The Campaign

In a little more than a month the mood of the Republican High Command has suffered a revolutionary transformation. The complacent confidence of San Francisco has been replaced by an emotional state bordering on panic. All the carefully premeditated campaign strategy, designed to inform the voter in the politest possible way of his good fortune in having the opportunity to re-elect Mr. Eisenhower, has been thrown out the window. It’s now hammer and tongs. The “high level” tone of GOP oratory has been replaced with harsh words and bitter accusations. Mr. Nixon’s attempt to outpromise Kefauver was the last bobble of the pre-realism period. Nixon’s amateurish impersonation of Santa Claus suffered terribly in comparison with the seasoned demagogy of Kefauver, whose repertoire includes Saint Nicholas as well as Davy Crockett.

The cause of the Republican about-face is by no means obscure. In recent weeks national headquarters and the President himself have received bad news from every quarter. Some of the harsher critics of top-level policy frankly stated that the election was being lost by default. Contrary to custom and inclination, GHQ began to listen to the voices of the Old Guard who, after all, have the highly practical habit of getting re-elected time after time.

SJ

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Sam M. Jones

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Presidential Election

In a little more than a month the mood of the Republican High Command has suffered a revolutionary transformation. The complacent confidence of San Francisco has been replaced by an emotional state bordering on panic. All the carefully premeditated campaign strategy, designed to inform the voter in the politest possible way of his good fortune in having the opportunity to re-elect Mr. Eisenhower, has been thrown out the window. It’s now hammer and tongs. The “high level” tone of GOP oratory has been replaced with harsh words and bitter accusations. Mr. Nixon’s attempt to outpromise Kefauver was the last bobble of the pre-realism period. Nixon’s amateurish impersonation of Santa Claus suffered terribly in comparison with the seasoned demagogy of Kefauver, whose repertoire includes Saint Nicholas as well as Davy Crockett.

The cause of the Republican about-face is by no means obscure. In recent weeks national headquarters and the President himself have received bad news from every quarter. Some of the harsher critics of top-level policy frankly stated that the election was being lost by default. Contrary to custom and inclination, GHQ began to listen to the voices of the Old Guard who, after all, have the highly practical habit of getting re-elected time after time.