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Richard Nixon’s chances are now almost entirely in the laps of the Kingmakers. Until recently Nixon hoped to strengthen his claim to Successorship by a number of primary victories in advance of the Palace Guard’s selection of its candidate. But such hopes have been spiked by “Operation Phantom”—the Palace Guard’s current plan to delay announcement of President Eisenhower’s withdrawal from the race, and to run him in the primaries as a stalking horse for his successor.

The Vice President’s personal prospects in the primaries were never overly good anyway. Nixon has always felt, and probably correctly so, that he would show well on a national basis; but he has, at the same time, known that ten states in his pocket would profit him nothing if he were to lose California. Nor could he afford to avoid a test of strength in his home state. And with Senator Knowland to beat there, the whole venture involved very considerable risks. Nixon’s hopes rested on winning a number of primary victories before the late California test of June 5. The theory was that he could beat Senator Knowland if he were to ride into California on something like a national groundswell.

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L. Brent Bozell Jr.

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Richard Nixon

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Presidential Election

Richard Nixon’s chances are now almost entirely in the laps of the Kingmakers. Until recently Nixon hoped to strengthen his claim to Successorship by a number of primary victories in advance of the Palace Guard’s selection of its candidate. But such hopes have been spiked by “Operation Phantom”—the Palace Guard’s current plan to delay announcement of President Eisenhower’s withdrawal from the race, and to run him in the primaries as a stalking horse for his successor.

The Vice President’s personal prospects in the primaries were never overly good anyway. Nixon has always felt, and probably correctly so, that he would show well on a national basis; but he has, at the same time, known that ten states in his pocket would profit him nothing if he were to lose California. Nor could he afford to avoid a test of strength in his home state. And with Senator Knowland to beat there, the whole venture involved very considerable risks. Nixon’s hopes rested on winning a number of primary victories before the late California test of June 5. The theory was that he could beat Senator Knowland if he were to ride into California on something like a national groundswell.