Evening star., 1952-11-22
Thrilled Over Choice,
Stassen Will Aim at
Peace With Prosperity
BY the Assoeioted Press

Harold f. Stassen, who will
direct operations of the Mutual
Security Agency in the new Re-
publican administration. said yes
terday he was thrilled to assist
President elect Eisenhower in]
achieving "his top objective of
peace with prosperity"
Mr.. Stassen. As, three times
G. o. P. Governor of Minnesota,
twice an unsuccessful candidate
for the Republican presidential
nomination and now president Of
the University of Pennsylvania.
was one of Gen. Eisenhower's
earliest supporters, until he de-
cided to seek the White House job
himself. He entered the race be.
fore the general announced he
would accept the nomination.
1t was Mr.. Stassen, too, who
made Gen. Eisenhower's nominal
ton on the first ballot possible
at the G. o. P. National Conven-
ton last July. He released enough
Minnesota delegates to give the
general victory in the fight with
Senator Taft.
Asked to. Do Job.
Mr.. Stassen, during the cam
paign and since the election, has
been mentioned frequently for
the post of Secretary of Labor.
He is credited with authorship
of every important labor address
made by the general during the
campaign.
Asked whether he was disap-
pointed in not making the cabinet,
Mr.. Stassen replied
This is job that needed to be
done. The general asked me to
do the job, and I accepted"
Although not a cabinet post
proper. the job of director of the
multi-billion dollar Mutual Sc
curity Agency-now held by
Averell Harriman-is considered
one of the most important in the
Federal Government. It is re-
sponsible for administering the
Marshall Plan. the point-four
program and other foreign aid
projects.
May Go to Korea.
1t was considered likely that Mr..
Stassen would accompany Gen.
Eisenhower on the President
elects contemplated trip to Korea.
About this, the ex-MinneSota Gov
ernor and lawyer would only say:
Il couldn't answer that, even i'll
I knew. That trip is secret. Only
the general can say who will 60
and why"
Intimates here, however, limited
that Mr.. Stassen might go with
Gen. Eisenhower to Korea. to-
gether with Charles E. Wilson,
newly designated Secretary of De-
fense.
AS Mutual Security Director.
Mr.. Stassen will be a member of
the National Security Council,
composed Of the President. Vice
President, the Secretaries of State
and Defense and the chairman of
the National Resources Board.
Affection for University.
In a statement, Mr.. Stassen said,
My only regret" is that the new
post will mean ending my work
at the University Of Pennsylvania"
where he has served as president
for four years. He said further:
Il am thrilled that the task he
(Gen. Eisenhower has asked me
to undertake is one so vitality re-
lated to his top objective of peace
with prosperity and involves the
program for mutual security, in
which I have always believed so
Ucepiy.
MY affection for the university
will continue throughout my life,
and I will maintain an active in
terest in the university's future,
service and success"
Mr.. Stassen said he would re-
sign from his university post, ef-
fective January 20.
Robert T. McCracken, chairman
of Penn's board of trustees, said
the university is deeply distressed
at losing" its president. but het
added, in a statement:
However, neither this nor any
other group of men should at
tempt to stand in the way when a
distinguished American is called
to such service to his country as
this appointment presages."
Governor at 81.
One of five children whose
farm parents were of German,
Swedish and Czech ancestry. Mr.
Stassen has spent half his years
in public life. He was one of the
youngest Governors ever to serve
Minnesota-being but 81 when
elected to his first term.
He was a Navy officer from
1943-46, entering the service as a
lieutenant commander and retir-
ing as a captain. He served. un-
der appointment of the late
President Roosevelt, as a dele
gate to the San Francisco con-
ference that wrote the United
Nations Charter in 1945.
In his unsuccessful quest for
the 1948 presidential nomination,
won by Gov. Dewey of New York.
Mr.. Stassen not only toured the
TTv1j%nI CtofAc IN On =