The Boom

As the word from Paris headlined its way around the country, the Eisenhower boom grew with it.

Some newspapers lined up with Ike the night of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge's announcement. One of them was the usually slow-moving New York Times, which had backed a Democratic candidate in three of the last five elections (Roosevelt in 1932, 1936, 1944). Noting that other newspapers and magazines had recently declared for Eisenhower, the Times editorialized: "This widespread faith in General Eisenhower's fitness to be President is deeply sincere and wholly spontaneous . . . We are confident that he would use the great power of the United States bravely, but with a sober sense of values ... If Dwight Eisenhower should be nominated by the Republican Party ... we shall support him enthusiastically."

Echoed the Fair Dealing Chicago Sun-Times: "Eisenhower, of all Americans, can best bring unity to this country and the free world."

Ike's supporters were crowing. Said Pennsylvania's Senator Jim Duff: "A complete confirmation of what his supporters have been saying all along . . . This is a clear-cut declaration that he will not let you down." In Kansas, two more newspapers declared for Ike editorially. St. Louis Republicans promptly announced an immediate opening of their Eisenhower-for-President headquarters.

Senator John Bricker, a Taft man, conceded that the statement "has settled the fact that Eisenhower is a Republican." Candidate Taft himself declared his belief that Eisenhower "is not and will not be a candidate, although he would accept a draft for the nomination."

Overseas, Western Europeans were sorry at the thought of Ike's possible departure, but obviously enthusiastic at the thought of a good friend in the White House. Wrote the London News Chronicle, ". . . Nothing could be better from an international point of view than that he should go forward logically into the next phase of a rich life and a rewarding career." Russia's Andrei Vishinsky said: "Let him run; I have no objection."

In Ike's home town of Abilene, Kans., his fellow townsmen were jubilant but dignified. Said Publisher Henry B. Jameson, an early Eisenhower backer: "The people of Abilene are not excitable by nature, but there is some excitement here."

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