Evening star., 1952-01-25
Truman Remains Coy
On Intentions; Denies
He's Tired Of Job
By Joseph A. Fox

By Joseph A. Fox
President Truman Is still CO!
about his political plans-but HI
has squelched the recurrent rumol
that the cares of Office have goi
him down, and that he is looking
for broad Fair Deal shoulders tx
take over the burden.
In a brisk 20-minute news con.
ference exchange late yesterday
the President reacted to reports
that he would like to retire ano
relax by grinning broadly anc
asserting that he isn't tired.
About that story that he woulc
welcome relief from the cares oi
the presidency, Mr.. Truman saic
simply that any one sitting back
in that Office of his, with all its
responsibility, at times thinks he
would like to leave. It is, the
most strenuous job in the world
he added, and difficult to do cred
itably.
But he likes politics-has fol
nearly 30 years-and has never
told any one either that he. ex-
pected to quit or expected to stick
around.
Under pressure, Mr.. Truman
finally conceded that he might
announce his plans before April
20. the last day for filing in the
Missouri primary. when a re-
porter asked him about that
possibility.
That date has no particular
significance, so far as Mr.. Tru-
man is concerned, unless he should
decide to campaign for his old
Senate seat. But when that
particular angle came up in the
conference, the President displayed
no more noticeable enthusiasm
than he had earlier when dis
cuSsing couple of other Demo-
cratic presidential possibilities.
Some congressional sources
thought that Mr.. Truman only
used the April date in a further
effort to confuse the guessers.
However, according to the Asso-
ciated Press, one view was that
the Senate idea couldn't be
brushed aside.
When the President was asked
for an opinion of Senator Ke-
fauver of Tennessee, who has gone
into the Illinois primary with the
announcement that he will seek
the Democratic presidential nomi-
nation regardless of what Mr..
Truman might do, the Chief
Executive said the "crime buster"
is a nice fellow and a good Sena-
tor.
The President also disclaimed
any responsibility for the trial
balloons" that have been sent up
recently in behalf of Gov. Adlai
Stevenson Of Illinois, who has
been reported to be looked on
favorably by the White House.
Under questioning the President
said Gov. Stevenson would be a
good candidate just as would any
other Democrat, because it runs
in the blood.
Asked If he had invited Cow
Stevenson to the Blair House
Tuesday night for the brief con-
ference they held, President Tru-
man said the Governor came to
Washington on behalf Of mine
safety legislation and was invited
to call, as is customary.
Asked about reports that he
might seek to return to the Senate,
the President said he had q lot Of
time to make up his mind, If he
decided to contest feN the seat Of
Senator KEN, Republican.
He declined to say If he would
run for the Senate if he quit the
presidency.
A reporter commented that he
was leaving the door open on that
one, and the President responded
easily that in politics, the door is
always open.
Politics is the great American
sport. the President Soliloquized,
better than baseball, football or
basketball. Recalling his years on
the ballot battle-ground, Mr.. Tru-
man said, he had never been
elected to any Office he wanted,
except in 1948. That was the year
of his upset victory in the presi-
Dental race.
After President Truman dis
closed he probably would bare his
plans by late April, a reporter said
that Democratic leaders leaving
the White House all were saying
they looked on the President as
the strongest possible candidate,
and asked Mr.. Truman if he did
not think that the strongest can
didate should make the race.
Mr.. Truman said he wants the
Democrats to have candidate
who will win, adding that it would
be terrible If a Republican were to
be elected.
RnCT