Evening star., 1953-01-25
Eisenhower Exempted
From Pleasing Everyone
But Writer Says President
Strives to Alloy Hostility
By Fronk R. Kent

AS the new President begins his
administration and before there has
been opportunity for mistakes it is
interesting to note the complaint which
the publicists and politicoS who con-
vinced themselves that the glib Mr..
Stevenson was truly wonderful man
and the general just military boob,
are now making. It rather establishes
the poverty Of their position.
The chief point they make is that
there are too many successful business
men, in the cabinet. They do not
question the patriotism, the honesty or
ability Of the Eisenhower appointments.
Only against Mr.. Wilson has real
issue been made and that, tough as it
may be on Mr.. Wilson, apparently this
issue can be satisfactorily solved only
by his making the sacrifice he should
have known would be required.
For the rest the only criticism of the
Eisenhower appointments is that they
are successful" In the cabinet Of
course, there are a labor leader, a
lawyer and farmer. But these are
ignored and the critical emphasis is
heavily laid on the successful busi-
talk one would suppose that sue
cessful businessman necessarily Is an
extremely wicked reactionary and that
the ideal presidential cabinet is one
composed of unsuccessful businessmen.
Small-tine bankers, social workers and
left-wing politicians of the Henry Wal
lace-Harold Ickes type.
Certainly. the group which has moved
in with President Eisenhower is in
marked contrast to the Roosevelt and
Truman cabinets. For one thing its
members have a great deal more brains
and far greater grasp on the realities.
For another. they are determined to
clean up "the mess" which Mr.. Tru-
man ignored to the laSt-but which, in
an unguarded moment during the CAM
paign, even Mr.. Stevenson conceded to
exist in Washington. How far these
qualities will get them remains to be
seen, but one thing is certain-they
will not reach their goal without over
coming resistance of a rather for
midable kind. At the moment, the
forces hostile to the new President
insist that he Is confronted with two
serious possibilities. One upon which
they continue to harp is that quite soon
a rift will develop between President
Eisenhower and Senator Taft, majority
leader of the Senate and concededly
the most influential individual in Con-
greSS.
If that proves true, it would seem a
major disaster, as without Taft's full
cooperation, obviously the President
could get no legislative program
through Congress. Unfortunately for
the ill-wiShers of the administration.
the prospects of the rift seem more
remote than before. Not only are the
personal relations between the two men
cordial and friendly but their political
interests are now much the same.
There is no question of Mr.. Taft's
desire to have this Republican admin
istration succeed. After the inaugural
address last Tuesday, his comment was
enthusiastic and sincere. "A great and
inspiring speech" he said-and meant
it. There is about Senator Taft none
of the personal venom and small bit-
terneSs that characterize the publicity
seeking Senator Wayne Morse Of
Oregon.
The other unpleasant possibility now
predicted for the new President is that
he will have the hostility of large
section of the Washington correspond
ents-thiS because of the alleged lack
of enthusiasm he has shown toward
the weekly press conferences which Mr..
Roosevelt and Mr.. Truman were so
adept in turning to their own personal
advantage, but which Mr.. Hoover all
ways found rigged against him. Mr..
Eisenhower already has made it clear
that he does not intend, as has
been reported, to abandon the press
conferences.
It is conceded that certain changes
would improve this institution which,
despite its defects and abuses, has
very real public use. An intelligent
man who well knows the value Of q
friendly press, President Ike will do
what he can to allay the hostility and
certainly will not impose any unreason-
able press conference restrictions.
However, there is an element Of pros
fessional liberals" among the corre-
spondents, brought up in the New Deal
Fair Deal atmosphere and used to being
coddled. whom he will not be able to
please no matter what he does.