Evening star., 1951-11-11
Taft Friend Reports
Eisenhower Denial
OF Offer by Truman
BY the Associntad Pras,

BY the Associated Pres.
PARIS, Nov. 10.-A friend OF
Senator Taft quoted Gen. Eisen-
hover today as saying there is
absolutely no truth" to the story
that President Truman had Of
fered to support the general for
the Democratic nomination for
President in 1852.
Representative Bender of Cleve-
land. a congressman at large from
Ohio, met with Gen. Eisenhower
Today In company with three other
representatives. two Democrats
and a Republican.
Mr.. Bender was asked by the
Associated Press If he had OBJ
tanned any definite information
from Gen. Eisenhower whether he
was planning to run for the
Presidency.
Other Querie Evaded.
The Representative replied that
he asked Gen. Eisenhower directly
whether there was any truth in
the story published Thursday by
the New York Times that the
President had offered to stand
aside for the general and support
him for the Democratic nomina-
ton.
There is absolutely no truth
jim the story" Mr.. Bender quoted
Gen. Eisenhower.
But Mr.. Bender said he got no
direct answer when he asked Gen.
Eisenhower: us you is or is you
amt candidate for the presiden-
cy and is you is or is you amt a
Republican,"
The Atlantic pact commander
deity went on talking about other
things and gave the impression,
Mr.. Bender said, that "he is intent
on doing job"
MY personal impression is that
he is not going to be drawn into
the political fight in the United
States" Mr.. Bender added.
Meeting at Home Near Paris.
The other three Representatives
present were Boiling. Democrat
of Missouri: Greene, Democrat, of
Pennsylvania, and Gavin, Repub-
lican. of Pennsylvania. They are
on an inspection tour of United
States Army installations in Eu-
rope.
Arthur Krock, Washington cor
respondent, who wrote the Times
story. said Gen. Eisenhower had
implied rejection of the President S
offer, citing opposition to some of
the Administrators domestic pol
icies. He said the source of his
story was such that it merited pub
llication even though it might be
denied.
1t was President Truman that
declared there's not a word of
truth" in it. Aides at Gen. Eisen-
hower's headquarters here called
it purely f1ctional."
Krock Has No Comment.
Mr.. Krock stood on the story.
He wrote that he had rechecked
with his source, whom he identi-
fed as an eminent Northern
| Democrat. He said further that
there had been an active and
organized campaign to get Gen.
Eisenhower to become the Demo-
cratic nominee. He said this in
formation came from a Republi-
can whose accessibility to the
evidence "is complete" but who
had a natural interest in dis
pelling an impression that Gen.
Eisenhower would consider a
Democratic nomination.
In New York, the Times said
Mr.. Krock had no comment on
the Paris interviewD
In the United States, a number
Of Republican leaders are actively
working for Gen. Eisenhower to
become the nominee of their own
party.
/ Mr.. Bender said he was O
strong supporter of Senator Taft
for the nomination. and told
Gen. Eisenhower so. The Ohioan
Launched a Taft for president
movement last February.
| He said the general commended
Senator Taft for a statement he
made recently supporting the
program over here.
He quoted Gen. Eisenhower as
saying he had a difficult three
days in the United States during
| his recent visit there because
everyone pressed him for a word
on his political position.