THE NATION: A Clear Call

Until March 11, the political words &deeds of 1952 were those of the politicians, the pundits and thepollsters. While nearly everyone agreed that Ike Eisenhower was apopular figure in the U.S., there was some doubt whether his popularitycould be extended into the ballot box, and still more about whether itwould be effective at the Republican National Convention.

Then the people began to have their say. The absent Ike’s victory over acampaigning Senator Robert Taft in New Hampshire on March 11 wasimpressive enough. But when the Republican voters of Minnesota went tothe polls through snow and mud and wrote in Ike’s name nearly 107,000times, the clear call was unmistakable. Linked together, the results ofNew Hampshire and Minnesota became a striking and momentousdemonstration that an Eisenhower boom of tremendous proportions issweeping across the land.

Politician Bob Taft could see it. He withdrew from the New Jerseyprimary, where he would have faced another direct test with Ike. Fromhis headquarters across the Atlantic, Dwight Eisenhower could see it.Said he: “The mounting numbers of my fellow citizens who are voting tomake me the Republican nominee are forcing me to re-examine my personalposition and past decisions.”

Close friends said Ike had decided that, because of his growingpolitical stature, it is his duty to resign as NATO commander andreturn to the U.S. before the end of May. After he made that decision,Ike’s state of mind was reported as “very happy.”

Around Ike’s headquarters in France, correspondents began to hear talkabout a tentative schedule:

¶ April 2, a television report to the U.S. people (it will be made onfilm in Europe), covering progress during the year he has been NATOcommander and explaining that the European defense program is now wellunder way.

¶ May 18, his first speech in the U.S., at the ColumbiaUniversity-sponsored “American Assembly.” in Harriman, N.Y. Subject:foreign policy.

¶ Later, a speech at West Point, to expand on hisconviction that American military spending can be slashed if the armedservices are really unified and streamlined.

¶ A speech in his home town, Abilene, Kans., on domestic issues.

Eisenhower’s main task will be to help in translating popular sentimentinto enthusiastic Ike delegates. Many a politico, impressed by the NewHampshire and Minnesota votes, is now wavering or moving reluctantlyinto the Eisenhower camp under popular pressure. If they can shakeIke’s hand and exchange views with him, they will feel a lot better—andthe Ike campaign will be protected against the possibility of aTaft-MacArthur drive in the convention hall.

This is a job that nobody can do on Ike’s behalf. An impressive sampleof Americans has given him as clear a call as a man can get from thepeople under the present primary setup. They like Ike, in spite of hisabsence, because he is not a professional politician, because theythink he understands the issues on which peace and war depend, becausehe shares their suspicion of the mushrooming bureaucratic state.

If Ike stayed in Europe through the convention,the popular groundswellmight be thwarted by political manipulation. He has recognized that animportant part of the duty imposed by the clear call of New Hampshireand Minnesota is to come home this spring.