What Now?

Never before had the Republican Party organization been humming with such speed, efficiency and unity so long before a presidential election. The Republican National Committee was setting up campaign schools, polls and meetings, and was signing television contracts more than a year ahead. But every move was based on the premise that Dwight Eisenhower would be the candidate in 1956. When G.O.P. Chairman Leonard Hall was asked what the party would do if Ike did not run, he often answered by quoting a state chairman as saying: "When I get to that bridge, I'll jump off it."

This week Hall & Co. had to face the very definite prospect that the President, even if he makes a quick recovery, will not run. The possibility threw the Republican Party into deep dismay; the reality conceivably could cause an intraparty Donnybrook to rival any nomination struggle in G.O.P. history. If he was receding from the political picture, President Eisenhower probably could not pick the nominee, but he could have important influence on his party's choice.

A key figure, obviously, is Vice President Richard Nixon, who is 42. The Vice President would move into the race with two main handicaps : 1) a long Democratic smear campaign against Nixon, which will be used in his own party as evidence that he is a poor candidate; and 2) a personal feud with the key political figure in his own state, Governor Good win J. Knight, who will probably control the California delegation to the Republican National Convention. While Nixon is widely known and well liked by a great number of G.O.P. leaders around the country, the extent of his strength would probably depend not only on how much support Ike gave him, but also on how much responsibility the President turned over to him during the next year. With major presidential power and authority in his hands for several months before the convention, Nixon's prestige and position could be greatly enhanced.

Unhappy but Far from Hopeless. An other name that promptly came to the top of the list : Chief Justice Earl Warren, 64, another Californian. Speculation turned to him because he is a Republican of the Eisenhower pattern who showed, in California, that he could win strong support in both parties. Last April, Warren sought to take himself out of the running with a statement that he went to the Supreme Court with the fixed purpose of leaving politics permanently. Said he: "That is still my purpose. It is irrevocable. I will not change under any circumstances or conditions." Nevertheless, if the President asked Warren to run, and convinced him that the party wanted to give him the nomination, the Chief Justice might change his mind.

While the names of Nixon and Warren came first in most speculation, many other names were cropping up. Among them: Secretary of the Treasury George Humphrey, 65; former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, 53; Secretary of State Dulles, 67; Senate Minority Leader William Knowland, 47; Presidential Assistant (for Disarmament) Harold Stassen, 48; Massachusetts Governor Christian Herter, 60. But all of the talking this week was being done by journalists and just plain voters. It would take Republican leaders quite a while to become accustomed to their new and unhappy--but by no means hopeless--situation.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.