National Affairs: THE ANGELS OF THE TRUMAN CAMPAIGN

For the Democrats, in the gloomy summer of 1948, money was hard to come by. Even tried & true contributors of other years were reluctant to bet on what seemed to be a sure loser. Then Louis Johnson stepped in, raised enough money ($1,500,000) to pay for Harry Truman's whistle-stop campaign. Some of the men on whom Johnson put the bite were longtime Democrats; some were strong for one plank or another in Harry Truman's platform; some simply found it good business to be on good terms with the Administration (as others were supporting the G.O.P. for the same reason). Whatever their motives, Harry Truman—who puts great store by such things—has reason to be specially grateful to the following:

Nathan Lichtblau, 45, Manhattan plastics manufacturer who also owns interests in Palm Beach real estate. A perennial assistant to Democratic treasurers since 1936, Lichtblau served as Johnson's deputy, wheedled many a sweat-stained dollar from New York's minority groups when the going was tough. The money he raised paid for the newspaper advertising campaign launched in the campaign's closing days. Says Lichtblau: "I don't want a job or anything. I work purely as an amateur."

Floyd B. Odium, 57, slim, publicity-shy president of the octopoidal Atlas Corp., a Wall Street investment company. One of the nation's most spectacular financiers (e.g., RKO, Greyhound Lines), Odium has made a specialty of buying up control of companies, putting them in good running condition, then selling out at a handsome profit. A recent buy (1947): Consolidated Vultee (he is board chairman). Other Atlas interests: United Fruit, American & Foreign Power (a subsidiary of Electric Bond & Share). A longtime Democratic angel, Odium was at first none too wild about Harry, but stoutly supported him. He gave $3,000 himself, got his associates to add $20,000 more.

Tom Evans, longtime Kansas City personal and political friend of Harry Truman. Tall, white-haired Tom Evans lent Truman $5,000 to help finance his 1940 senatorial campaign. In 1948 Evans gave $3,000 himself, raised $100,000 more in the Midwest. He owns Kansas City's station KCMO, is board chairman of Crown Drug Co., a chain with 85 stores in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.

Albert M. Greenfield, onetime Republican and heavy contributor to the Vare machine, who switched allegiance in 1932. Born in the Ukraine in 1887, Greenfield is one of the biggest real-estate operators in the country, controls banks, department stores, a candy store chain (Loft), theaters and several of Philadelphia's big hotels. He is active in both Christian and Jewish charities, a prime promoter of National Brotherhood Week. He was vice chairman of Johnson's fund-raising committee. During the campaign, he got an SOS: funds were so low that the Democrats could broadcast only 15 minutes of an important Truman speech. Greenfield wired back: buy the air time, and make it half an hour. When Truman rode through the streets of Philadelphia, short, chubby Albert Greenfield rode with him.