Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-27
HEADLINE PERSONALITY
Liberio S Vice President
Is Buster All the Time

Like his American counter
part, William Richard Tolbert,
ljr., the Vice President of Liberia.
finds himself buster, all the time.
Now serving his second term as
second man in the True Wing
administration of President VIII
liam Tubman, MIR. Tolbert at
tends all cabinet meetings, as
does Vice President Nixon, and
like him also. presides over the
Senate.
The latter duty is not so
Iarduous Is it Is on Capitol Hill.
since the Senate Of the Negro
Republic, the oldest independent
government in Africa. has only
ten members, two from each Of
its flve counties. and they all
swear allegiance to the True
IWhig Party.
Mr.. Tolbert. a smiling, stocky
44-year- old, makes it plain that
the lack Of q strong opposition
group is not the result of any
government suppression, but
merely due to the apathy which
ltraditionally overcomes defeated
|contending parties between cleo
Itions. Mr.. Tubman has been in
Iofice for IA years. and has be-
come the most famous and effec-
tive chief executive in the history
Iof the African republic. founded
under American auspices l06
years ago.
| A Demon Campaigner
Like Mr.. Nixon, whose lunch
leon guest he viii be next week.
Mr.. Tolbert is a very heavy
Ihandshaker. He does it all the
time, in election season and out.
He also is a demon campaigner.
penetrating the furthest reaches
iof the interior. seeking out the
tribal chieftains who administer
local government in those re-
mote places.
Mr.. Tolbert, who was educated
lin his native Liberia, is here for
"a medical checkup, but the Uni
tied States is using the occasion
to make as great a fuss as it
can over an "unoflciap visit
tor. partly it is said. to reassure
Liberia that it is still our IA
vorite African republic, despite
the great play given the brand
new independence Of Ghana.
He Has Been Here Before
The friendship between ussand
Liberia is very warm in any
case. and the efforts of the Com
munists to drive a wedge have
come to naught. They went
bowling and smiling to Monrovia
for the 1855 Inauguration, Of.
: fering loans and suggesting dip
!, lomatic exchanges, but Mr.. Tub
man smilingly put them Of. Lib
r eria receives economic aic
through international Co-opera-
ton Administration. and while
Mr.. Tolbert has said he has moi
! asked for grants, it is plain that
he would not refuse any for his
country.
. Mr.. Tolbert, Is no stranger
| here. having been the guest OF
the Nation at the time Of Presi-
dent TrumahE Inauguration ir
: 1919, and having come here last
year for medical treatment. Thi;
time he win tour industrial
plants with an eye to taking
home the word to Liberia, which
Is undertaking a great develop.
ment program. The Republic il
E rich IN rubber. and recently
E there was discovered treasure.
: trove of diamonds.
Vice President Tolbert anc
Vice President Nixon met during
: the latter's recent visit to Africa
Mr.. Tolbert says Mr.. Nixon Il
quite a character-a wonderful
: man."
Mr.. Tolbert's interest in poll
tics go back to his boyhood, wheI
his father was a member o
Liberals 35-man House of Re
representatives.. He made his frs
!. bid for public Office after SERVING
! as paymaster for the govern