The Free Lance-Star (June 29, 1944)
Party platform approved by nominee; ‘biggest’ press conference held
Chicago, Illinois (AP) –
Governor Thomas E. Dewey told what he called the “world’s biggest press conference” today that he hopes to conference” today that he hopes to confer with all of the nation’s Republican leaders, including Wendell L. Willkie, on presidential campaign plans.
Declining to discuss Cabinet possibilities – if he wins the White House – the smiling GOP nominee gave speedy endorsement to many planks of the party’s platform, including those on foreign policy, the President’s Fair Employment Practices Committee, foreign trade and others.
One query was how he planned to reach the servicemen with campaign appeals. Dewey replied that had not yet been determined.
Dewey covered a wide range of issues in answer to questions. He said he had read the Republican platform only one – while he was en route here by plane – and that “it represents my views.”
Expresses satisfaction
The nominees expressed satisfaction with the foreign trade plank of the party platform. While stating that some persons thought it might have been better, Dewey said it should be recognized that the platform was drawn by persons with conflicting opinions, and that as a result there had to be some compromising.
Parts of the foreign trade plank may appear, at first blush, to be inconsistent, he said, recalling that the plank promised an “adequate protective tariff” on competitive products designed to assure American standards.
Dewey said:
The essence of the plank is to be found in the latter part. The party promises that this nation will work with other nations to promote greater trade. This is not inconsistent with the tariff part of the plank.
Foreign policy
Questioned closely about his views on post-war foreign policy, Dewey said he did not believe that the United States should surrender its “sovereign right to make war” to any international organization.
The nominee defended state regulations of insurance companies at length, and promised a Negro reporter that he would live up to his oath to enforce the 13th and 14th Amendments if he is elected.
More than 500 persons – reporters, delegates and just onlookers – were jammed into the conference room.
When Dewey was asked if he thought the GOP platform ruled out an international police force, he shot back at his questioner, “What do you mean by an international police force?”
The reporter said he meant a force to which the various nations would contribute troops. Dewey replied:
If you mean an army with American soldiers, directed by some disembodied spirit, as a world agency, I would say that was ruled out.
To consult Bricker
In discussing the campaign organization, Dewey made it clear that he will consult Governor John W. Bricker of Ohio, the vice-presidential candidate, before making final decisions.
Dewey also replied “certainly I will” when asked whether he would continue as Governor of New York while campaigning for the Presidency.
The nominee was asked to tell how he would carry out his acceptance speech promise to provide full employment.
“I will elaborate on that later,” he said.
Dewey expressed the opinion that federal aid will have to be given to bolster reemployment in the post-war transition period but said he believed the problem must be met chiefly by private enterprise.
He replied affirmatively to a question whether he believed the party platform presumes establishment of a world court after the war.
Promises able Cabinet
The 42-year-old former racket-buster, in his opening statement to the American electoral jury last night, promised that “next year our government will again have a Cabinet of the ablest men and women to be found in America.”
The task of achieving a lasting peace, he declared, “is no task to be entrusted to stubborn men, grown old and tired and quarrelsome in office.”
A middle of the road path was advocated by the shaggy-browed 1944 standard-bearer on the touchy foreign policy issue.
He said:
We are agreed, all of us, that America will participate with other sovereign nations in a cooperative effort to prevent future wars.
There are only a few who really believe that America should try to remain aloof from the world. There are only a relative few who believe it would be practical for America or her allies to renounce all sovereignty and join a superstate.
Chicago, Illinois (AP) –
The newly-elected Republican National Committee named a committee of six today to confer with Governor Thomas E. Dewey on his choice for a new national chairman to run his campaign for the Presidency. The full committee will meet again tomorrow morning.
Col. R. B. Creager of Texas was named ex-officio chairman of the six-member group. Other members: J. Russell Sprague of New York, Ezra R. Whitla of Idaho, Werner W. Schroeder of Illinois, Mrs. Horace A. Sayre of Oklahoma, and Mrs. Katharine K. Brown of Ohio.
Although the name of Herbert Brownell Jr., New York lawyer and Dewey’s gubernatorial campaign manager in 1938 and 1942, was the most prominently discussed for the national committee chairmanship, members said a definite decision is still up to Dewey.
Dewey told a news conference he wants to consult further with his running mate, John W. Bricker, before deciding upon a chairman.
“I want to make clear it will be a joint selection,” he said.
Harrison E. Spangler, present chairman who was elected in December 1942, would not say how he expected to figure in the coming campaign; many of his friends were urging his retention.
Chicago, Illinois (AP) –
Her brown eyes aglow, petite and pretty Mrs. Thomas E. Dewey stood with her husband on the klieg-lighted platform while he received thunderous ovations, last night.
Then, as is her custom, the wife of the New York Governor went to sit quietly to one side and watch and listen to her husband with unflagging attention. Her smile beamed above the white orchids pinned to her sheer black frock. Her only ornament was a double strand of pearls.
This was a far greater show than the Texas-born Frances Eileen Hutt of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, ever dreamed of when, as a chorus girl and music student in New York City, she met and married young Tom Dewey, voice student and struggling lawyer from Owosso, Michigan.
Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. T. Hutt, joined their son-in-law’s mother, Mrs. George M. Dewey, at Chicago’s bunting-hung stadium to witness Dewey’s acceptance of the presidential nomination.
In his speech, he promised that he would include the “ablest men and women” in his Cabinet if elected.
This opened the question of which leading women in the GOP might measure up to Dewey’s other specifications – “Experienced in the task to be done and young enough to do it.”
Rep. Clare Boothe Luce (R-CT), who addressed the convention Tuesday night, was spoken of, although her political experience is limited to 18 months in Congress.
Another possible Dewey choice might be Mary Donlon, whom he appointed chairman of the state industrial board and who has served this convention as vice chairman of the platform committee.