Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-23

AfCCeGCfsG AboNNtftOe0OI . GNtCOsO
THE PRESIDENT: Sit down,
gentlemen. Good morning -
Good morning.
I have a couple Of short an
nouncements. ladies and gentle
men, before we go to questions.
First. this morning early. was
called up by the Vice President
who said-told me that his father
was very seriously i'll. and was
called to Los Angeles. expressed
my regret. of course, on my own
behalf-those of all our associ-
ates-but, of course, he had to
go.
And do know that I speak
for all Americans in expressing
the great hope that the illness
will prove not too serious and
his father will recover.
The next announcement is
this: Some weeks ago. both the
Vice President and myself ex-
pressed the very great hope that
this would be an open conven-
toni said as far as it could
be for the nomination Of the
Presidency. and he said certainly
for the Office of the Vice Presi-
dency.
talked to the Chairman -
Permanent Chairman of the
Committee Convention Chair
man Joseph w. MARTINI this
morning and he said In order
that there could be no suggestion
of a freeze-out. he was going to
call the roll of states. there would
be no nomination and designa-
ton accepted until everybody had
his chance to say something.
Tells of Stassen Visit
But as it was, the only indi-
vidual who has made any great
effort to produce another can
didate has been Mr.. Stassen.
Mr.. Stassen called to see me
a few minutes ago. He said
from the beginning that he had
great admiration for the Vice
President, respected the work
he had done in Government,
but that he believed there were
individuals who would add great
er strength to the ticket than
would Mr.. Nixon. And in that
belief he had proceeded with his
effort.
He also said that no matter
who the Republican Convention
should name as their ticket, that
he wanted to be one of those
who supported it enthusiastically
and right down through the cam
paign.
And on from there.
So he said this morning that
after several days here, he had
become absolutely convinced that
the majority of the delegates
want Nixon, and in these cir
cumstanceS he no longer-and
particularly since his own can
didate has withdrawn so de-
cisively. he saw no reason :or
going further with his effort, and
he thought in order to get Lis
own position clear before the con-
vention and the American public.
he was going to ask the national
the convention chairman for
permission this afternoon to
second lis 1t today?-yes-this
afternoon. to second the nominas
ton Of the Vice President, Mr..
Nixon for denomination.
Answers Questions
Now I repeat, that Mr.. Stas-
sen has from the first stated and
expressed his admiration for the
Vice President, and he merely.
believes now that there is no
possibility of bringing in any
other candidate who he believes
would be strong enough.
Those are the only announce
Y1entS / have to make. gentle
men, and now we will go to ques-
tions.
@. Mr.. President, could you
tell US what you told Mr.. Stas-
sen this morning?
A. I told him that l would
come right down and announce
It to this group, so I could ex-
press my confidence that the
Republican convention would
receive his statement exactly as
he stated it and meant it, and
that they would accord him the
courtesy of a real hearing.
@. Is it your intention, sir, to
have Mr.. Stassen back on your
staff and on the team again?