Evening star., 1955-10-29
For the Nations Sake

IN an eQltOElhi CdptAultEu
"A Constitutional Shadow
land" the Wall Street Jour-
nal recently called attention
TO the problem which con-
fronts our Nation as to the
succession to the presidency
in case Of disability or In
capacity Of the President.
AS q Southern Democrat
who voted for Eisenhower and
as an Episcopalian who made
it a point TO go to church and
join in prayer for his recovery
from both a humanitarian and
a patriotic standpoint. ] hope
for his early and complete re-
covery.
In my lifetime I have twice
seen our republic in grave
danger because We lack ma
chinery for passing. intelii-
gently and quickly. on the
condition Of q sick President.
First was the case Of Woodrow
wilson: next that Of Franklin
Roosevelt.
/ doubt that there are many
people today who would argue
that President Wilson should
have been allowed to occupy
his office during the long
period in which he lay help
lessly paralyzed and virtually
without free contact with the
outside world.
The case Of President
FRANKLIN Roosevelt is one
which many Of us feel in
yolved great tragedy for our
Nation. For anyone who looks
at the photographs Of MIR.
Roosevelt taken at Yalta.
shortly after his fourth elec-
ton to the presidency. knows
that he was not In physical
condition to handle any bust-
ness Of Importance.
All Of us must sympathize
with the affectionate desire OF
q mans loved ones to brace
him up in sickness and by en-
couraging words to aid his
looked for recovery.
But the interest Of our Re-
public is and should be para
mount. No one knows this bet-
ter than a general, who. in
pursuing this interest, has or
dered tens Of thousands Of men
into battle.
1t is my belief that Gen.
Eisenhower did not care for
the presidency. that he would
willingly lay it down at any
time in the interest Of the
country. In part he has shown
this In organizing his staff.
Therefore. / do not believe
that he would object to or feel
hurt by an editorial discussion
Of "A Constitutional Shadow
land" or by others Of US sue-
| gesting various plans by which
q President may be superseded
when incapacitated.
For 1t Is obvious that, among
other factors, at least Q part
Of q vast officeholding and
power WELDING Bureaucracy
| win do everything in Its power
to keep a President from being
superseded.
On the other hand, decent
men naturally hesitate to press
for removal OF any man sick
or permanently incapacitated
| All OF us who had some control
| of publicity at the time o1
4 Wilson's and Rooseyelt's inca
pacity must remember how, By
| suppression Of news and specu-
iation, we we're parties to theil
continuance In Office.
While I am not personally
acquainted with President
Eisenhower, / venture tht
opinion that If the prayers oi
the Nation and the world are
answered. and he recovers
from his present illness, hi
would welcome the setting uT
OF machinery by which he Of
any other President may b
removed either temporarily o.
permanently from power II NJ
longer really able to serve. I
Pending either congressiona
or constitutional legislation,
suggest that some ofiicia
board Of perhaps i've member
be recognized 10 exercise thl
power of recommending thl
removal OF the President from
office on account Of illness
Such d board might consis
OF the Surgeon Generals Q
the Army and Navy or til
Public Health Service. tn
Chief Justice Of the Suprem
Court and two designate
ofiicials Of the Senate an
House, men not milne linde
present law to succeed to tn
presidency, q majority Of thi
committee To act.
For one thing this sus
gested method Of pfocedur