CZECHOSLOVAKIA: The President's Son-in-Law

From Czechoslovakia last week came a reminder that marriage to the boss's daughter can benefit a rising young Communist as well as a rising young capitalist. Out of the post of Czech Minister of Defense went General Ludvik Svoboda, career soldier. Into the general's former office moved 40-year-old Dr. Alexei Cepicka, son-in-law of President Klement Gottwald. Little known before 1947, Cepicka had married Gottwald's daughter after the Communists took over the government in 1948. As Minister of Justice, the President's son-in-law had masterminded a relentless, successful fight against the church.

Unlike Svoboda, new Defense Minister Cepicka had no experience of things military. But in the eyes of the Kremlin he had more important qualifications: his loyalty to Russia and his talents as a hatchetman would be useful in speeding up indoctrination of the armed services along proper Communist lines. Meanwhile, Old Soldier Svoboda took up the newly created job of Vice Premier, in charge of physical culture and sport.