Evening star., 1952-12-12
How Not to Be President

Mr.. Truman was at his worst, as President
of the United States, in yesterdays White House
press conference.
His announcement of General EiSenhower's
campaign statement of his intention to 60 to
Korea as piece of demagoguery was exceed
ingly graceless. Nor was the situation helped
by Mr. Trumans ond-thought amendment to
the effect that he hoped some good might come
out of the trip-an amendment that was
prompted by an aides suggestion that this might
prove to be the case.
1t is possible, of course, that nothing will
come of the Eisenhower trip. 1t may not save
life or shorten the war by day. The fact
remains, however, that the Presdent-elect is
making the effort, and there also remains the
possibility that some constructive results may
flow from it. It hardly becomes Mr.. Truman,
who has had nothing to offer in the way of new
idea or new approach, to be pinning the
demagogic label on his successors attempt to
find some solution to deadlock which certainly
cannot be permitted to drag on indefinitely.
The Presidents most un-Presidentlike COM
ments were reserved, however, for General Mac
Arthur's recent intimation that he has some new
plan for bringing the war to an acceptable con-
clusion. Here, again. the element of doubt is
large one. 1t is difficult to believe that General
Macarthur has hit upon "clear and definite"
solution-a solution which presumably has es-
capped the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the COM
manderS in the field.
But General Macarthur is not some Johnny
come-lately strategst of the armchair variety
He has demonstrated military competence. If
there is even a possibility that he has a new
idea-in this age of dearth of new ideas-that
possibility ought to be explored. General Eisen-
hover has stated his willingness to consult with
General Macarthur. But not President Truman.
He prefers to insult the man who, with all of his
eccentrciteS is one of our great military leaders.
1t is true, no doubt, that General Macarthur,
if he has real plan, ought to come forward with
it, But Mr.. Truman to say the least, has made it
exceedingly difficult for him to do so. He said
in his press conference that he does not intend to
invite General Macarthur to Washington. He
said he thought the Joint Chiefs knew all about
what is in General MacArthurs mind, without
himself knowing. He implied that the general is
not decent man. He said he didn't think the
general had anything to offer. And he capped all
of this by saying that General Macarthur after
he had been fired, by Mr.. Truman, missed an
awfully good chance for headline by not coming
in to see him.
In the face of this kind of statement from
the President of the United States-a statement
more appropriate to an alley brawl than the
Arthur to come forward with his new plan, if
he has plan that is really new? What con-
sideration would it receive if he to submit it
to Mr: Truman, who has condemned it without
taking the trouble to find out what it might
propose?
OF course, General Macarthur, on the basis
of this Invitation" is not going to submit any
thing to Mr. Truman. But meanwhile the Korean
war goes on, and the toll of the dead and the
wounded steadily mounts. Perhaps General
Macarthur has no solution. 1t may be, even that
there is no solution. BUT the press conference
of Thursday, December II, testifies to the need
for change-for a change to man in the
White House who may be capable of a new
approach, and who will not permit prejudice or
bitterness to stand in the way of exploring any
avenue which might lead to something better
than the somber outlook which confronts us
tOdaV