Evening star., 1952-08-13
Eisenhower and the Issues

In his second press conference since winning
the Republican presidential nomination, General
Eisenhower has declared that the overshadowing
issue of his campaign for election will be the
great question of peace and of practical pro-
gram to promote the peace" He has said further
that he probably will at least touch upon the sub
ject in every one of his talks between now and
November.
Thus, in effect, the general seems to have
Endorsed John Foster Dulles recent statement
that foreign policy must be made "the major
issue" of the campaign. However, he has quail
fed his Endorsement by substituting the word
peace" for foreign policy" and by disavoWing
the Dulles view that the world drift toward wa
can be checked only by his election to the pres-
dency. On the latter point, with becoming mod
esty, he has simply declared that Il am not going
to be put in position that personally am
Messiah, but do think that Republicans gen.
orally can do a better job than the Democrats"
This qualification may well be reflection Of
some doubt in General ESenhower's mind about
the feasibility or the wisdom, Of trying to make
international affairs the major campaign issue.
Certainly there is ground for such doubt. After
all, in terms of basic principles and objectives,
the foreign policy planks Of both the Republican
and Democratic platforms are essentially the
same being in full agreement on the Communist
threat and the need for great projects like the
Atlantic alliance Of course, there is large
amount of room for extensive and very serious
debate over some of the administrations past
decisions and over details and methods bearing
upon the Nations present global operations in
cluding the Korean war. Even so at least in their
public commitments, the two parties are on rec
ord seeing eye to eye on all the vital steps that
must be taken to bulWark American security and
promote world peace.
How then can foreign policy be made the
chief and overriding point of contention between
the Republicans and Democrats in the impending
campaign? Indeed, for that matter, how can the
broad subject of peace-which is more general
lied than the specific subject of foreign policy
be elaborated upon an issue that puts all other
issues into the shade and serves as the main
question for debate? The answer Is self-evident
The top candidates of both parties are against
and in favor of peace and of "a practical
program to promote the peace" More than that
the essentials of "a practical program" are al
ready agreed upon. Accordingly, the idea of stag
ing an all-out fight in this field-a field in which
there is really no fundamental difference of view
between the two antagonists seems illogical and
~rnrealistic, proposal for shadow boxing of a
kind that could leave the voting public quite cold
and Indifferent
Actually, as "a matter of practical politics.
there is reason to believe that foreign policy is
not and ought not to be, the overshadowing issue
of the campaign. Because of the basic bipartisan
agreement on it, it does not lend itself to top
priority debate BY way OF contrast, however,
there are other issues that very definitely do lend
themselves to such debate. They include infia-
tion the heavy tax burden civil rights, charges
of corruption in the administration, and-prob-
ably most important of all-the widespread belief
that there should be complete change in Gov
,a,of h0i1So hono
party in power has been in power much too long
and hence has become mentally and spiritually
ossifed.
1t is certainly doubtful, to say the least, that
these and kindred issues should be subordinated
to foreign policy. The American electorate will
very much want to hear them discussed in detail
in the weeks ahead, and General Eisenhower will
be risking great deal If he fails to satisfy that
desire. In working out his campaign strategy, he
would do well to look again at Mr.. Dulles proposal
and qualify it further.