Evening star., 1952-11-02
Eisenhower Reveals
He Tried 10 GET Out Of
Being Chief Of Staff
Stor Staff Correspondent

Eisenhower revealed tonight that
he tried to get out of being chief
of staff after World War II be-
cause he wanted to get into civilian
life and work for peace.
He made the statement on a
half-hour television program in
which group of his supporters,
including four Democrats, ques-
toned him about the issues of the
campaign.
Earlier in the day the Republi-
can nominee gave the American
people 10 pledges that he said
will guide him in The White House
if he is elected Tuesday.
The four participants in the
television program whom the
moderator, Conrad NageL de-
scribed as Democrats were: Lewis
w. Douglas, former budget direc-
tor and ambassador to Great
Britain; Sarah Delano Roosevelt,
granddaughter of Franklin D..
Roosevelt: Kenneth C. Royal of
North Carolina, former secretary
of the army under President Tru-
man, and Mrs. Oveta Culp Hobby
of Houston, former head of the
Woman's Army Corps. One Re-
publican. Harold E. Stassen, form
er governor of Minnesota, also
took part.
Replies to Royal.
Gen. Eisenhower's statement
that he wanted to get into civilian
life to work for peace came when
MI. Royal asked him to comment
on the argument over whether a
military man should be made
president.
Il can't imagine anyone hating
war any more than commander
who has had the responsibility of
ordering his fellow Americans into
battle" the general replied.
He said he does not believe there
IS any group more anxious to pre-
serve peace than men who have
fought in any branch of the serv-
ice. The general said he would
not contend that a military man
would make a better executive
than a lawyer, except that he
would know where waste and
duplication occurs in the cost of
preparedness.
When you came out of the
war you had no determination
greater than to prevent another
warts that correct?" Mr.. Royal
asked. 4
Wanted Civilian Role.
THAT is right" the general said.
"As matter of fact, you will re-
call, Kenneth, that I tried to get
out of being the chief of staff. I
wanted to go directly to civilian
life because I wanted to fight for
what I thought were good pro-
grams of peace. Actually, I joined
an institution that was devoted to
the cause of peace just to see if
there was anything that private
industry and private foundations
and all the rest of them could do
to promote peace"
Gen Eisenhower was believed to
be alluding to the Carnegie Peace
Foundation. His opponents have !
cited his joining the foundation as
a director while Alger Hiss was
president as an answer to the :
charge that his opponent, Gov.
Stevenson. had testified in a depo- ,
sition to Hiss reputation for 10y
atty.
Gen. Eisenhower said the only
way to win World War III would
be to prevent it.
The Republican nominee an
swered other questions which en-
abled him to restate his position
on a wide range of domestic is (
sues
The General, who has made a
strong bid to crack the Solid {
South, said at one pooint that he {
is not engaged in battle against
the Democratic population of the
country, but only against the ad- {
ministration and what he regards
as its mistakes.
Interest In Western Europe
Gen. Eisenhower also gave as )
surance that his interest in set
ting the Korean war has not OBJ :
scured or reduced his interest in .
Western Europe.
Il am one of those who is alb
solutely certain" he said, that 4,
without a sound, solid Western
Europe, our Nation in the long
run is going to face a problem
that will be 10 times as difficult Ii
in this matter of collective Sc h
curity, and national security II
against this menace in Moscow, +
as it is if we can keep those gov Ii
ernments sound"
so, we must never forget to !
look at this problem on a global +
scale .. we are trying to arm {
them (the people of Western Eu- /
rope) so they can defend them
selves until at least we can get {
there with our reserves. We ought ,
to do that everywhere, including
Korea. But Korea is important be- I
cause it is now a symptom, like a :
broken arm in an accident. You
have got to go and fix it up. But :
you are right in your question,
which is that this is a global =
problem"
Discusses Corruption. +
Mrs. Hobby questioned Gen. i
Eisenhower regarding the corrup-
tion-in- Government issue. Ie
Mrs. Hobby said it has become +
difficult. in the light Of the situa- Il
ton in Washington. to teach
respect for Government.
Gen. Eisenhower agreed, and,
added: X
They are robbing us Of ourIs
pride in Government" - Z
He said peace depended upon
prosperity. Il
There can be no strong Amer l.
lea If there are II or - miillionlss