Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-19
The Strauss Defeat

The Senate'S close vote early this
morning against confirmation of Lewis
L. Strauss as Secretary of Commerce
has deprived the President and the
country of the services of very able,
patriotic and devoted man, whose singu-
larly distinguished public service began
some 40 years ago-a record which
stands unblemiShed despite his defeat.
Two votes cast the other way
would have turned this defeat into
victory. The difference was that close.
Everybody had long since concluded
that it would be very close. But the
odds, because of the nature of the case
made against him by his critics, seemed
to favor Mr.. Strauss. It was, in our
opinion, flimsy sort of an excuse for
case which is greater reflection on
the Senate than it is on Mr.. Strauss.
The defeat is rare incident in
the history of presidential appointments
to the Cabinet, and strange departure
from the principle underlying the Presi-
dents right to choose his own Cabinet
members, modified by the Senate's right
to advise and consent.
What accounted for this departure
from that principle, we believe, was an
unusual combination of circumstances
which had no remote connection with
Mr.. Strauss competence or character
as a public servant. The nature of
that combination of circumstances be-
came more apparent as the uninspired,
largely artificial and abSurdly rambling
speeches of his opponents dragged out
the Senate debate.
One circumstance in this combina-
ton is that Mr.. Strauss personality
exhibits a certain stubborn confidence
In his own rectitude, and made him,
long ago, controversial figure-the
controversy being between people who
like him and those. who dislike him.
Another circumstance is that he has
trampled on great many sensitive
toes by sticking to certain principles
which he regards as fundamental.
He alienated the advocates of public
power. He not only believes in private
enterprise, he speaks up for it and
seeks to encourage it against the trends
of the times. He became the chief
personal target in the Dixon-Y Yates bust
ness, which was heaven-sent issue for
any demagogue. And for five tense
years he was Chairman of the Atomic
Energy Commission, years in which the
commission was spending about $40
billion in a field which is new, which
comes close to trespasSing in super
natural areas, which invites deep and
understandable conflicts of emotion,
theory and economic philosophy, and in
which there can be no decision without
opposition.
Another circumstance is the SEN
ate's growing suspicion of the highly
important principle of executive privi-
lege, which the legislative branch,
jealous of its own prerogatives, feels is
being ineptly or self-servingly abused.
Mr.. Strauss came along at time when
he was made the convenient whipping
boy and symbol of such abuse, although
there are many worthier and untouched
candidates for that honor.
Another strange circumstance was
Mr.. Strauss refusal to say the expedient
thing; or, more Importantly, to say what
some Senators thought he should have
said, in explanation Of essentially trivial
matters, instead of saying what Mr..
Strauss thought he should say.
j Thus, all these circumstances made
political bedfellows of a substantial
group of Senator's whose opinions on
other things may be as far apart as
the poles but were united in OPPOSE
.tion-along with the shrill Communist
radio propagandiStS who will hail their
votes as victory.
The other-and very important cir
cumstance-was that Senator Clinton
Anderson, whose bitter hatred of the
candidate became conspicuous, is
popular and respected Senator. He was
able to become the catalytic agent
which combined these various elements
in opposition. And he has now had his
victory.