Evening star., 1953-04-05
Eisenhower Considered
No 'BumbIing Amateur
Writer Sees President Able
And Anxious to Please !
BY Fronk R. Kent

By Fronk R. Kent
President Eisenhower, though an emf.
nent soldier, is really a man Of peace
with talent for getting along with
people. More than once since last Mo-
vember he has exhibited this talent in
avoiding the trouble forecast and To-
mented by the professional liberals" in
politics and journalism, practically all
of whom were strongly opposed to his
election.
These constitute the most disappoint-
ed and disgruntled group Washington
has seen in long time. AS the weeks
go by there comes from this source an
almost constant stream of complaint,
criticism and pessimistic prediction. We
are told that the President is q FUN
bling amateur who does not know what
it is all about; that he has failed to
assert his leadership in Congress and
in his party; that he ought at once to
do this. that or the other; that he and
Senator Taft are not In personal or
political harmony.
It also is asserted that he is afraid
to oppose Senator Mccarthy; that he
has forgotten his campaign promises;
that Republican Senators are diSap.
pointed In his attitude toward patron.
age; that already he has practically In.
Sured Democratic success in the 1854
election; that Secretary of Agriculture
Benson has alienated the farmers; that
both he and Secretary Of State Dulles
cringe in fear Of Senator Mccarthy;
that he is afraid to subject himself to
the direct questioning Of regular press
conferences, ETC., etc.
The thing that renders these Eisen-
hover detractors so acutely unhappy il
that up to date not one of their fore.
casts has been fulfilled; all Of their
allegations have turned out wholly un-
founded and very little of their advice
has been taken. Most of these are so
clearly the product Of wishful thinking
that they answer themselves. Some.
such as the attack on Mr.. Benson, come
from Democratic Chairman Stephen
Mitchell, eager to smear the Eisen-
hover administration with the view Of
promoting the presidential chances of
his patron and sponsor, Adlai Steven
son, in 1856. Chairman Mitchell also
delights in sarcaStically referring to
the businessmen whom the President
has put in his cabinet as "tycoons."
And he has considerable number Of
tmitators, co-operators and collabora-
tors. There is, in fact, quite small
army OF snipers and sharpshooters out
to destroyer at least damage-the
Presidents prestige and diminish his
popularity.
So far as can be observed these
efforts have Signally failed. One reason
Tor this is that, unlike both Of his
predecessors in the White House, Gen.
Ike does not permit this sort Of thing
to 1rritate or annoy him. Certainly he
does not seem to cherish personal hates
and grudges in the way both Mr.. Roose.
velt and Mr.. Truman did. Certainly.
TOO, ne is not-nor does he regard him.
Self-aS above criticism.
ASo, perhaps the almost complete
futility of his critics makes it easier to
De indifferent to them Every test that
has been applied appears to show that
ne Is as strong personally throughout
the country as he was last November.
The time easily may come when he
Will make mistakes and lose support.
but no qualified judge in either party
believes that has happened yet. At the
moment Mr.. Eisenhower's relations
with Congress are almost uniquely good
and the congressional leaders of his
party-Senator Taft and Speaker Mar
t1n-are personally cordial and politi.
cally cooperative.
AS to Senator Mccarthy, by the ap-
pointment Of Mr.. Bohlen, by his firm.
ness in supporting him and the over
whelmlng majority by which he was
confirmed. the President has made those
who had been heckling him about his
so-called "timidity" in meeting the Nc
Carthy issue look exceedingly foolish.
To Senator Mccarthy and the small
group who aided him in the effort to
defeat Mr.. Bohlen the President ad.
ministered crushing defeat. And he
did it. too, without calling names or
throwing his weight around or making
deal, concession or compromise.
The truth is that this new President
is normally good-tempered, level
headed man with plenty of ability,
character and courage. He Is not any
thing like the bumbling amateur he Is
pictured in some quarters. He has q
terriflcally tough job which he is try
ing very hard to do well. 1t is too early.
Of course, to tell how successful he will
be, but as they say in baseball circles.
"He is in there pitching" AS yet he
does not seem to have gotten mad with
any one or lost his temper-though he
has had some provocation. That, how
ever should not lead any one to con-
clude that he can't get mad or that
he has no temper Such a conclusion
would be foolish.