Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29

the courtesy of a cooperating Con-
gress. Likewise, it was Congress
that sometimes steered a reluctant
administration down the paths of
Righteousness and good sense.
Widened Center
Mr.. Eisenhower has widened the
center of the road to accommodate
a host of political Emergencies here
tofore found off center, both to the
right and the left. In so doing. he
has prevented the traditional isola-
tionism of the Republican Party
from debating the course of America
during the most crucial years of the
atomic age.
In two successive Congresses, the
"moderate-progressive" President
beat down the Bricker amendment,
designed to curtail the Executives
historic freedom to negotiate with
foreign powers. He went to Geneva
to negotiate with the new Krernlin
leaders. There he spoke for peace
with rare eloquence that won for
him and his Nation new respect.
He has been hardy and worthy
champion of reciprocal trade agree
mentS, which. he believes, are vital
to the foundation of peace and
world understanding.
Under Eisenhower, the Nation
obtained as decent peace in Ko-
rea as one could expect under the
circumstances, though there may
be some truth in the Democrats
claim that they could have done
as well, and earlier, if they had not
faced the uncompromiSing opposi-
ton of certain congressional Re-
publicanS.
Mr.. Eisenhower also was early
blessed with grasp of the meaning
of the peaceful potential of the
atom.
The very dearth of campaign
issues this year speaks for Mr..
EiSenhower's domestic policies,
which, while sometimes progressive,
have almost always been inoffen-
sive.
Healthy Economy
The economy. as a whole, has
been kept in healthy state, despite
the fact that for some months it
hung more or less in the balance.
Social security has been expanded
and enlarged in the finest New Deal
tradition.
The cause of civil rights has been
advanced ever so quietly on a num-
Der of fronts, although Congl eSs
has not given the President the
legislation he requested in this
field.
Most Of these attachments were
made possible by a friendly Con-
gress. There have been two reasons
for this political love scene between
the Executive and the Legislature.
Reasonable Texons
The Democrats, led by two very
reasonable Texans, House Speaker
Sam Rayburn and Senate Demo-
cratic Leader Lyndon johnson, have
been anxious to prove that the
President was talking through mis-
hat when he warned in 1854 that
legislative disaster would follow the
election Of a Democratic 84th Con-
gress. They have succeeded in
proving 1t, of course. Even n the
83d Congress, SHINY controlled by
the Presidents own party, the
Democrats were perfect opposition
gentlemen, and comported them
selves in a manner rarely seen on
the minority side of the aisles.
In both Congresses the Repub-
licans, even those who considered
Mr.. Eisenhower more of a Demo-
crat than b Republican. often were
persuaded to give support to the
President. probably through fear Of
becoming identified as an opponent
Of one Of tie most popular Repub-
lican Presidents in history.
Democratic cooperation with the
Republican President was especially
notable in foreign affairs. In fights
over the Bricker amendment re-
ciprocal trade and foreign aid. to
mention three, the Presidents ma
jority was supplied by the Demo
Gratis.
The Debit Side
But there was also a debit side
on the Eisenhower ledger. Congress
shared responsibility here. too
The farm problem. which has
logged many previous admins
tration. remains as much an enigma
as ever.
While his Supreme Court APP
continents have been commendable,
in his own department Mr.. Eisen-