THE ADMINISTRATION: Bipartisanship

When the U.S. delegation to the NATO conference reaches Paris next month, No. 3 man behind President Eisenhower and Secretary of State Dulles will be Democrat Adlai Stevenson. For six months Dulles has been trying to fit Party Leader Stevenson into the foreign-policy picture as a symbol of bipartisanship, finally figured that a NATO assignment would fill the bill. But arrangements were touchy. Dulles wanted Stevenson to become Ambassador to NATO, a job that would empower him to head preparations for the December meeting, follow through on its decisions.

President Eisenhower agreed, despite a personal feeling of post-election coolness to Stevenson. Then Adlai declined the ambassadorship, in tune with congressional Democratic sentiment that Democrats ought to steer clear of policy-making jobs. He volunteered instead to become a consultant who would review plans, make suggestions, still be free at meeting’s end to criticize results that he did not approve. For the sake of at least that much bipartisanship, Dulles agreed. So did the President. To Stevenson from Ike went a letter suggesting that they discuss issues before they leave for Paris. The meeting will be the first for the two old contenders since 1953.