The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-02-27
The World Today
By JAMES MARLoW

WASHINGTON IN - President
Eisenhower, at his second White
House news conference, was hit
with a question loaded with dyna-
mite. It was legitimate question
but one which might have brought
an explosive answer.
Do you think Sen. McCarthy's
investigation of the "Voice of
America" is helping the fight
against communism:
Besides investigating the
Voice" Mccarthy has been Civ
ing the State Department, under
which the Voice" operates, a
pretty stiff time, forcing Secretary
of State Dulles and his aides to
backtrack on some of the moves
they've made.
Although Mccarthy and State
Department officials have given
public assurance that all is har-
mony between them, there has
been lot of speculation in the
past week on how long this pub
licly-stated harmony would last.
Eisenhower responded to the
question this way:
Well, he doesn't know exactly
what Mccarthy is aiming to do.
1t was a question he would not
answer without bit more prepar-
alton on it because he just hasn't
thought about McCarthy's partieu-
lar function, what he can do and
what would happen If he didn't do
it. So, Eisenhower said, it is a
question he couldn't answer yet.
Eisenhower has gone to a lot of
trouble to try to have good rela-
tons with his fellow Republicans
in Congress. In the campaign he
gave his endorsement to McCar-
thy.
So, unless he was ready to break
with Mccarthy after only month
in office, the news conference was
hardly the time or place to an
nounce the break.
| Such q split, If 1t comes, would
be of the deepest significance for
Eisenhower and his future relations
with Congress. It would affect the
future of his whole administration.
So il he ever decides 10 be
critical of Mccarthy and other
Republicans land he didn't indi-
cate Wednesday that be had any
such intention-he'n probably let
| it be known at a place and time
of his own choosing.
Yet, an examination Of what
Eisenhower actually said In reply
to the question about Mccarthy
shows that, while he withheld
criticism, he didn't give approval,
either.
II was the kind Of reply q man
can give when he has made up his
mind 10 wait and watch develop
ments before making Q decision
one way or the other.
Eisenhower's ability to handle
himself in this particular question
answer situation was q pretty good
illustration Of how he conducted
himself In the first White House
news conference last week and
| this second one Wednesday.
He didn't set the world afire.
There was nothing extraordinary
about either meeting with the
newsmen. But he did all right. And
| he didn't put his foot In his mouth.
which might have been expected
from a man so new In his big job.
This Is tribute 10 the effort
he must be making 10 learn his
way around In the complexities OF
the government. for Eisenhower
now Is being daily confronted with
problems be never encountered 10
his long military career.
He probably prepared for these
conferences with the help of aides.
Among them they could anticipate,
at least In q general way, The main
questions which would be asked
and decide on the answers that
should be given.
| In other and quieter periods IN
American history four.year
White House term might have heea
something like q touryesr college
course. A man could take hts time
learning. with leisure to tackle
each new subject ss Il came along.
In recent times the man IN tho
White House has had 20 cram on
q daily basis. every day fof four
years. Eisenhower Il n that posi-.
ton now. just IS Presidents Tru-
/ .-sn 1mA nasksape1f mare