Evening star., 1952-03-18
By Joseph A. Fox

-
President Truman throws little
light on his political future In q
new book out today. but one GER
tainty is that little has been ac-
cOmplished In improving relations
with that part Of the South seeing
eye-to-eye with Gov. James r.
Byrnes Of South Carolina.
It never has been too clear what
happened In that rift between Mr..
Truman and Mr.. Byrnes in 1945,
six months after Mr.. Byrnes had
Joined the Administration forces.
With the publication today,
however. Of "Mr. President" q Bit
ing memorandum included among
personal papers in this newest
Truman story shows plainly that
the President felt that Mr.. Byrnes
was over-extending his field of
activity. and goes q long way to-
ward explaining. the ill-feeling be-
tween the two longtime asso-
ciates.
UlSputeU Dy byFnGS.
MIR. Byrnes quickly has disputed
Mr.. Truman's statement that Ne
scolded his Secretary of State for
his work at the Moscow confer
ence of l945.
"Mr. President" which is in
good part q character-study and
IS biographical in nature, is the
work Of William Hillman, veteran
newsman and radio commentator.
who has woven together portions
Of Mr.. Truman's diary, excerpts
from State papers, private corre-
spondence, memoranda and casual
interviews, to present asworkaday
picture of the 67.year-old Mis-
sourian. who was catapulted from
obscurity to the highest place inl
the land In little more than al
decade.
Il want the people to know the
presidency as I have experienced
1t. and I want them to know mel
as I am" MIR. Truman told the
author in agreeing to the book.
Silent on Political Intentions.
The President 1scoffed at the
thought that the book was politi-
cally motivated-i1 q presidential
year-and among the subjects on
which "Mr. President" is elo-
Quently silent is his own plans
about seeking reelection.
President Truman does take a
crack at the idea that there is
such a thing as an indispensable
man. however.
For what the clue may be worth.
he also hopes that when he leaves
the White House. he may lecture
on Government problems under
the general title of From Precinct
Worker to President"
The book of necessity has i'm
portant omissions because docu-
ments and materials affecting
security and persons must for a
time remain undisclosed," but it
covers most of the highlights of
the Presidents career from farm
days to the Capital and gives a
pretty good idea Of the sort Of in
dividual he is.
Gives Views on Corruptions.
In one Of the interviews included
in "Mr. President" Mr.. Truman
deals with the subject Of corrup-
ton in his administration, but
with the tart observation that
Where there is corruption there
are always the corrupters." he
turned his heaviest criticism on
the tempters rathers than the
tempted.
There is nothing I detest so
much as crooked politician or
corrupt Government Official" he
declared. "but the type Of BUSH
neSSman who is a fixer is even
lower in my estimation.
These are the termites that
undermine respect for the Gov
ernment and confidence. in Gov
ernment and cast doubt on the
vast majority of honest and hard
working Federal officials.
I'VE must find a way to make
the corrupter as guilty legally as
the one who is corrupted" he
emphasized
Third World War Averted.
Mr.. Truman regards the avert
ing Of a third world war as the
most important achievement Of
his seven years in Office.
Looking backward, in response
10 q request to appraise the ac-
complishments Of his administra-
tion, he said:
1--WE have prevented third
world war. And we have kept
American economy on an even
keel. The Russians had the idea
that after 1946 we would explode
and then the Russians could have
had the world to themselves. Wei
have managed to keep that from
happening"
Throughout 'Mr. President"
Mr.. Truman tells OF his hopes for
peace. At times-during the Ber-
lin blockade for one instance-he
has been fearful Of ia world erup-
tion. but he told the author:
IF we can get through this !
period Of the cold war and the ,
difficulty with the totalitarian I,