National Affairs: The Dark Horse

Last week saw a revival of serious—as distinguished from sentimental or wishful—speculation that President Eisenhower might run again. The vast majority of politicians and observers still thought that he would not, and the medical prognosis was still the same. Most men who have coronary attacks can continue to do most jobs (see MEDICINE), but the medical profession has no previous experience with post-coronary Presidents of the U.S. Nevertheless, with Ike already transacting public business, it became possible to imagine a recovery that would keep him in the presidency for five more years.

The weightiest voice in the new speculation was that of House Minority Leader Joseph W. Martin, who said: "I hope Mr. Eisenhower will run. I have every confidence that he will make the decision in favor of the country and the world if he feels he is able to do it.''

The ailing President, said Martin, would not need to put on a strenuous campaign if he decides to run again. "He's so popular he can win by a landslide without any strain. All he needs to do is to appear on television two or three times." Martin did not believe that another four years in office might be too taxing for Ike. "I can see how it would be less strain in the White House," he said, "than it would be on the farm at Gettysburg." Life on a farm, he explained, holds many temptations to exertion, while a man in the White House "might hold back."

A Gallup poll, released this week, asked: "If Eisenhower's doctors say it is all right, and he decides to run in 1956, would you vote for him?" The results: 56%* said they would vote for the President, 31% said they would not, and 13% were undecided.

Joe Martin's candidate got some surprising support from unexpected quarters. At a Democratic dinner in Erie, Pa., Tennessee's Estes Kefauver, a candidate for the Democratic nomination, said: "It may be, as it is said, that the President will no longer be willing to run as the Republican candidate. If this is so, I will be truly regretful. President Eisenhower has proved to be the best that the Republicans have. It would be best for the nation and the Republicans, as well as the Democrats, for each party to go into the campaign with the best candidate each can muster."

And in New York, another, half-forgotten voice was heard. In a telephone interview, Henry A. Wallace, the left-wing Progressive Party's candidate for the presidency in 1948, expressed his fervent hope that Ike "will not announce at any time in the near future that he will not run again in 1956." Wallace added that President Eisenhower "represents more than any other man the world's hope for peace. This outweighs all other considerations."