Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-31
BY WILLIAM HINES

A two-phase legislative pro-
gram to cope with the question
of presidential disability was put
forward yesterday by Senate
Democratic Whip Mansfield Of
Montana.
Senator Mansfield was one OF
~ Congressional leaders who met
Friday with President Eisen-
hover and Attorney General
Brownell to discuss what should
be done in event a Chief Execu-
tive cannot carry out his duties.
The President told the group a
constitutional amendment would
be proposed tomorrow, when Mr..
Brownell appears before the
House Judiciary Committee.
The Montana Senator. while
supporting in principle the idea
Iof a constitutional amendment
Ito nail the matter down per-
manently," pointed out that no
such amendment could be rati-
fled in time to cover a disability
which might strike President
Eisenhower. This point. Senator
Mansfield said. the President
conceded quite frankly at the
Friday meeting.
II think what we should do
now" Senator Mansfield said,
lis go ahead and pass a statute
of some kind to take care of the
disability question for the time
being, and then follow up with
: an amendment which might take
as much as seven years to get
through"
Senator Mansfield had no spe-
cific proposals Of his own for
such stop-gap legislation. but
said he thought the Presidents
views on a constitutional amend
ment, as put forward Friday.
were sound ones.
Mr.. EiSenhoWer's proposals
boiled down thus:
/. The President could volun-
tarily declare himself unable to
serve and step aside in favor of
the vice president until he de-
cided to resume Office. These
steps would be taken in writing.
;, 2. II the President could not
act on his own incapacity flor
instance, if he was in COMA
the disability action would be
taken in his name by a majority
of the cabinet. This meeting
could be convened either by the
Vice President or by a cabinet
. member.
White House View
1t was the White House view
that the cabinet would be the
best agency to take action on
disability because 1t is in Wash
ington all the time. while Con-
gress is out OF session much OF
the year. Also. the administra
ton feels. cabinet members. as
appointees of the President.
would be likely to protect his
, interests at all times.
Senator Mansfield pointed out
, that under the legislative re-
Organization act the congress
'sional leadership can. in an
| emergency, call Congress back to
Washington. He implied that he
did not think the first point had
much merit. and indicated he
would like to see congressional
representation on any board Sit
ting as judge of the Presidents
ability to serve
Plans aplenty for legislation
were in the works this week end.
but an impressive roadblock-in
the person OF House Speaker
Rayburn--Seemed to stand in
the way Of either statutory or
constitutional change.
Rayburn's Views
Speaker Rayburn told the
President. in effect. at the Fri
day meeting. that disability
legislation proposals now would
raise in the public mind the
motion that Mr.. Eisenhower
himself was planning to give up
active service. Mr.. Eisenhower
and Mr.. Brownell were reported
to have treasured Speaker Ray
, burn. pointing out that the adj
ministration's amendment pro-
posal would not apply to Presi-
/. dent Eisenhower.
Nevertheless, Speaker Rayburn
was not moved. Sternly saying
he did not think much OF the
, idea" the Texas legislator told
: newSmen the country had gone
along well for 1863 years without
either a law or an amendment.
He expressed strong doubts that
such steps were needed now.
Another Democrat. Senator
Green Of Rhode Island. called
the Presidents proposal "prema-
ture" and said comprehensive
study of the issue should be made
by Congress before any further
action is taken.
Up to now. all responsible adj
ministration and congressional
leaders have avoided relating
the disability question to the
personal health of Mr.. Eisen-
hover. However, the aftermath
of the Presidents heart attack
in September 1855 and his ileitis
siege in June 1856 were recalled
and discussed freely in non-
. Official circles yesterday.
For many days after the heart
attack. Mr.. Eisenhower lay in a
Denver hospital bed unable to
perform such duties as the sign
ing Of official papers. Fortui-