The Pittsburgh Press (September 18, 1944)
‘Kiss of death?’
Churchill praise of Roosevelt hit
‘Interference’ sure to be vote issue
By Charles T. Lucey, Scripps-Howard staff writer
Washington –
However Prime Minister Churchill may have meant his words of praise and ardent friendship for President Roosevelt at Québec – whether or not spoken with political intent – they are likely to be made an issue in the presidential campaign.
Mr. Churchill’s comments brought a quick reaction from Republican leaders here. Their view was that if his statement was intended to have political value to Mr. Roosevelt then “the sword may cut both ways.”
Resentment at “outside interference” with an American election, it was suggested, could make the affair a boomerang.
The Prime Minister spoke of the “blazing friendship” of Mr. Roosevelt as they concluded their Québec meeting, and said that “if we can meet here another year, we shall be able to tell you of what plans we made here.”
‘Kiss of death?’
The inference was that Mr. Churchill, well knowing Mr. Roosevelt is in the midst of an election campaign, was not too coyly letting out the idea that he would be happy to have Mr. Roosevelt as President next year.
The British leader emphasized the personal, friendly relationship theme with the word that “we have go to know each other so well that it makes the solution of these problems much simpler.”
Supporters of Governor Thomas E. Dewey had been speculating in advance as to the possibility of Mr. Churchill bestowing a political benediction on Mr. Roosevelt.
Comment quoted
Typical of some of the comment here was that of Rep. Charles A. Halleck (R-IN), chairman of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee.
He said:
The people of this country will resent any attempted interference with their right to select their own leaders.
In recent speeches, the Congressman contended that “the people of this country will prefer to have represent them a man who, when the answer should be ‘no’ will be able to say ‘no, Mr. Churchill,’ or ‘no, Mr. Stalin,’ instead of feeling required to say to his friends, ‘yes, Winston,’ or ‘yes, Joe.’”
Political hay?
Another Republican leader said that one of the reasons the American people might want to change their spokesman in connection with planning the peace is the continued and uninterrupted association which may mean “understandings and unspoken commitments which go with such a long association.”
Whether the Democrats will try to make political hay with the Prime Minister’s words is as yet undetermined, but there is no doubt that the Republicans will be ready to play heavily on the interference theme if they do.