REPUBLICANS: Bob the Bugler

The surest thing about the Taft-Eisenhower convention fight was that neither could win the presidency without the wholehearted support of the faction led by the other. Within the hour after Ike was nominated, Taft pledged his support; then he left for a Canadian vacation, and many Taft partisans began to drag their feet. Their feeling was voiced by Indiana’s Republican Chairman Cale J. Holder: “Until Bob Taft blows the bugle, a lot of us aren’t going to fight in the army.”

“Enjoyable … Enjoyable.” Last week Bob blew the bugle. At Ike’s invitation, he drove up to Eisenhower’s Columbia University residence on Morningside Heights. The two breakfasted on honeydew melon, scrambled eggs, rolls and coffee. Afterward, they adjourned to the library, where Taft brought out a unity statement he had prepared for the press. Eisenhower read it over. They discussed it, with Bob writing in some changes and Ike scribbling down others. By the time the newsmen were admitted, the two had finished with politics and were chatting about fishing. “A very enjoyable talk,” said Ike. “An enjoyable breakfast,” agreed Bob. Then Taft walked across the street to a press conference in the King’s Crown Hotel.

His statement established the basis for unity among the anti-Fair Deal forces. It marked the final step to be taken before Ike Eisenhower could soundly say that the Republican forces were together in the fight for victory in November. Excerpts:

“There is and has been one great fundamental issue between the Republican Party and the New Deal or Fair Deal or Stevenson Deal. It is the issue of liberty against the creeping socialization in every domestic field. Liberty was the foundation of our Government, the reason for our growth, the basis of our happiness, and the hope of our future. The greatest threat to liberty today is internal, from the constant growth of big government through the constantly increasing power and spending of the Federal Government … I wished to be sure that the new administration will be inspired with the philosophy of extending liberty before I entered into an extensive speaking campaign.

“After a satisfactory discussion with General Eisenhower this morning for two hours, I am satisfied that that is his philosophy . . .

“I cannot say that I agree with all of General Eisenhower’s views on … foreign policy . . . but I think it is fair to say that our differences are differences of degree . . . From my standpoint the essential thing is to keep our expenditures on armament and foreign aid as long as there is no general war, at a percentage of our total income which will not destroy our free economy at home and further innate our debt and our currency . . . General Eisenhower emphatically agrees with me in the proposal to reduce drastically overall expenses. Our goal is about $70 billion in fiscal year 1954 and $60 billion in fiscal year 1955. That would make possible a reduction in taxes to the $60 billion level for the year 1955 . . . In our opinion a free economy cannot continue successfully if the total tax burden for the purposes of all government continuously exceeds 25% of the national income.

“General Eisenhower has also told me that he believes strongly in our system of constitutional limitations on Government power, that he abhors the left-wing theory that the executive has unlimited powers, such as Mr. Truman’s claim that he could seize steel mills, and usurp other powers generally without constitutional authority.

“General Eisenhower has also told me that he believes in the basic principles of the Taft-Hartley law, its protection of the freedom of the people and union members themselves against the arbitrary use of power by big business or big labor, and is opposed to its repeal.”

“Completely Satisfied.” For Taftmen who fear they may be cut out of patronage and policymaking even if Eisenhower wins, Taft had reassurance: “General Eisenhower stated without qualification that in the making of appointments at high levels or low levels there will be no discrimination against anyone because he or she has supported me, and that he is determined to maintain the unity of the entire party by taking counsel with all factions and points of view.

“I am completely satisfied “that General Eisenhower will give this country an administration inspired by the Republican principle of continued and expanding liberty for all as against the continued growth of New Deal socialism which we would suffer under Governor Stevenson, representative of the left-wingers, if not a left-winger himself.

“I urge all Americans, and particularly those who have confidence in my judgment and my principles, to vote for Eisenhower and Nixon, for all the Republican senatorial candidates, and all the Republican House candidates, and to do everything possible to bring many others to the polls to do the same. I shall be glad to speak on a national broadcast or at any point throughout the country to the extent of my ability. I believe General Eisenhower will be elected . . .”

Back in Ohio this week, Bob Taft swung quickly into action. He promised a vigorous campaign (“Three or four days every week during the six weeks of the campaign”) that will cover 15 or 16 states. Unlike Ike, Bob will not hesitate to name names—and plenty of them—as he too thumps away at “the mess in Washington.”

From Indiana came an immediate reaction from Chairman Holder: “It is in the interests of America that Eisenhower … be elected.”