The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-06-02

Saws Farewell
To Arms Today

~ @@tSN 49, FAt
WASHINGTON H-- Dwight ID.
Eisenhower, soldier turning politi-
clan, was here today TO say fare
well TO arms.
Behind him were 81 years as an
Army officer. including two pc
RODS as supreme commander Of
all the armies of the West in Eu-
rope.
Before him looms one Of the
toughest and most bitter political
campaigns in recent history. And
the hardest fighting Is likely to be
within the Republican Party, for
the presidential nomination which
Sen. Robert A. Taft and others
are seeking.
Sunday the five star general
stood by the plane which brought
him from Paris, smiling i'm the
warmth Of summer sun and a
military welcome for a great sol
der come home. Tuesday after.
noon he viii be faced by the cold
facts Of political life.
That is when he has said ne VIII
doff his uniform. after his last cali
at the Pentagon. He makes his
first speech in multi at Abilene,
Kan, Wednesday.
Even as he arrived, Taft's cam
paign headquarters got out a state
ment welcoming him back to this
country but regretting that he did
not return sooner"
Nov that he is about TO take
off his battle jacket we OF the Re
publican Party hope that he will
start fighting" said statement
by Rep. B. Carroll Reece of Ten
nessee. manager of the committee
backing the Ohio senator for the
COP nomination.
Reece suggested Eisenhower
could start by telling us whether
or not the plan to spend half a
million dollars in paying the ex-
penses Of delegates TO come and
see him has his approval"
This was a reference 10 a bid
from Eisenhower hackers for COP
convention delegates TO visit the
general at the expense Of local
campaign groups, il the delegates
do not pay their own travel costs.
AS part Of Eisenhower's official
welcome, he was hurried to the
White House Sunday to report 20
President Truman. He was there
almost two hours. The greater part
OF the time was devoted TO a two.
man talk between the President
and the general and a subsequent
session with Secretary of Defense
Robert Lovett, Gen. Omar Brad
ley, chairman Of the Joint Chiefs
Of Staff. and Secretary Of the Ar
my Frank Pace.
There was also a folksy little
intermission while the President
spent 50 minutes showing the gen.
eral about the newly rebuilt ex.
ecutive mansion - into which Els
enhower may or may not move
next January.
White House Press Secretary 10.
seph Short declined TO disclose any
details of what took place at the
Fme tins. SHIRT described II as a
report by Eisenhower and "cour-
tesy call" Before il started, Tru.
man remarked that We've got a
LOT Of business"
The plan was for Eisenhower 10
go again to the White House this
afternoon for a ceremony.
Tuesday morning Cat 9 a. m,
EST the general will hold a news
conference at the Pentag on which,
like Sundays welcoming ceremony,
the Defense Department will try
to confine to military matters.
Whatever the reason - the Pen.
tagon's effort to keep the show an
armed forces affair. Eisenhower's
probable desire to steer clear OF
politics while still in uniform, or
a decision by his political head
quarters TO remain in the back
ground - the public welcome &C.
corded the general and his wife
was modest and restrained.
A crowd of about thousand
stood beyond the Gordon Of troops
about the landing area. Some wore
Ike campaign buttons. There
was a spatter of applause. But
mostly the spectators seemed 10
be Sunday afternoon sightseers. A
couple Of hundred more waited at
the White House gates to see Els.
enhower's arrival there. Others
gathered at the Statler Hotel.
where Eisenhower has a suite for
bis stay IN Washington.
q