When the reporters surrounded President Eisenhower, there was jovial, mustached Merriman Smith, 45, of United Press International, looming just as large as he had for 17 years before his unwanted assignment last spring to the Treasury beat (TIME, March 24).
"Hello, Merriman," called Ike. "I thought you had been promoted out of here."
"I wouldn't say that, Mr. President," shot back Smith. "I've been playing in the minor leagues."
"Peoria?" chuckled Ike.
"Yes," laughed Smith.
Smith's reaction to getting the Treasury beat was to tear into the recession news with the seriousness and energy of...
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