Nation: In & Out of Retirement

In the four months since he left the White House, Dwight Eisenhower. has kept his opinions to himself. But last week Ike returned to Washington and,"to the unconcealed delight of 5,000 fund-raising Republicans, broke his silence with a fiery attack on the Kennedy Administration's domestic policies. It was, in fact, one of the most politically outspoken speeches of Ike's career.

"For America's sake, we take sharp issue with the leadership now in power," he said. "I am sick and tired of hearing alleged leaders scoff at a balanced budget." Putting aside his prepared text for a moment, he snapped angrily: "Is it so wicked to show some respect for the pioneer qualities of thrift and energy? . . . I believe deeply that continuing deficit spending is immoral . . . I look in vain, and with deep concern, for fiscal responsibility today in public affairs."

Ike was emphatically riled at the New Frontier's domestic program: "No one can stand, simultaneously, for more individualism and more centralized Government. The proposals now flowing in such abundance to the Congress can lead to nothing but greater centralization. We Republicans take our stand for the individual . . . We consider it sheer arrogance to believe that people in Government know better for the people than they know for themselves . . . We are against the insulting concept of Government by Big Brother. Excessive public housing, rampant public power, federalized youth programs are cases in point."

In keeping with his own rules of political combat, the former President refrained from any criticism of his successor's foreign policy: "As the President attempts to preserve our freedoms, as he seeks to strengthen peace, as he confers with foreign leaders whether friendly or hostile, he has the hopeful and sympathetic good will of all loyal Americans, regardless of party . . . We cannot allow, today, the nation's basic unity of purpose to be in doubt." Without mentioning the Cuban fiasco, Ike had a wry reminder of the minority party's right to be informed: "Republicans rightly expect to be consulted before, not after, the hour of decision or the moment of action."

With the cheers of the aroused Republicans still ringing in their ears, Ike and Mamie Eisenhower went off for a weekend in New York (see SPORT) before slipping back into the busy routine of retirement in Gettysburg. No one believed that the former President could be anything but busy in retirement, despite his announced intention several times to spend his days sitting in a rocking chair.

Ike, who suffers from insomnia, is up with the birds each morning. He dresses quietly, then slips downstairs. Eleanor Moaney, his housekeeper, is aware of the ex-President's habits, and he does not have to wait long for his breakfast-orange juice, a small filet mignon, and toast. By 7:30, Ike is on his way to his office, four miles away in a red-brick building that was once the home of the president of Gettysburg College.