THE PRESIDENCY: Back to the Source

For U.S. politicians, prolonged residence in Washington, D.C. often has the same consequences which lack of contact with the ground had for Antaeus the wrestler.* Last week, like Antaeus returning to the source of his strength, Dwight Eisenhower headed out into the U.S. countryside.

First stop for the presidential Constellation, the Columbine, was Minneapolis, where Ike was provided with a foolproof, all-American test of his popularity. Ten minutes before he was due to begin his speech to the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce convention, officials ushered on to the stage beauteous Neva Jane Langley, Miss America of 1953. The screams and...

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