Evening star., 1954-12-16
The Political Mill
Big Question for | o56:
If Not Ike-Who?'
Nixon Apparently Leading
Other 6. O. P. Possibilities
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

py Soutu IiHSVu
Amid all the speculations about an
Eisenhower denomination In 1856, one
question stands out: IF not Ike-who?"
The potential field is not impressive.
In the two-year interval since PreSi-
dent Eisenhower won election and took
over the White House. there have been
many changes in the Republican pic
ture. Senator Robert A. Taft, who
came to be known as "Mr. Republican"
is dead. Gov. Thomas e. Dewey Of
New York goes out of Office the first of
the new year-and is beginning long
planned legal practice which is eX-
pected to keep him too busy for politi-
cal office for several years. The former
Governor of California, Earl Warren.
has become Chief Justice of the United
States. Senator Bricker of Ohio, who
made bid for the G. o. P. presidential
nomination in 1914. has no following
outside his own State. Senator Ives of
New York, who might have come into
the picture had he been elected Gov
ernor of his State last month, remains
Senator from New York. Joe" Martin
of Massachusetts,. Speaker of the House
in the SD Congress, is 20 years old.
Senator Mccarthy of Wisconsin. who
never was in the presidential picture
Notwithstanding the talk. Is further
from consideration than ever.
Two Californians.
There remain the Californians. Rich
ard L. Nixon, the Vice President, will
be 43 years old when 1856 rolls around.
William F. Knowland, senior Senator
and Republican floor leader of the Sem
ate. will be 49, A couple of young men,
each with his eye on the ball. Both
first came to the Senate as appointees
OF Chief Justice Warren-who was IL
years Governor of the State. Mr.. Nixon
got the nod for the vice presidential
nomination in 1852. He has been used
by the President as the bearer of good
will messages to many nations. He
bore the burden of national campaign
ing during the 1854 political campaign
emerging as the Democrats pet hate.
He, is Eisenhower, first, last and
all the time.
Senator Knowland, as Republican
leader of the Senate, an Office to which
he succeeded on the death Of Senator
Taft. did maSterful job during the
Congress now ending. He aided mate
rally in getting major portion of the
Presidents program enacted into law.
Senator Knowland. however, has re-
tanned an independence of action and
expression that has amazed many Re-
publicans and at times nettled the
White House. For example. he sup
nnrfnd pYt0lynf. II
amendment, which would lessen the
Presidents powers over foreign rela-
tionS. He voted against the condemna-
tion of Senator Mccarthy. He has
spoken out in favor of blockade of
Communist China. and against the Eli
senhower policy in the Far East And
recently he has declined to commit him.
self on the desirability of an Eisen-
hover denomination.
Nixon Favored.
AS Of today, Mr.. Nixon appears the
fair-haired boy. Whether this has
something to do with the Knowland
attitude toward the Eisenhower admin
istration is anybodys guess, The fact
remains, however, that should Gen.
Eisenhower step aside in 1856, there
would be desperate fight in Califor-
mia for the delegates to the Republican
National Convention. How much sup
port for a presidential nomination
either Mr.. Nixon or Senator Knowland
could command outside their own State
is decidedly question.
Chief Justice Warren is not candi-
date and will not be candidate for the
Republican presidential nomination
period. 1t is more than doubtful he
could be drafted" AS the man who
handed down the Supreme Court de-
ciSion against segregation in the
schools, Mr.. Warren might have a
strong appeal to several large groups
among the electorate, if he were willing
to run.
No potential presidential candidate
appears among the strong men of the
Presidents cabinet-Dulles, Humphrey
and Wilson. No likely Republican
Governors fill the bill, either. So the
question: IF not Ike-who?"
The President himself is beginning to
take an interest. Recently he told a
press conference he would very, very
strongly support "progressive-mod-
crate" who had his own philosophy of
government. If he, the President, did
not run himself. Yesterday. he made
an even more intriguing answer at his
press conference. when reporter asked
him to comment on a statement by his
press secretary, James c. Hagerty. that
the Republican Party would be fool
hardy" If it did not draft Gen. Eisen-
hover to run again. Gen. Eisenhower,
with smile, said Mr.. Hagerty was one
of his aides to whom he accorded the
right TO give his personal opinions. The
President added, amid laughter, that
since the administration has no estab-
lished policy on the question whether
he should be the Republican nominee
in 1850 Mr.. Hagerty was free to say
what he thought. The President is not
backing away.