REPUBLICANS NAME M’NARY FOR VICE PRESIDENT; RUSSIANS INVADE RUMANIA, HUNGARY THREATENS (6/29/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 6/29/40 | Turner Catledge, James A. Hagerty, Eugen Kovacs

[Taft in '52]

In September 1952 Taft and Eisenhower met again at Morningside Heights in New York City, there Taft promised to actively support Eisenhower in exchange for Eisenhower agreeing to a number of requests. These included a demand that Eisenhower give Taft's followers a fair share of patronage positions if he won the election, and that Eisenhower agree to balance the federal budget and "fight creeping domestic socialism in every field." Eisenhower agreed to the terms, and Taft campaigned hard for the GOP ticket."

When he got in, Eisenhower promptly welched on the deal. To head his White House staff, he picked Sherman adams, who liked conservatives about as much as does John McCain. Adams, who would resign in disgrace in 1958 following a scandal involving gifts from a lobbyist, kept a lot of New Dealers and Fair Dealers on the staff, filled vacancies with liberals, and totally shut out conservatives and former Taft supporters.

Meanwhile, socialism continued to creep, and by 1957 Senator Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.) was publicly criticizing the administration for its big-government policies. Meanwhile, the GOP lost control of Congress and proceeded to steadily lose seats during the remainder of the 1950's.

[BroJoeK]

"Meanwhile, socialism continued to creep, and by 1957 Senator Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.) was publicly criticizing the administration for its big-government policies. Meanwhile, the GOP lost control of Congress and proceeded to steadily lose seats during the remainder of the 1950's."

And the 1960s.
And the 1970s.
And even the 1980s under President Reagan.

But let me repeat what I've said before here: by the sorry standards of today, all of those folks, even Republican "moderates" like Wilkie, Dewey and Eisenhower would be considered radical small-government Conservatives.

And if you doubt me on this, then take this challenge: name for me, and quote where any prominent Republican of today has promised to return our Federal Government back to the size & scope of authority it had under then "moderate" Republican Dwight Eisenhower?

;-)

[BroJoeK]

"When he got in, Eisenhower promptly welched on the deal.
To head his White House staff, he picked Sherman adams, who liked conservatives about as much as does John McCain.
Adams, who would resign in disgrace in 1958 following a scandal involving gifts from a lobbyist, kept a lot of New Dealers and Fair Dealers on the staff, filled vacancies with liberals, and totally shut out conservatives and former Taft supporters."

More from Wikipedia:

"There, in order to gain Taft's support in the campaign, Eisenhower promised he would take no reprisals against Taft partisans, would cut federal spending, and would fight "creeping socialism in every domestic field."

"In fact, Eisenhower and Taft agreed on most domestic issues; their disagreements were primarily in foreign policy.
Eisenhower firmly believed in NATO and was committed to the U.S. supporting anti-Communism in the Cold War."

"Following Eisenhower's election and the GOP takeover of Congress, Taft served as Senate Majority Leader in 1953, and he strongly supported Eisenhower's domestic proposals.
"He worked hard to assist the inexperienced new officials of the administration.
He even tried—with little success—to curb the excesses of red-baiting U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy.

By April the President and Taft were friends and golfing companions, and Taft was praising his former adversary.
"Defeat in 1952, it seemed, had softened Taft.
"No longer burdened by presidential ambitions, he had become less partisan, less abrasive, and more conciliatory; during this time he was widely regarded as the most powerful man in Congress..."

"In early 1953 Taft began to feel pain in his hips, and after a painful golf outing with President Eisenhower in April 1953 he entered Walter Reed Hospital for initial tests which led doctors to suspect a tumor or arthritis.
Tests in May at Holmes Memorial Hospital near Cincinnati revealed that his body was full of cancer...
He died on July 31, 1953."

So Eisenhower and Taft were close friends until the day Taft died.

[iowamark]

The Congress would not have elected a new President. The US has always had a Presidential Succession Act, although it has never been used. Under the Act then existing, the Secretary of State was next in succession to the Presidency.

[iowamark]

Interesting that the headline refers to McNary as M’Nary. I am guessing that the Times press room did not have the right size small “c” and that “M’NARY” seemed better than “MCNARY.”

[iowamark]

The Taft Memorial on Capitol Hill:

[wagglebee]

Thanks, I hadn’t been aware of that.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I am guessing that the Times press room did not have the right size small “c” and that “M’NARY” seemed better than “MCNARY.”

You could be right. I have seen that contraction form before in 70-year-old issues. Even for a byline. Roscoe McGowen (who is covering the All-Star game later this week) Has written under the tag "Roscoe M'Gowen" in days past. But not this season.