Evening star., 1952-02-07
The Political Min
Trumun Sure to Face
Issue of Third Term
Cry Is Certain to Be Roised
II President Decides to Run
By GouId Lincoln

The candidacy Of President Truman, Il
he runs to succeed himself, win raise
one issue which would face no other
Democratic nominee for the presidency
the third-term issue. Mr.. Truman
has pointed out correctly that the anti.
third term amendment TO the Constt-
tuticn specifically exempts him from
its prohibition. But that does not nulafy
the fact he win be running for . third
term In the White House, even II he Ii
permitted to do 80.
How potent the third-term issue would
be Is anybody's guess. It would, how
ever, influence some Of the voters. When
the late President Franklin D. Roose-
welt ran for O third term In 1910 and
was elected, he merely ran counter to
q tradition which limited Q President
to two terms. Today, the situation is
different. The anti-third term amend
ment to the Constitution is part Of the
fundamental law Of the land. ratified
by an overwhelming number Of the
States many Of them controlled by the
Democrats. The determination Of the
people. through their State legislatures.
was to put an end to unlimited White
MOUSE tenure OF O1lGe.
Does Not Apply Now.
The amendment was SO written as not
to apply to the White House incumbent
at the time Of its ratification It
was so written for the purpose Of easing
its path In Congress, which submitted
the amendment to the States for ratifl-
cation. It was through no desire to
retain Mr.. Truman. or any other Presi-
dent who might occupy the Executive
Mansion, for more than two terms. The
language OF the amendment is entirely
clear. It says that no President shall
serve more than ten years-i.e. that any
time in the White House over and be-
yond two years shall be considered
term"
Mr.. Truman took over the White
House as President April Il. l945-al-
though he did not move in Immediately.
So he served all Of the four-year term
for which President Roosevelt had been
elected except two months and twenty
two days. In fact. and In the meaning
Of the Constitution, this constituted
first term for Mr.. Truman. He was
elected In 1948 for o second term. And
If he runs again, he will be third-term
candidate. although the Constitution
permits Mr.. Truman, and Mr.. Truman
alone Of the millions Of Americans, to
make such q race.
Decision Up to President.
It's up to President Truman himself
whether he will live up to the spirit Of
take advantage Of hhe loophole which Is
I'D 10 a11M'
Even If he decides to take this advan.
tage, the people will still have the op.
portunity to deny him q third term.
Many persons. including the writer. have
believed that the President would, in
making his decision, pay regard to the
spirit Of the Constitution. Admittedly.
however, the President may feel that
issues Of great Importance facing the
country make 1t necessary for him to
seek another term. II he does, however.
he must be prepared to meet this issue.
Whether Senator Kefauver Of Ten.
neSsee, who now is slated to meet Mr..
Truman in the New Hampshire presi.
Dental preference primary, and probably
in other States, raises such an issue
or not, Mr.. Truman will, If he is renom-
mated, fnd Republican opponent
making as much as he can Of the anti
third term idea The late Franklin D.
Roosevelt, before the adoption Of the
anti-third term amendment, had no
trouble winning third term. But even
50, some Of his former followers de-
serted him in that election, because OF
the tradition which came down from the
days Of Washington and Jefferson. Die
A~4 ~
tenure Of Office is not popular In this
country, In these days when dictatorS
and dictatorial governments are ruling
in many nations. Mr.. Truman himself
sounded bit dictatorial when he said
recently he considered State presidential
preferential primaries "eyewash" and in
sisted he could have another nomination
II he wanted one. His predecessor, who
presumably was as politically powerful.
never made such statement.