Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-26
Continued From First Page

atl CA-H9bdbC OCSAOVUA " N POAA
of two-time candidates for
President. the Chief Justice Of
the United States, House and
Senate majority and minority
leaders-and a galaxy of other
important figures from politi-
cal, military and civilian life
all gathered at the Hotel Stat
Ter yesterday to pledge their
support.
President Eisenhower ended
the session last night with an
impassioned plea for popular
and congressional support for
his program. He rated the
effort equally urgent with this
country's missile program.
AssaiIs Foes
Assailing "ostrich-like" foes
of the program. he said oppo-
sition to it is based on IAN out
right refusal to look at the
world of 1858 as it really is"
Within five seats on one side
or the other of the President
at the head table were such di-
verse political figures as Adlai
E. Stevenson, two-time Demo-
cratic presidential candidate:
Thomas E. Dewey, former New
York Governor who twice was
an unsuccessful Republican can
didate for the presidency: Chief
Justice Earl Warren, who was
Gov. Dewey's l948 running
mate: Vice President Nixon,
and House Speaker Rayburn.
Truman Speaks
The bipartisan promotion of
the mutual security program
still was not enough to bridge
the five-year-old animosity be-
tween Mr.. Eisenhower and for
mer President Truman. Mr..
Truman, introduced by former
Secretary of State Dean Ache
son, spoke in behalf Of the
program at a luncheon meeting
yesterday, but was absent from
what Mr.. Nixon called the
"star-studded" gathering last
night.
Resembling applause from
the 1.000-odd persons at the
dinner greeted favorable
mention of the former Presi-
dents name by Mr.. Eisenhower,
however.
The President cited Ameri-
can military and economic aid
to Greece in 1947 under the
Truman doctrine" as vital
factor in checking Communist
imperialism in Greece.
Partisanship Holiday
And more applause came
when Mr.. Eisenhower asserted:
This is no time for short
sighted narrowness. The ar
ray of leaders of both parties
who have come together here
today is eloquent proof that on
this issue partiSanhip has in
deed taken a holiday"
Before the dinner, Mr.. Eli
senhower and Mr.. Stevenson
the man he defeated in 1882
and 1956-shook hands in
friendly fashion during a meet
ing Of head table guests in an
anteroom.
1t was difficult to detect in
the Presidents voice any of the
huskiness that had been o
symptom Of the bad cold and
sore throat he contracted while
playing golf in chill winds at
Augusta, Ca. the first of this
month.
StumbleS on Words
But he stumbled over, or
mispronounced, at least IS
words during his speech. A
slight difiiculty in. speaking was
the main effect of the stroke
like cerebral occlusion he suf-I
fered last November rs.
Although his doctors have re-
ported him greatly improved.
they have not yet pronounced
him completely recovered from
that illness.
He appeared to be feeling
well last night. He was relaxed
and Jolly in predinner CONVEX
sStion with those sitting beside
him-Mrs. Nixon on his right
and Eric Johnston, chairman
of the conference. on his left.
Before he went on the air
with his prepared talk, the
President delivered an of-the-
cuff, four-minute "thank-you"
talk to his fellow diners. II am
proud Of this gathering" he
said. He added that he be-
lieved that in many respects
this was "the most unique &C.
casion at which I have ever
been present"
Reiterates Points
Mr.. Eisenhower's radio speech
was largely a reiteration of the