TIME Magazine content is available exclusively for TIME subscribers.

Current subscribers for full access. Not a TIME subscriber? .

West Germany: Playing It Safe

In the two years since he took command of the Christian Democratic Union and the nation from Konrad Adenauer, Chancellor Ludwig Erhard has been widely accused of uninspired leadership. Yet when he formally kicked off his first campaign for office this week at a rally in Dortmund's vast Westfalenhalle, he appeared the man most likely to succeed when the nation goes to the polls on Sept. 19.

Main reason, of course, is his popularity with the huge mass of voters less interested in political brilliance than in having a solid man at...

Time.com on Digg

POWERED BY digg

Quotes of the Day »

DAVID CAMERON, British Prime Minister, on England's soccer manager, Fabio Capello, who resigned after challenging the FA's decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy; Terry denies a charge of racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand
For use in rail of Articles page or Section Fronts pages. Duplicate and change name as necesssary to distinguish.