Boos for the President

At a Washington's birthday rally in Manhattan's Carnegie Hall, Wisconsin's U.S. Senator Joseph R. McCarthy was reminded, he said, "that America has always been blessed with great leaders in times of great trial." In the early days Washington rose from the ranks to lead the country in war and peace; in latter days "another great general" has come along. Said McCarthy: "I refer, of course, to General Douglas MacArthur."

For the general in the White House McCarthy had only a sneer and a "presumption" that traitors still hold high posts in the U.S. Government. On this general theme McCarthy and seven other speakers of similar kidney, e.g., Indiana's Senator Bill Jenner, Indiana Lawyer Clarence Manion, steamed up the capacity crowd of 3,000 (collected by For America, a right-fringe political organization) for three hours. And at each and every mention of the name Eisenhower, the crowd responded with a resounding chorus of boos—a reminder that the U.S. has also always been blessed with its share of gassy diehards.