Here Is My Prediction

The Washington Post and Times Herald, which runs Columnist Drew Pearson on its comic page, let him get on the editorial page last week--as the target of a devastating letter. Signed "Nostradamus" (but known to the Post, which would identify him only as "a Washington magazine editor"), the letter writer noted that Pearson was reputed to score 85% in his "predictions of things to come." By recalling the columnist's Jan. 1 predictions for 1956, Nostradamus showed that Pearson had indeed approached 85%--but wrong. Among the predictions:

"Adenauer will step down during the year. Sir Anthony Eden, whose health is worse than the public realizes, will take a much less part in the British government. Next spring or summer, Red China will begin its long-awaited attack on Quemoy and Matsu. The Matsus will be captured by the Chinese. A slump is due for midyear. However, I predict the Eisenhower Administration will dust off various public works plans reminiscent of Harold Ickes' PWA days. Congress will vote a very modest tax relief for low-income groups only. In midwinter President Eisenhower will announce that he will not run again. On the Democratic side, Adlai Stevenson will get the nomination; but Harry Truman, once bitter against Senator Kefauver, this time will throw his weight to Kefauver for Vice President."

Concluded the Post's letter writer: "Please keep publishing Pearson on your comic page. He is so much funnier than all the rest. As to that series on Pearson now running in another famous publication [the Satevepost's "Confessions of an S.O.B."], it seems to me your esteemed contemporary misses the point. To paraphrase that old vaudeville joke--it isn't so much a question of who called that political prophet a so-and-so; the real point is who called that so-and-so a political prophet!"

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