Evening star., 1956-07-31
The Vice Presidency

Theodore McManus must
have envisioned Vice Presi-
dent Nixon when he composed
THE Penalty of Leadership"
Changing its phraseology
slightly to fit Nixon's case,
McManus' lines read: I'm every
field of human endeavor he
that is first must perpetually
live in the white light of pub
licity'. emulation and envy
are ever at work the re-
ward and punishment are ever
the same: the reward is world
wide recognition; the punish
ment. fierce denial and de-
traction. When a mans work
becomes a standard for the
political world, it also becomes
the target for the shafts of the
enviouS few. Jealousy does not
protrude its forked tongue at
any man whose activities are
commonplace. The leader is
aSSailed because he is a leader,
and the effort to squelch him
is merely added proof of his
outstanding achievements and
capabilities. Failing to equal
or succeed him, the follower
seeks to destroy, but only con.
firms once more the superb
ority of him whom he strives
to dethrone. All this is as old
as the human paSsions-envy,
fear, greed, ambition and the
desire to humiliate. And it all
will avail nothing. If the leader
truly leads he remains-the
leader. He who is good and
great makes himself known by
his works, no matter how loud
the clamor of denial. He who
deserves to tUin-WINS!"
Gridley Adams.
1t does appear that Mr..
Stassen is needing" the Pres
ident a thing most people who
hold the President in high re-
gard would hesitate to do.
Is it possible that Mr.. Stas-
sen believes that he should
have been named Vice Presi-
dent at the convention since
he threw Minnesota to Eisen-
hover? He hesitates showing
resentment against the Presi-
dent and shoots at Nixon to
relieve his feelings. One could
assume that Mr.. Stassen and
his hackers believe that the
President will not survive an
other term and now, before
it is too late, are arranging a
back door" entrance. Stassen
still has an eye on the preSi-
dency. AS a Republican / GER
tainly would re-examine the
situation If Nixon were
dropped.
AS for the StasSen poll" I
would not believe it. Many Re-
publicans are resentful at any
one who attempts to put Ike
on a spot"
Taft Republican.
*,*
What you editorially term
the "Stassen Boner" broke the
fourth post-operative night
following my prostatectomy at
Sibley Hospital. I mention this
because somehow it is a cur
rent fiction that old men in
the throes of painful and i'm
mobilizing illness are miracu-
lously endowed with majestic
attributes. They are supposed
to be even better and more
capable and efficient than
when they were well. Conf
dentially this is lot of bunk.
II a third act of God in
tervenes, the Vice President
must take over. That brings
us to the vital matter of fore
closing the nomination for
Vice President before the Re-
publican national convention.
II this is done, the Republican
convention will be no different
than those behind the Iron
Curtain. where the delegates
are just so many puppets. To
call such Understanding
Republican unity" could be
a fatal deception If something
happens to Mr.. Eisenhower be-
fore he takes his second oath
OF Office. To discourage free
ana open debate upon this
controversial subject would not
measure up to Mr.. EiSen-
hower's idealism.
The President thinks nepo-
tism is contemplate and has
scrupulously avoided it. But
to absolutely foreclose the Re-
publican nomination for Vice
President before the conven-
ton even meets will BE a form
Of nepotism without precedent
in our history.
Thomas E. Mattingly, MD.
-
While Harold Stassen deals
with disarmament problems,
George M. Humphrey has
much to do with armament
problems. The former was told
W1..A-aL-A