Evening star., 1953-06-14
Attacks on Eisenhower
Failing to Hurt Him
Writer Sees President Doing
Very Well Up to Now
By Fronk R. Kent

By Fronk R. Kent
It is interesting to note that while
Washington is full of presidential
critics. even the most poisonous con-
cede the Presidents popularity and
prestige in the country have not dim
inished. They insist he has failed here
and Topped there. They attribute to
him sins Of omission and commission.
But none of his opponents believes that
If he were to run again today he would
not get as many votes as last Novem-
Der. In brief. he is doing all right
so far.
This state Of affairs easily may
change, but it certainly exists as Of
now. And that is why there is real
confidence that large part Of the
Eisenhower program will be enacted
before this session adjourns. The pub
lie sentiment back of Ike" is such
that members of the Congress will re-
fleet carefully before putting them
selves in opposition to President as
able to project his sincerity over tele-
vision and radio as this President-and
who has so good a case.
This also is the basis of Republican
confidence that the elections next year
will increase rather than decrease Re-
publican control Of Congress. As things
stand there are 48 Republicans in the
Senate, Al Democrats and one self
styled independent-the garrulous SEN
ator Morse Of Oregon-total o6. In the
House there are 221 Republicans. 212
Democrats. one independent and one
vacancy-total 435. This margin is
much too narrow for assured admins
trat1on control. It is admittedly n
precarious situation where q few re.
calc1trant Republicans easily may up-
set calculations and, unless he receives
some Democratic support, block the
Presidents program.
4
Because Of the short time Mr.. Eisen-
mower has been. in and the weight of
public opinion back of him, 1t is doubt
iul That the efforts to block him will
nave any real degree of success at
thls session. The big Democratic ef-
Tort Will be made in the campaign next
year when an entirely new House and
81 members Of the Senate are to be
elected. Should they then succeed in
gaining majority Of House or Senate
or both 1t not only would paralyze the
Eisenhower administration for the bal
ance OF his term but generally would
be interpreted as forecasting a Demo-
cratic President in 1856. To this end
ooth Mr.. Truman and Mr.. Stevenson
WILL take the stump for Democrats
candidates and from Democratic ma
tlonal headquarters will flow q constant
stream OF anti-Eisenhower propaganda.
So far as the Republicans are con-
cerned the practical politicians are
convinced they will not only hold con-
troll but increase their party majori-
ties in Congress. For this conviction
they advance plausible reasons. Ono
is that, barring some unexpected de-
velopment, it is improbable that the
people who voted overwhelmingly for
Eisenhower last year will vote to tie his
hands IN the middle Of his term. A
second reason is that the Democrats
nave so little in the way of argument
to present. About all they can do is to
oerate the President for the things for
which they berated him last year dur
ing the campaign-Such as giving
away" the wealth of the Nation (mean-
ing the tide oil lands) to the States:
such as 'Surrendering" to Taft and Nc
Carthy. which the facts clearly contra
dlct; such as selecting some first-class
Dig business men for cabinet posts:
such as being unfriendly to organized
LABOR, which is not true; such as en-
dangerlng national security by cutting
oe1enSe funds, which also is not true,
But these charges have been made
so often and so loudly that ut seems
unlikely they will be very effective next
year. After five months of the presi-
dency, the fact seems clear that Mr..
Eisenhower cannot be damaged much
oy hostile propaganda or abuse. He
has been shot at from all sides and
some attacks have been vicious in their
nature. The polls, however, show that
those who were with him still are. in
Guiding large number of Democrats.
OF course. he could hurt himself and
that is what his ill-wishers hope. Some
now or other 1t does not seem likely.
For one thing, no one who knows him
doubts the mans complete sincerity.
lie very earnestly wants to do right.
Another is that though his problems are
great and complex. he it not only sur
rounded by able men but is an able
man himself. He will make no mis-
takes through stupidity.
Still another thing is that it is very
much to the interests of the powerful
Republican leaders, between whom
and the President the New Deal COM
mentatorS are trying so hard to manu-
facture a break, that he should not
make false step. The worst thing
that could befal these leaders would
be Democratic success in the 1854 cleo
ton, which certainly would improve
Democratic chances in 1856. Even il
that did not eliminate some of them
from public life, it would again make
them members of the minority party.
from which position they have Just es-
capped after 20 unhappy years. Con-
sldering these facts it does seem that
only very foolish or very stubborn Re-
publican Congressman (there are. of
course. quite few of these) would fail
TO support his President on any vital
issue this session.