Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-11-06
The Political Mill
Eisenhower Available
Until He Refuses to Run
Has Stuck to His Determination
Not to Discuss Politics
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

Until Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower says
he will not accept presidential nominal
ton he must be considered available"
A declaration by him that he would not
accept and would not run would be q
clincher and remove him entirely from
the political picture. The most Signifi-
cant thing he has said during his four
day visit to this country-so far as
politics are concerned-was his refusal
to make such statement.
1t is all the more significant because
he could with entire propriety while in
uniform and on active duty take him.
self out of all discussion of the presi-
dency. 1t may be urged that he should
not say he would not accept something
that has not been offered-a nominal
ton. But that seems rather an idle rea-
son for not making it clear he would not
run to those who are advocating his
nomination.
Gen. Eisenhower came to Washington
on the call Of President Truman and for
the purpose of discussing military mat
tiers and the progress that has been made
with the NATO forces. He said fatty
when he left France to come here he
would not discuss politics. He has stuck
to that determination, so far as the
press and the public are concerned. If
there was no discussion of his own or the
Presidents possible candidates. for the
presidency next year during their long
luncheon conference at the White House
there must have been considerable re-
straint on the part of both men.
Both Keenly Interested.
The President necessarily must have a
keen interest in whether Gen. EiSen-
hover is even thinking about running for
the presidency. First, because the Presi-
dent must desire to know whether or
not he can retain Gen. Eisenhower's
services to head up NATO during the
coming year. Second, because the Presi-
dent is formulating his own plans-to
run or not to run for reelection. Also,
Gen. Eisenhower may be equally inter-
ested in whether Mr.. Truman is to run.
There are those who insist Gen. Eisen-
hover would not run again Mr.. Truman.
and others who are positive that Mr..
Truman would not run if Gen. Eisen-
hover is to be the Republican nominee.
Unless President Truman or Gen.
Eisenhower confides in others-or makes
a public statement-What if any politics
was discussed during their meeting, the
public will continue to remain in
ignorance and the political situation will
remain for the time being much the
same as it has been.
It is entirely possible that the Presi-
dent may have said to Gen. Eisenhower
that he should feel free to run for the
presidency if he desires. The President
is a frank man and does not hesitate to
express himself when he thinks he
should Gen. Eisenhower's reply, under
such circumstances, might easily have
been question as to the Presidents own
intentions. And both men may have laid
all the cards on the table. That remains.
however, matter of conjecture.
Won't Be Pushed.
Following up his determination not to
make any political statement on this
trip, Gen. Eisenhower declined, when
questioned by newspaper reporter, to
say whether he was Republican or
a Democrat. Many of his friends have
emphatically insisted he is Republican.
And sooner or later. if he is to be
candidate, the general will have to
declare himself one thing or the other.
The feeling here is strong. however. that
Gen. Eisenhower is not going to be
pushed into any political statement as
long as he remains supreme commander
of the NATO forces. And the situation
again resolves itself into a determine
ton how soon Gen. Eisenhower will feel
that he has accomplished his task Of
setting the upbuilding of NATO forces
we'll on the way to successful con-
clusion.
The Eisenhower silence, of course, is
welcomed by the supporters of Senator
Taft of Ohio. who up to the present, as
the only announced presidential candi-
date, has been doing all the running.
They are arguing it means that the
general is not available. and will not be
available, for the Republican nomina-
ton. They may be correct, but, again.
until Gen. Eisenhower definitely says he
will not run under any conditions, he
remains possibility and potential
nominee.