THE PRESIDENCY: Man in Motion

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The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America . . .

—The U.S. Constitution

Twenty steps up to the ninth floor, 20 down: Ike trained for the Columbine's 19-step ramp. When Guatemalan President Castillo Armas arrived to visit Ike, the Washington Post and Times Herald's Eddie Folliard went along, too. Later Folliard told the press corps: "It's obvious that he's lost weight, as the doctors wanted him to. He looks completely lean. His color is good. He has a ruddy look. His eyes seem clear. He was animated, as he always has been, a man in motion . . . lean and sharp."

Down four pounds to his West Point weight of 172, Ike was impatient to get going. Reporters asked Dr. Paul Dudley White when Ike would be in a position to decide his political future. Not until January at least, said White. Even more cautious was Ike's personal doctor, Major General Howard Snyder (who lost 6 Ibs. during Ike's illness). "I kind of think a bit longer," said he, "bit longer." For the rest of his last week in Denver, however, Ike began presidential duties in earnest. He received a stream of reports on the Geneva conference and Middle East crisis, welcomed more visitors, issued more orders. Other presidential work done: ¶With Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Marion Folsom, he discussed possible improvements in Administration proposals for federal aid to education, expressed pleasure at the news that the Salk vaccine has reduced paralytic polio an average 75%.

¶To Kliment Voroshilov, chairman of Russia's Supreme Soviet Presidium, he sent a personal letter marking the 38th Soviet national anniversary. ¶Significantly omitting a laborious presidential task of personally receiving new foreign emissaries, his staff announced routine receipt of accreditations for the new Ambassadors of Lebanon, Laos, Luxembourg, Iceland and Pakistan. ¶Through Acting Secretary of State Herbert Hoover Jr. he conveyed a plea for restraint in the Middle East (see below). ¶With "deepest regret," he accepted the resignation of Bernard M. Shanley, White House appointment secretary and former presidential counsel, who left to "resolve some of my pressing personal problems."

Said the final Denver medical bulletin on Patient No. 3919011, issued the day before discharge: ". . . Laboratory studies and cardiograms are satisfactory. His heart continues to show no enlargement."

"After a Summer's Stay." Freezing and drizzly, Veterans' Day dawned sluggishly in Denver as Ike arose early, scanned newspapers and prepared to go downstairs for the first time in seven weeks. At 8:25 a.m., wearing a camel's-hair polo coat and soft brown fedora, he stepped smilingly out of Fitzsimons Army Hospital, accompanied by Mamie and her mother, Mrs. Doud. As patients shouted goodbye and flashbulbs popped, Ike entered his limousine and was whisked off to Lowry Air Force Base under an unexpected outburst of sunshine.