Evening star., 1954-12-26
Junuury
President Bomburds
Congress With Messages
On Program for 1854

There was no doubt that January was
President Eisenhower's month. He bonn
barded Congress with series OF messages
analyzing the state Of the Union and OF
fering solutions to hundred and one
problems.
The President held spotlight that
otherwise would have shined on govern
ments in Europe that tottered and fell,
diplomats who gathered at Berlin. prison.
ers of war who went to new homes" from
Korea, Congressmen who made the deSul-
tory start at new legislative year. ana
Secretary OF State whoa made speech
about something called massive retaliation.
Here is wflat President Eisenhower told
Congress-:
State OF the Triton. The first message
was delivered in person. In joint session
held in the House chamber, the President
said the country was In good shape. but
needed a little patching here and there.
Congress cheered the 1oudeSt when he
urged that it pass law -depriving Ameri-
cans convicted Of taking part in the Conn
munist conspiracy Of their citizenship. But
the core of his message came when he
outlined steps which should be taken by
Congress to protect the country's freedom.
maintain its economy and give helping
hand to individuals.
MOSk OF LIae meal was III tAtC GSOiAOAAAJ7
section. The year had opened with predic-
tions that the United States would have
its second best year-coupled with warn
ings that second best is not good enough
in a Nation geared to an expanding
economy.
Farm. His next message was on farm
policy. And here he met with little en-
thusiasm. He asked for flexible price
support system. while the traditionaIly
powerful farm block wanted to keep high.
rigid supports.
Social Security. In his social security
message, the Presidents critics said he
sounded like New Dealer-which was
wrong only in that he wanted bigger
and costlier program than the New Deal
had ever asked for. Few Congressmen
predicted rough going for the Eisenhower
program, however. It was election year.
Budget. Key to the whole course OF Gov
ernment was the 5-pound-4 -4-ounce mes
sage sent to Congress in the middle Of
the month-the budget for fiscal year
1855, starting July l, 1854.
It was an austerity message-austerity
being measured in $65.6 billion in new
appropriations and $76.7 billion in planned
actual expenditures. Each department
seemed cut to the bone, with the excep-
ton of the Air Force, which, for change.
was to be allowed substantially to out
spend the other services.
Health. In the same week came the
health message, which urged that Uncle
Sam go into the medical insurance busi-.
ness by insuring private health programs.
Economic Report. The Presidents eco
nomic advisers told him-and the country
that business was not booming, but
that depression was not just around
the corner. The President said he wouldn't
tinker with the economy until the neces-
sity was clear.
Housing The final message concerned
housing. And again the request was remi-
niscent of the old Democratic days. He
asked for four-year. 170.000-unit public
housing program.
Dulles Speech
Taking stock at the end OF the month.
It was found that other important things
had been going on In the shadows:
One event may yet loom as one Of the
most significant Of the year, or perhaps 1t
may be written on as just another foot
in-mouth performance by the Secretary
Of State.
It was John Foster Dulles massive re-
taliation" speech. At first it was given only
routine attention. Then when things began
to get hot In Indo-C China it took on more
importance, because it was after all
warning to Communist countries that If
they made hostile move. the United
States might drop atomic bombs on the
Red capitals. It was the toughest foreign
policy pronouncement by this country In
the cold war.
Meanwhile. the Other events:
Premier Giuseppe Pella was out IN Italy.
and someone named Amintore Fanfani
was briefly in-but out again before the
month ended.
The weird story Of the Korea prisoners
SYMBOLS or YEARS NEWS Eleven men end .
feonoms cloud Symbolic HE passing events Of
1854. The sketches On fhis poes were made