Evening star., 1953-07-31
President Calls Death
OF Taft Tragic Loss;
Flags HaIf-Staffed
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H0SS uIUu SsNS1VN
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played such an important part
in congressional decisions over
many years.
"The Senate has lost one Of its
leading members of all times; the
American people have lost a
truly great citizen. and have
lost a wise counselor and a
valued friend.
Mrs. Eisenhower and extend
to Mrs. Taft and the family our
heartfelt sympathies in the per-.
sonal loss that they have sus-
tanned"
Hush DeScends on Senate.
A hush descended on the Sen
ate when the news came.
Senator Anderson, Democrat,
of New Mexico, was in the midst
of a plea to Republican leaders
to slow down on long night ses-
sions when William Reed, secre-
tary to the majority, hurried
over to inform Acting Majority
Leader Knowland of Senator
Taft's death.
Leaders had agreed earlier in
the day to abandon all business
instantly if the word came.
Senator Knowland immediate
ly asked Senator Anderson to
yield for a quorum call, which
brought most of the absent sem
ators from nearby committee
rooms.
When they had assembled,
Senator Bricker, Senator Taft'S
Republican colleague from Ohio.
made the announcement and
said it was very difficult for him
to express his feelings. because
he and Senator Taft had been
intimate friends and close po-
litical associates since 1925.
A Great Family Name.
Bob Taft was an adornment
to a great family name," said
Senator Bricker. Our State
has been justly proud of him. He
was man of great and abiding
faith. He had great faith in
himself. founded on a great in
tellect, which came from a vast
experience in public life.
''He had great faith in his
fellow man, and I do not believe
there is a senator here who did
not count Senator Taft his
friend. He had great faith in
our system of Government, and
an abiding faith in Almighty
God"
Senator Knowland said all Re
publicans were justly proud of
the title, "Mr. Republican"
which had been given to him.
"In a larger sense he was Mr..
America" said Senator Know
land. "He was the acme of in
tellectual and personal integ-
rity."
Death Tragedy, Says Johnson.
Democratic Floor Leader
johnson called Senator Taft's
death "a tragedy that will be
mourned by all America"
Bob Taft was one of our truly
great men," Senator johnson
continued. His rock-hke in
tegrity, his unconquerable COM
mon sense, his answering devo-
tion to principle were the hall
marks of a career unmatched in
our political history"
Senator johnson said the af-
fection and friendship that grew
up between him and Senator
Taft in the past year lis one of
the high points of my career
and will remain one of the most
cherished memories of my life"
The Democratic leader said he
and Senator Taft had disagreed
at times, but it was always a
disagreement on principle, the
kind of disagreement gentlemen
can discuss without rancor."
Morse Pays Tribute.
Senator Morse, Independent, of
Oregon said:
The American people have
lost the services of one of. the
most able men who ever sat in
the Senate. He was a sincere
conservative always dedicated to
a course of action which he
thought was in the best inter-
estS Of his country. His death is
an irreparable loss to the Sem
ate and to the Nation"
Senator Lehman, Democrat, of
New York called Senator Taft
"a true leader of men, a foeman
worthy of anybodys mettle.
Many of us differed greatly with
the principles he advocated but
whether as leader of the opposi-
tion or as leader of the majority
he always commanded our
respect and admiration. He was
a man truly worthy of his times.
He has left the stamp of his
personality indelibly on our his
tory"
Secretary of State Dulles is
sued a statement describing the
death of Senator Taft as "a
tragedy to the country and a
grievous loss to me personally"
The statement added:
1--WE were friends and asSoci-
ates for upwards of 40 years. I
thus had the privilege of know
ing Senator Taft intimately and
appreciating his remarkable
qualities of mind and of heart
which made him one of the great
statesmen and enlightened po-
litical forces of our time"
House Speaker Martin said:
"In his death, the United
States loses one of its ablest, best
n,.-n..,.,,.a