Bob to Bert to Bricker

Senator Robert A. Taft of Hamilton County, Ohio last week wrote a letter that: 1) fulfilled a gentleman's agreement; 2) launched Ohio's Governor John William Bricker as a 1944 Presidential candidate.

Robert Taft had looked ahead: last month Bricker was elected Governor for the third term with a whopping majority, was in shape to challenge Taft's hold on the Ohio delegation two years hence. Besides, politically wise Robert Taft saw brewing a clash between liberal and Old Guard wings of G.O.P.—a confirmed middle-of-the-roader like John Bricker could maybe line up the in-betweens...