Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-28
Operation FIeeson

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Doris Fleeson's column of
June 20 reaches a new zenith
of abSurdity. Is it not enough
to seek the opinions of medi-
cal men as to the Presidents
fitness to run for reelection?
To imply that Mr.. Eisenhower's
handwriting shows he is
tense" weary" depressed"
and uncertain" about his
future! And that the hand
writing of our Secretary of
State shows something signifi-
cant as to his capability. or
lack of it, for the job! Indeed,
If Miss Fleeson had to sign her
name hundreds of times weekly
to documents. as the President
does, she might become a little
tired and sick of it, too.
Recuperating from surgery,
imagine anyone's handwrit-
ing might show pain, tension
or anxiety. However, it seems
ridiculous to base too much i'm
portance on this finding. In
grasping for any straw to show
even a vague reason, or hint
at any possibility, or raise the
slightest doubt of Mr.. Eisen-
hower's fitness for his job, Miss
Fleeson has CROPPED a little too
far. Perhaps as long as we're
trusting opinions of handwrit-
ing experts, friends Of friends
of friends who've seen the
President, medical and nom
medical opinions of men who
have no personal knowledge of
the Presidents case of a dis
ease about which little is
known and much is debatable,
and medical texts which state
only that which one desires
them to say, we should also
begin following the Presidents
horoscope to see if he is fit
and making proper decisions
on proper days. Perhaps this
is the birth of new age of
astrology to guide Mr.. Dulles
in our foreign matters. Perhaps
we should call in the sooth-
sayerS, clairvoyants, oracles,
fortune tellers, and palm-read-
ing and tea-leaf experts to
make the policy of the United
States in foreign and domestic
matters. Or perhaps Miss Flee
son would have us go even
further back in time to the
methods of the civilizations of
ancient Rome and earlier ones,
and revert to plucking the en-
trails of a bird to determine
the correctness and feasibility
OF the Presidents moves!
Let's keep the controversy
about Mr.. Eisenhower's capa-
bility for reelection on sensi-
BILE grounds.
Elton Herman, MD.
X X \
1t should be noted by any
fair minded reader that Miss
Fleeson did not maintain that
she was better qualified to
ISSUE a prognosis on the Presi-
dents case than his own ply
sicians. She did, however,
make a strong case for the
idea that some explanation
should be given of the great :
gap between the optimistic
statements issued concerning
the Presidents case and the
pessimistic outlook given by
standard medical authorities.
Miss Fleeson has done an
alert and workmanlike job of
reporting. The health of the
President is surely of vital
concern to us all. He has him
self indicated that he feels
the fullest consideration of the
matter is due to all the citi-
zehs.
Throughout this administra-
ton there has been a strong
tendency on the part of many,
both private citizens and Re-
publican officials, to take the
strange attitude that Mr.. Ell
senhower is somehow above
examination or criticism. He
is excused from criticism for
any Of his own acts or the
acts Of others for which as
President he is responsible. lis
this immunity from critical ex-
animation to be extended to
the state Of his health?
If this. of all issues, is to
be placed out of bounds -
even for straight reporting
such as Miss Fleeson's--there
would appear to be little point
in having an election at all.
This is the real point which
Miss Fleeson's critics wish to
make. Perhaps they would
like TO let the Republicans
adopt a new campaign slogan.
Something like. Lets keep
this election out of politics"
Then we can dispense with
conventions. campaigns and
elections and relax. If in due
course of time we find our
selves under President Nixon,
then we will at least have the
solace that we kept 1t clean
and pure.