Evening star., 1953-07-25
The Political Min
Eisenhower Achieves
GooIs in Congress
Own Liuison Work
Seen us Poying Off
The Political Min
By Gould Lincoln


when that body concludes its first ses-
sion-presumably within a week or 10
days.
Without attempting to browbeat the
legiSlatorS-aS some volunteer advisers
frequently urged-the first Republican
President in 20 years has not suffered
a single major defeat in the halls Of
Congress. He has been able to accom-
plish what he has set out to do. despite
the fact the Republican Party has had
the narroweSt kind of majority In Sen
ate and House, and despite the fact
that on too many occasions large groups
of Republicans frankly deserted him.
Three principal reasons for President
EiSenhower'S successes on Capitol Hill
are Cd Eisenhower's popularity with
the people and their backing, (2) Eli
senhower's personal contacts with
members of the Senate and House-he
has done much Of the liaison work be-
tween the White House and the Capitol
himself. and CD the loyal and able SUP
port given President Eisenhower by
Republican Leaders Taft, Knowland
and Millikin in the Senate and by Re-
publican leaders in the House, Speaker
Martin and Majority Leader Halleck.
Some Democratic Help.
1t is true that in some of the battles
over items Of the administrators pro-
gram the President needed, and re-
ceived, the support of Democrats to win.
The fact that he had this Democratic
support, however, is due to the Presi-
dents popularity in the country, and
to his ability to state his case with sin
cerity and conviction.
The President. when asked his own
estimate of his first six months in the
White House and the accomplishments
made, was modest. He said that prog
reSS had been made-but not as much
as he had hoped.
In the purely administrative field he
has, however. been able to do lot. He
has placed able men in Office, he has
brought about reorganization in Gov
ernment departments and agencies.
and he has done much to clean up the
mess in WaShington"-which even his
Democratic opponent in the presiden-
tial campaign admitted existed, in an
unguarded statement.
Among the battles he has won on
in CongreSs-are those to retain taxes
until there is close approach to bal
anced budget, to reduce Government
appropriations and expenditures, and
to prevent the erection of new trade
barriers and to extend for year the
Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act.
In the battle over taxes, the fight
came specifically on the bill to retain
the excess profits tax until next jan
uary He had the determined opposi-
tion of Chairman Reed of the House
Ways and Means Committee, and of
several other Republican members of
that committee.
Air Force Fight.
His greatest fight over Government
appropriations was for the reduction Of
the Air Force budget by SIS billion be-
low the Truman estimate for that
branch of the armed services. Here
he met determined Democratic opposi-
ton. The Republicans in House and
Senate backed him up. and some Of
the Democrats. too, voted with the Pres
ident. When the defense budget was
first presented. dire predictions were
made. The proposed cut. 1t was said.
would never be sustained The people,
and eventually the Congress. were will
ing to take Gen. Eisenhower's recon-
mendationS for national defense.
The President did not hesitate to
take on Senator Joe Mccarthy in the
only really clean-cut row that has
arisen between himself and the Wis
consin Senator-the appointment Of
Ambassador Bohlen to Russia. Mr..
Bohlen was President Eisenhower's own
selection for the ambassadorship. SEN
ator Mccarthy wanted his appointment
withdrawn from the Senate. on the
ground Mr., Bohlen had been too much
part of the Truman -AcheSon admin
istration of foreign affairs. Mr.. Bohlen
was Overwhelmingly confirmed by a
vote of the Senate.
The President has seen Congress
carry out his campaign promise to
turn back to the States the tideland
oil areas. He has seen Congress ap-
prove, or permit to become effective
without action, his reorganization plans
for the Federal departments and agen-
cieS.
Other Victories Seen.
He has backed bills to permit the
entry of 100000 displaced persons into
this country as immigrants and to in
crease postal rates so as to help knock
out the huge deficits which the postal
service has brought for years. Both
these measures, it Is expected, will be-
come law before Congress adjournS.
Both have had strong opposition.
The President. with the aid of con-
gressional leaders and members of his
cabinet, has sought to bring about
unity on amendments to the Taft
Hartley labor law. A considerable area
of agreement has been reached al
though secondary boycotts and differ
ences over Federal and State jurisdic-
tion in public utility labor disputes
have been stumbling blocks. Studies
of the tax laws. for revision, and Of the
social security law for further coverage
are under way and expected to bear
fruit at the next session of Congress.
Although, because Of the carry-over
of a hundred billions Of unexpended
balances, it has not been possible to
reach balanced budget or to cut taxes.
the Eisenhower drive for cuts in new
appropriations has been greatly sue
cessful-upwards Of $40 billion which
otherwise would have been added to
the public debt and paid by the Ameri-
can people.