Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-01

My Fellow Citizens:
/ wanted to come into YOU
homes this evening because fee
the need of talking with you d.
rectly about a decision ] made
today after weeks of the most
prayerfui and deyoutly careful
consideration. I made that de-
cision public shortly after 10 this
morning. Immediately ! re-
turned to this office. Upon
reaching here ] sat down and
began to put down on paper
thoughts that occurred to me
which I felt might be of some
interest to you in connection
with that decision. This is what
] wrote.
I have decided that II the
Republican Party chooses to re-
nominate me. I shall accept that
nomination. Thereafter, if the
people of this country should
elect me, I shall continue to
serve them in the Office I now
hold. / have concluded that !
should permit the American
people to have the opportunity
to register their decision in this
matter.
Guided by Doctors
In reaching this conclusion I
have, first of all, been guided by
the favorable reports OF the doc
tors. AS many of you may know,
their reports are that my heart
has not enlarged, that my pulse
and blood pressure are normal.
that my blood analysis is excel
lent, my weight satisfactory. and
I have shown no signs Of undue
fatigue after periods of normal
mental and physical activity.
In addition. / have consulted
literally with multitudes OF
friends and associates, either
personally or through CORE
spondence. With their advice
once had been assured OF a
favorable opinion-I have dill
gently sought the path Of per-
sonal responsibility, and OF duty
to the immense body OF citizens
who have supported me and this
administration in what we have
been pointly trying to do.
In the last analysis. how
ever, the decision was my
own Even the closest members
of my family have declined to
urge me to any specific course,
merely saying that they would
cheerfully abide by whatever ]
decided was best to do.
From the moment that any
man is first elected President OF
the United States, there is con-
tinuous public interest in the
question as to whether or not he
will seek reelection. In most
instances, Presidents in good
health have sought. or at least
have made themselves available
for, a second term.
Risk Is Not Great
In my own case this question.
which was undecided before my
recent illness, has been compli-
Gated by the heart attack ]
suffered on September oath last
year. Aside from all other con-
siderations, I have been faced
with the fact that. I am classed
as a recovered heart patient.
This means that to some unde-
termined extent, I may possibly
be a greater risk than is the
normal person OF my age. My
doctors assure me that this. in
creased percentage Of risk is not
great.
So far as my own personal
sense of well-being is concerned.
I am as we'll as before the attack
occurred. 1t is. however. true
thai the opinions and con-
illusions of the doctors that I can
continue to carry the burdens of
the presidency. contemplate for
me a regime of ordered work
activity, interspersed with regular
amounts of exercise, recreation
and rest. A further word about
this prescribed regime. ! must
keep my weight at proper level.
I must take a short midday
breather, I must normally retire