Before the Storm

How would Harry Truman fare as minority President? The answer waited upon the next Congress. During the post-election lull the President was already battening down the hatches.

Last week he told his White House crew of a personal decision: he intended to make no campaign for delegates to the 1948 Democratic convention. Harry Truman felt he could serve his country and his party best by concentrating his full attention on the two years ahead.

He maintained prudent silence on specific ways in which he might cooperate with the Republican Congress. But G.O.P. leaders dashed cold water on the suggestion that they hold weekly legislative conferences at the White House. Snapped Senator Robert A. Taft: "I don't think it would be feasible. . . . That might promote controversies rather than solve them."

To tackle controversies which persisted independently of elections, Harry Truman worked inconspicuously. He let OPAdministrator Paul Porter grapple with revising policy on rents (see Administration). In the soft-coal crisis, (see The Nation), he kept behind the scenes, but kept in constant touch with Secretary of the Interior "Cap" Krug.

A long conference with Krug delayed the President's departure aboard the yacht Williamsburg for a weekend visit to the Naval Academy. When he reached Annapolis after an all-night cruise, he looked chipper and relaxed. Next day he made an informal little speech before lunch in Bancroft Hall. There was a subdued laugh from the future admirals when the President said: "The future is in your hands. . . . Those of us now running the Government are coming to the end of their term." Then, as a raw wind swept off the river, Army veteran Harry Truman watched the Navy lose to Penn State.

This week, leaving cold weather and warm controversy behind, the President flew to Key West in the Sacred Cow. There he planned a lazy seven-day vacation in the commandant's quarters of the Key West Naval Base. Sun and rest would prepare the President for the stormy winter ahead.

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