Evening star., 1960-07-31
HEADLINE PERSONALITY
Quiet Kentuckion
Leads Nixon Drive

I1ACAAbdNhyG WAlC4C LIIC SCIlbIy
banker after a fast horse and
a fiamboyant politician, Thru
ston Ballard Morton seems as
out of character as a revenue
agent trying to get a liquor
license.
While it is true that Senator
Morton likes to tell homely
Kentucky mountaineer stories,
it is equally true that he goes
about his business with a quiet,
Ivy League manner.
His principal business from
now until November 8 will be
to maStermind the strategy
which he hopes will place
Richard M. Nixon in the White
House.
In the last Is months Sen
ator Morton-newly reelected
as chairman of the Republican
National Committee-has trav-
eled $1,000 miles in As States.
That should serve as a salts
factory warmup for the cam
paign days ahead.
Congress Hopes Dim
Senator Morton, who will be
So next month, already has
indicated the path Republicans
will follow in their struggle for
the White House. He also has
made it clear there is no hope
for the G. o. P. in gaining
control of the Senate and only
a slight chance for the House.
Basically. his arguments run
along these lines: The Eisen-
hover administration repre-
sents the best years of history
measured by virtually any yard
stick" This prosperity. he con-
tends, has been achieved despite
a "won't-do" Democratic Con-
gress. And Richard Nixon is the
man best qualified to maintain
the peace and handle the diff
cult decisions which lie ahead.
His role as party chairman is
an appropriate one for Senator
Morton, for he is essentially a
team man.
1t is one Of his proudest
boasts that he has a perfect"
record of support for President
EiSenhower'S programs.
Friend Of Nixon
He also fits in. with the
Eisenhower team in another
important respect = he is a
personal friend and staunch
supporter of Vice President
Nixon, whom he has known
since they both served in the
House.
Thruston Morton was born in
Louisville August 19, 1907, into
the seventh generation of a
well-to-do Kentucky family. His
first political job was as a 12-
year-old page in the Kentucky
State Assembly. His grand
father, S. Thruston Ballard.
was Lieutenant Governor.
After graduating from Yale
University. Senator Morton
went to work for the family
grain and milling business, Bal
lard & Ballard Co., in Louis
vile. He rose to president of
the firm.
Sought New Ventures,
During World War II the
Kentuckian served as a Navy
officer on minesweepers and
destroyers in the Pacific. He
returned home restless for new
ventures. AS his wife later re-
called:
Politics seemed to appeal to
him, so when the opportunity
came to run for office he took
| it." Il
He ran for the House in 1916
against the Democratic incum-
bent, Emmet O'Neal, and won. 4
This was the same year that
Mr.. Nixon entered the House. l
In 1852, after six years in
the House, the tall politician
was the only Eisenhower sup
porter in the 20-man Ken
lucky delegation to the Repub-
lican National Convention.
Soon after the President was
inaugurated Mr.. Morton ac-
cepted a position as Assistant
Secretary of State, a job he
held until 1856 when he ran
for the Senate against Earl
Clements.
Vigorous Campaign
Although Senator Clements, /
q DnVaAn1.At e.