A Walk In the Sun

Unguarded and alone, the President of Mexico strolled out of the hot sunshine of Mexico City's Avenida Madero into the cool interior of the High Life Men's Store. At the counter, Manager Roberto Bloch absently said: "Yes?" Then he took another look at his customer and gasped: "Yes, Mr. President?"

Miguel Aleman wanted an English scarf. He was in no hurry. He lingered over a red and black number, asked Bloch what he thought of it. Finally he selected a red scarf with yellow dots and a yellow one with red dots. He paid, picked up his package and walked out on to Madero's narrow sidewalk. An Indian lottery-ticket seller murmured "Good day, Mr. President." "Yes, but too hot," grinned Aleman. But most passers-by brushed past without noticing. A few looked back startled, not quite believing what they saw--for until recently Mexico had seen its Presidents only behind lines of guards.*

Then around the corner came the presidential Cadillac. Aleman climbed in, rode off to his Chapultepec home.

* Since 1910 three Presidents of Mexico have been assassinated, and two more would have been, had not would-be assassins bungled their jobs.

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