An Older Wisdom

For a generation the U.S. has been riding--and ridden by--statistics. When Dwight Eisenhower had his heart attack, the curbstone actuaries were ready with figures to show that his life expectancy had been reduced to the point where a second term in the presidency was unimaginable. Not many people felt like betting on it, but in October it was 10 to 1 that Ike would not run. What changed?

A wisdom older than actuarial tables intervened. A leader, in the nature of his job, is often old, often ailing, yet if he is still able to do his job, the risk of his death (which young and old risk daily) can be preferred by leader and led to his surrender of power.

The people came to this conclusion before Ike did. Early last October the Gallup poll found that only 29% of the people thought the President would run again. But in late October it was 33%, in December 48%, in January 56%, in February 60%, last week 72%.

Even when they believed that Ike could not run again, the leaders of his own party did nothing to build up another candidate. They demonstrated that the Republican Party was not yet ready for victory without Eisenhower. He and a substantial part of the people believe that what his Administration has done has a real weight in the scales of American destiny. Against that, the pull toward retirement (an idea of recent popularity) seemed feeble.

So Ike decided to stay on--"if the American people choose." Down the ages hundreds of thousands of leaders--kings, bishops, physicians, philosophers--have gone on with their work facing the ever-mounting probability that they would not be able to continue for long. For who can know? Old and damaged men have lived on to do their greatest work. The President and many of the people seem content to leave the issue to Providence rather than the actuaries.

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