National Affairs: The Meeting

Dwight Eisenhower watched the balloting on his TV set in his suite at the Blackstone Hotel. He was surrounded by advisers—his four brothers, Paul Hoffman, Senator Frank Carlson, Herbert Brownell. Ike was confident of victory, but he nervously fingered two good-luck coins (a Boy Scout coin and'a Salvation Army piece).

When the Rhode Island vote was announced (six for Eisenhower, one for Taft, one for Warren), he asked sharply: "Did we expect more there?" When Pennsylvania's vote was about to be announced, everyone in the room grew tense, relaxed again when Governor Fine said:...

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