Evening star., 1952-07-11

I
Mechu
| Eisenhower
Continued From First Page.)
answer. Last I heard he was
all snugged in for the night"
Ten p.m.-Upstairs on the fifth
floor Of the hotel, is the attraction
for the crowd. Early in the eve
ming q lot of television equip
ment has been moved into the
generals headquarters. and the
rumor has spread that the Cen
leral will appear. A room has been
fixed up on the second floor for
la statement to follow the NOM
ination. The whole fifth floor
has been converted into a tele-
vision studio. Cameras have been
set up at strategic points to
enfllade the corridors and recep-
ton rooms. The place is festooned
with electric cables leading to
cameras and telephone switch
boards.
The reception room is in the
middle. Down a corridor to the
right are the rooms for the Gen.
erals press corps, crowded now
with people and newly-imported
radio equipment. To the left,
past a receptionist's desk, is the
living quarters. The lights down
there are dim.
Even at this hour, the lobby is
bustling.
II pm.-The people are talking
as If the nomination were In the
bag. An aide chats with a group
of reporters about the strategy of
the Eisenhower campaign so far.
Taft made two big Mistakes"
he says. "The first was his re-
peating over and over that no one
knew where Ike stood on national
issues. It stirred up interest more
than anything we could have done.
And when Ike did come home and
started talking, they had every
body hanging on his words. The
other mistake was on the con-
tested delegates. In Texas, for In
stance. If he had come out and
repudiated these people. he would
have saved himself a lot of grief"
IL midnight-down at the con-
vention hall, Gov. MeKeldin Of
Maryland is making the nominate
ing speech for Gen. Eisenhower.
The television set in the press
room picks up the excitement and
the gathering demonstration. The
official word is that the general
is in bed asleep but it's too much
to believe. Later you learn that
he heard the speech on the tele-
vision set in his sitting room.
Demonstrations Continue.
At this stage. the general is
tired and edgy. Before noon, heI
shook hands with more than 1.oooI
people in his office. ushered inI
SO at a time. His intimate friendsI
say he is afterward calm and yery|
confident. but apparently, his /
temper has showed through in|
spots.
Downstairs In the lobby. and
IN the street In front Of the hotel.
the crowd is back. Demonstra-
ions are going on and there are|
shouts Of I've want Ike" Tele-[
vision cameras in the lobby pick
up the commotion and flash i'll
lp to the suite. The Eisenhower
relaxes in the assur-
lnce that the candidate is safe
n bed.
! a.m.-There is q sudden COM
notion as some one drops q re-
mark that "he's up and going
iown to the lobby" CameramenI
Ind reporters rush headlong for
he elevators. The false alarm
S quickly apparent. The man,
'oing down is Arthur Vandenberg.
Who will assure the crowd that
hey are wasting their time watt
ng for the general.
Finally It's Over.
2 a.m.-This is the end of the
ieath watch. The only thing that
Keeps you there is the remote
possibility that a ballot may be
AIKEN and a nomination returned. i
4 anything like that happens, you'll
want to be around.
The suite looks as though it had
been hit by q cyclone. Empty
'ottles. glasses and paper are
'trewn everywhere. In front OIL
;he television set. q dozen people
doze In their chairs. needless sd
the ritous scene at Conventionl
Hall.
Finally. it Is over. The conven-
ion recesses. Reporters and pho
'ographers straggle out to the |
elevators: stair members wander
ID to their rooms.
We'll. boys. ] guess this Is whatl
you'd call q dry rum" some one |
savS stMavf1a koYsanrroxs, x,;11 -.