
Republican friends are making to
obtain delegates pledged to vote for
him in the Republican National Con-
vention next July, but he has made and
is making no effort whatever to halt the
movement. AS matter of fact, he has
had opportunity after opportunity to
declare himself out of the political
picture. II he had chosen to do so.
In addition, Gen. Eisenhower is re-
ported to have no opposition to the.
entry of his name and delegates pledged
to him in the first presidential prefer
ential primary which takes place in
New Hampshire March IL. In other
words, it is now clear that Eisenhower
delegate candidates will be entered in
that primary. Further, the general is
leaving to his friends in this country
to determine in what other presidential
primaries he is to be entered.
Ready to Run in Any Case.
1t has also become clear that Gen.
Eisenhower will be available to run as
the Republican presidential candidate
against President Truman, If the Presi-
dent finally chooses to run. The gen.
eral continues to regard himself as the
president of Columbia University, tenn
porarily on assignment as NATO SUI
preme commander in Europe. He def
nitely is opposed to much Of the domestic
program of the Truman administration,
although he believes strongly that the
defense against Russian aggression in
Europe must continue to be built strong
ly. Much along that line has already
been accomplished, and Gen. Eisenhow-
er in the White House could contribute
even more to that end than If he re-
manned in Europe. Gen. Eisenhower,
moreover. is ready to criticize the ad-
rninistration's policies in the Far East
before the Korean war.
The basis of a strong Eisenhower
presidential candidacy. however. con-
tinues to be public demand for him.
That demand has still to become mani
fest The development of Eisenhower
for-President organizations throughout
the country, plus victory in the New
Hampshire primary and in other pri-
maries. will tell that tale.
No announcement by Gen. Eisenhower
Is expected until he is ready to step out
of his present position and return to
this country. The timing still remains
with the general, Notwithstanding the
many demands that are being made for
an early pronouncement from Gen. Els
enhower.
Democratic Picture Clouded.
On the Truman side Of the 1852 presi-
dental race the picture is more clouded.
The new Democratic national chairman,
Frank Mckinney, is confident that sit
uation will be clarified by March-per-
haps even earlier At present Demo-
cratic leaders are divided in their opin-
ions over the probability that Mr.. Tru-
man will run Many are now taking
the side that the President will not run;
that he will go along with the spirit Of
the amendment to the Constitution
which limits a President to two terms.
Others continue to insist that the Presi-
dent will run. not only to vindicate
because of the scandals revealed by
congressional committees, but also be-
cause of his desire to see his programs.
both domestic and foreign, carried out.
One point is made in support of the
idea that the President will seek to sue
ceed himself. When he asked Mr.. Nc
Kinney to take the Craftsmanship Of the
Democratic National Committee, Mr..
Mckinney made the stipulation that
he would serve for one year. stipula-
ton that the President accepted. This
means to many that Mr.. Mckinney was
to serve until December, 1852, or until
after the presidential election, and
therefore would be called on to manage
the Democratic national campaign. The
presidential candidate invariably selects
the man to run the campaign. and an
other candidate than the President
might select national chairman other
than Mr.. Mckinney. Whether Mr.. Nc
Kinney considered his agreement to
serve for year commits the President
to run, however, is not known.