Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-08
.McC orthy-Eisenhower Feud
Had a Long, SIow-Burning Fuse

w ~~
press conference If he meant
Senator Mccarthy, the President
rejoined that he never dealt in.
personalities.
In July, the storm over the
Mccarthy Committee staff di-
rector, j. B. Matthews broke.
Mccarthy held out over the FIR
ing of Mr.. Matthews, whose au-
thorship of a magazine story,
Reds and Our Churches led
to the resignation of the three
Democratic members of the
committee and bitter protest
from churchmen.
Asked to comment by leaders
of the three largest religious de-
nominations, Gen. Eisenhower
limited himself to criticism of
the Matthews story. saying such
attacks portray contempt for
the principles of freedom and
decency. Mr.. Matthews resigna-
ton took place almost stimuli
taneously.
In December, during the Harry
Dexter White controversy, SEN
ator Mccarthy accused the adj.
/ ministration of sending per.
fumed notes" to Red China and
that the Reds-in-G Government is.
sue would be the dominant issue
in the 1854 congressional cam.
paign.
Secretary of State Dulles,
naming no names, denied that
the Government was sending
"perfumed notes."
Gen. Eisenhower Endorsed Mr..
Dulles views. He also said that
he hoped the people were no
longer fearful of Reds in Gov
eminent.
Senator Mccarthy had the
last word in this one. He re-
peated that this would be an
Tissue in 1854.
In 1854 the President and the
| Junior Senator from Wisconsin
entered a whole new field of
| disagreement when Senator
Mccarthy began to do battle
with the Army over the case Of
Mai. Irving Peress, Army den
fist accused by Senator Nc
Carthy of being a Fifth
Amendment Communist"
Senator Mccarthy called Gen.
! Zwicker "the most arrogant,
evasive witness" he had ever
heard.
Gen. Eisenhower countered
with praise of Gen. Zwicker.
criticism of the Army for its
handling of the Peress case and
added that no Government EN-
ploye should have to submit to
any kind of personal humilia-
ton when testifying before con-
gressional committees.
Tempest in Teapot"
Senator Mccarthy referred to
the disagreement as "a silly
tempest in a teapot"
| While the Stevens McC arthy
row was building up steam, Sen
ator Mccarthy took time out to
protest Secretary Dulles curtail-
ment of the duties Of a State De-
partment Mccarthy protege,
Scott Mcleod. He said the move
would make it infinitely more
difficult for Mcleod to do his
job"
Questioned by the press in the
matter, the, President said Sc
dately that department heads,
not others, bear responsibility for
| administrative assignments such
as that concerning Scott Nc
Leod.
Gen. Eisenhower also ventured
. his support Of Army Secretary
Robert T. Stevens, saying that
he had full confidence In Mr.
Stevens honor and integrity.
Senator Mccarthy returned
fire with this blast. Secretary
Stevens is being used by Penta.
gon politicians. I don't give 9
+ tinker's dam if people in either
party. high or low, are unhapp,
in my methods"
+ During the Army McC arthy
' hearings, which came out Of al
this, the dispute between thu
+ Senator and the President wa!
mostly fought out on the higher
, plane of Executive-Legislativ
3 relationships.
Adams Silenced.
The President ordered John g
|. Adams. Army counsel, not tx
testify about a high-level meet
ing in Attorney General Brown
ellis Office. Mr.. Adams had tole
the Army-McC arthy Investigate
ing committee that at the meet
i ing he was advised by officials
: whom he did not name, to maxi
. q written record Of his trouble
with Senator Mccarthy.
!, Commenting on Presiden
> Eisenhower's subsequent order
: Senator Mccarthy ! said h
thought the White House mad
!, a great mistake" by pulling dowl
: what he called a Presidential
. iron curtain"
8 Senator Mccarthy urged hi
+ committee colleagues to take
r stronger line with the Whit
House but contented himself +
. saying he thought the President
= who meant well, was "badl
J advised"
y The President did not directl
= comment on this.