THE NATION: Sell the Sizzle

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The major speech on defense was delivered last week by Secretary of Defense Charles Erwin Wilson before 1,200 members and guests of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. Implicit in what he said was the fact that, under Old Soldier Dwight Eisenhower, the U.S. is steadily building a more powerful and more efficient defense force. But the steak Charlie Wilson served was cold. Said one member of the World Affairs Council: "It was a well-organized speech." Sighed another: "It certainly was dull too." Rudimentary political considerations would have dictated that Eisenhower, not Wilson, make the defense-budget speech.

Recent months have seen a series of favorable world developments directly connected with U.S. foreign policy, e.g., the end of the oil dispute in Iran, the easing of tension around the Suez, the settlement on Trieste and the London pact. Last week Secretary of State John Foster Dulles was in Paris for the final signing of the historic agreements negotiated three weeks ago in London. At week's end he sent a jubilant wire to the President: "I am happy to inform you that everything . . . has been signed, sealed and delivered. I know you will rejoice with me that the unity and freedom of Europe to which you contributed so indispensably, seems likely now to be preserved."

This historic message was sent off quietly by the Secretary of State from his hotel in Paris, was received and read by the President at a small gathering of Pennsylvania Republicans in Gettysburg. Next day the President decided to hold a special Cabinet meeting to hear Dulles' report. With an election a week away, the Paris achievement could have been given a lot of sizzle. It deserved better treatment: it could have been the peg for an immediate, politically potent radio-television report to the people.

Accentuating the Negative. From every corner of the U.S. come unmistakable evidence that Dwight Eisenhower is still an exceedingly popular President. Many Democrats, as well as practically all Republicans, are attempting to ride his coattails. But there are few indications that U.S. voters have been sufficiently sold on the proposition that they should give the President a more Republican Congress.

Last week the tone of the campaign still permitted Texas' Senator Lyndon Johnson to argue that a Democratic Congress would be good for Ike. Expressing mock surprise that the President was supporting Republicans after so many of them had "failed to support" the Administration program, Johnson cracked that "President Eisenhower will have no one to blame but himself" if a G.O.P. Congress is elected. Cried Lyndon: "That man is a glutton for punishment."