THE PRESIDENCY: The Chair for George

By decades-old White House tradition, a retiring Cabinet member may keep a simple but substantial souvenir: the black leather, brass-fitted armchair that he uses at Cabinet meetings during his tour in office. For Dwight Eisenhower, the presentation of a black leather chair last week to his good friend, retiring Treasury Secretary George Magoffin Humphrey, symbolized the beginning breakup of the first Administration "old gang'' and the pressing, painful process of putting together a younger team for the rest of the second Administration.

As a final official farewell gesture, the President honored Humphrey with a...

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