The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-01-20
The World Today
BY JAMES MARROW

WASf1lNGION N-Gen. ElSen-
hover is now in the golden era Of
American politics, the golden era
being that period IN which a pres.
ident gets minimum of criticism
and a maximum Of cooperation
and good will. It never lasts in
definitely.
Criticism of Eisenhower since
his election certainly has been at
a minimum. President Truman did
throw the word "demagoguery" at
him. And his fellow Republican,
Sen. Taft, called his appointment
of Labor Secretary Durkin ''in-
credible"
But Truman tried to make the
change-over smooth for the Eisen-
hover administration and urged
the nation to support the new Pres
ident. And Taft Gained down after
his one outburst and didn't try to
block the Durkin appointment.
But by the very nature of his
position since election, being on
the outside looking in until tomor-
row., Eisenhower hasn't been able
to step on many toes. He hasn't
said much that could get him
criticized. In fact, since election
day he's said almost nothing pub
licly. So
But to the various pressure
groups of the country he must
look like an over-ripe plum tree,
just waiting to be shaken. They'll
shake him, all right. The differ
ence between their expectations
and his delivery viii be one of
the causes of his future troubles.
AS a highly successful military
commander he never was the tar
get for much adverse comment.
And the slamming he took from
the Democrats in the presidential
campaign can be shrugged off as
prediction political oratory, par
ticularly since he diShed some Of
it out himself.
And in the campaign he wasn't
being criticized for what he had
done, really, but mostly on what
he promised to do. So he wasn't
being judged on past performance.
But when he begins to get a
pasting in the White House it will
be for what he does as president,
or doesn't do. His presidential per-
Torrance will be the supreme test
of his ability, vision and leader
ship on the highest level.
Criticism then is criticism that
hurts. It viii be interesting to see
how he reacts TO it. His trials and
tribulations may not begin for
some weeks, or even months, until
he has sent his programs to Con-
gress and has had a chance to see
what's going to happen to them.
For instance, on tie amount of
money he thinks is necessary for
foreign aid. Not all members of
his own party go all the way with
him on his foreign policy views.
Yet the difference between his
views and theirs on the size of
foreign aid may mean, to him, the
difference between success and dis.
aster.
A president can operate in one
of three main ways with Congress,
which is full of stroEg-willed men
who are also politicians: surren-
der. compromise. or stand stiff
and unyielding. He'll be failure
if he does the first and a failure
If he always tries the third.
Like any other president who
wants to get things done, Eisen-
hover viii have to make compro-
misses. His. skill win show up in
the final result.
And, although the Democrats in
Congress are unde- obligation 10
90 along with him on what they
think is for the country's good,
the next congressional elections are
only two years away. and the
Democrats are not under any OBJ
legation not to make as much poll
teal hay as they can al Fisen-