The Evening Star (January 3, 1947)
Eisenhower deplores mention as presidential candidate
MIAMI, Florida (AP) – Gen. Eisenhower, in an interview, said today that the mention of his name as a presidential candidate “is not good for the great organization with which I am associated.”
Gen. Eisenhower, the Army’s chief of staff, made it plain that he was thinking as a soldier of the nation’s future security to prevent the United States from falling victim to some possible future “super-blitz.”
“From the beginning of the war, when my name has been mentioned in connection with a possible future political career for me, I have instantly refused to consider such a contingency,” the general said during an interview at an inspection of the Army’s Pratt General Hospital in suburban Coral Gables.
“I have not changed my mind,” he said grimly.
“The Army is definitely nonpartisan and national in character, and any talk that tends to cloud the soundness of that feature is not to the best interest of the United States,” he added.
Asked about his possible retirement, the chief of staff said, “I have a job to do and I’m going to do it as long as I am needed.”
He looked forward to a future day when the United States might find herself alone against a hostile world, as England was after the fall of France.
“I am convinced that the world has got to find a way to settle differences peacefully,” Gen. Eisenhower said. “Wars are emergencies. They come on unexpectedly. In the past we’ve had allies and factors which gave us ample time to prepare. This holds true today, but perhaps it will not in future years.
“In recognition of this we have one staff in Washington whose job it is to deal with scientists for the future super-blitz age. These men’s only job is to contact these scientists and learn what may be ahead.”
The general said he believed in the amalgamation of all military services, but that this effort “turned out to be a service fight and I don’t believe in service fights.” He said wars had to be fought with mutual friendship among the various services.
Gen. Eisenhower said he felt much better because of his stay at the hospital. He will leave January 11 for Washington.