POLITICAL NOTES: MacArthur for Taft

While the diplomats were preparing to sign the Japanese Peace Treaty in San Francisco last week, an old soldier rose 2,650 miles away to make a speech. Douglas MacArthur, chief architect of peace in Japan, had not been invited to the signing, instead was appearing before 10,000 cheering Ohioans in Cleveland. But the treaty was not uppermost in Douglas MacArthur’s mind that night. Though he took due note of Japan’s recovery and return to sovereignty, and though he insisted that he had “neither partisan affiliation nor . . . political purpose,” the burden of his message was a slambang, frankly political assault on the Democratic Administration and all its works.

Six Questions. “The issues which today confront the nation are clearly defined,” said MacArthur. Then he proceeded to propound a series of questions which might be taken as the text for the Republican campaign against the Fair Deal:

“Are we going to maintain our present course toward state socialism, with Communism just beyond, or reverse the present trend and regain our hold upon our heritage of liberty and freedom?

“Are we going to squander our limited resources to the point of our own inevitable exhaustion or adopt common-sense policies of frugality which will insure financial stability in our times and a worthwhile heritage in that of our progeny?

“Are we going to continue to yield personal liberties and community autonomy to the steady and inexorable centralization of all political power or restore the Republic to constitutional direction. . . ?

“Are we going to permit a continuing decline in public and private morality or re-establish high ethical standards as the means of regaining a diminishing faith in the integrity of our public and private institutions?

“Are we going to continue to permit the pressure of alien doctrines to strongly influence the orientation of foreign and domestic policy or regain trust in our own traditions, experience and free institutions and the wisdom of our own people?

“In short, is American life of the future to be characterized by freedom or by servitude, strength or weakness? The answer must be clear and unequivocal if we are to avoid the pitfalls toward which we are now heading with such certainty.”

Something About Ohio. The audience interrupted MacArthur 28 times during his 35-minute speech to applaud his slashing attack. But what really touched off the crowd was a seemingly casual reference to Ohio—”a state which has contributed so abundantly to America’s leadership both past and contemporary.” Added MacArthur: “Indeed, indications multiply that this leadership may even increase in the not-too-distant future.”

The remark could hardly be mistaken for anything but what it was: a deliberate endorsement of Ohio’s Republican Senator Robert Taft for the presidency. In case there was any doubt about it, MacArthur quickly dispelled it with a blast at “our political and military leaders” who, after World War II, “dissipated with reckless haste that predominant military power which was the key to the situation.” Notable among those leaders: General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Fascinating Possibility. Republican insiders were not overly surprised by it all. General MacArthur, who conferred with Taft three weeks ago in New York, has told visiting Republicans that at the proper time he will back Taft openly. Though he has the highest regard for Eisenhower, he does not think Ike is the man to lead the Republican crusade against statism. For himself, MacArthur seeks no office.

He sees himself in the role of elder statesman, a kind of Republican Bernard Baruch.

Some Republicans immediately began to speculate on another fascinating possibility: Will Douglas MacArthur, whose bearing and oratory are impressive even under less dramatic circumstances, go before the Republican convention as a delegate next year and start a landslide for Robert Taft?