Evening star., 1951-10-03
The Eisenhower Bockers

If the prevailing political situation is not
unprecedented, there has at least been nothing
comparable to it in many long year.
There are thousands, and perhaps millions,
of voters who look without the slightest en-
thusiasm upon the prospect of having to make
a choice next November between President Tru-
man and Senator Taft. These people may be
placed, generally in a kind of center group.
They are the ones whose hostility toward the
Fair Deal domestic program, coupled with their
distaste for the low moral climate in the present
administration, incline them toward the Ohio
Senator. They think he is man of integrity,
they indorSe his stand on domestic issues, and
they would like to vote for him. But they look
with n1isgving on some of the Senator's foreign
policy statements They feel that they do not
know where he stands on such vital issues as
the North Atlantic project, or where he would
stand II elected to the presidency.
On the other hand there is no uncertainty.
no room for doubt, as to the Presidents stand
on foreign policy. The cornerstone of his policy
was laid back in 1947 when the decision to sup
port Greece and Turkey was taken Since then
the policy, on the whole, has been built up with
logic and firmness. The Marshall Plan the At
lanuc Alliance, NATO-all of these have been
logical and courageous seques to the Greco
Turkish stand. And in the sense at least, that
there has been no war in Europe and no Com
muniSt advance into the industrial West, it is
policy that, to this time has paid off, In Asia,
to the beginning of the Korean war; our policy
was one Of wavering and uncertainty But when
the attack came Mr.. Truman made the mo-
mentouS decision to fight, and despite all of the
criticism that may be leveled at that decision
and the manner in which it was made, it stands
as clear evidence of American determination to
foHo fho lnoI in eki,o
Importance of the impact which that has had
on the rest of the world should never be under
estimated.
Still, many of those who support the Presi-
dents foreign policy who are convinced it is
the right policy, and who believe that its
success is vital to our own security, are dismayed
by such things as the administrations fragrant
catering to pressure groups and the tolerance
of the boodlers who have moved into Washing
ton. These voters feel that vote for Truman
would be vote for four more years of the
same. and the prospect gags them.
In this dilemma they look hopefully in Gen.
eral Eisenhower's direction. They see in him a
known, ardent and effective supporter of the
foreign policies in which they believe. And
although the general has had little to say on
domestic issues, they see, or think they see, in
him a man who as President would steer
course somewhat to the right of the Truman
administration.
In short, General Eisenhower Is the answer
to the political prayers of those who do not
want either President Truman or Senator Taft
The difficulty from their point of view is in
getting the general into the race. Presidential
nominations do not come to those who merely
sit and wait, and Senator Taft is forging ahead
as the Republican choice As Governor Peterson
of Nebraska has said, General Eisenhower will
have to declare himself, probably by January
at the latest. The trouble is that the general
although he undoubtedly would accept the
nomination. may conclude that an open bid for
it would jeopardize his present mission. And if
that should be his decision the Eisenhower
backers whether they like it or not, will have
to vote for some one else or stay home on election
day.