(3 of 3)
"I will not at this time," he said, "identify myself with any political party and could not accept nomination for any public office or participate in partisan political contests."
Would the coalitionists stop with the Eisenhower refusal? Some would carry on. Their next best hope was Justice Douglas, who was vacationing in the mountain fastnesses of Oregon and showed no inclination whatever of wanting to run.
Unless the coalitionists could settle on a man, it would be Harry Truman on the first ballot. If they did find a common denominator, it would be the liveliest and most bitter Democratic Convention since 1932.
*Onetime Congresswoman Luce, who retired from active politics two years ago (TIME, Aug. 26, 1946), announced last week that she would have nothing further to do with politics in any shape or form. Her reasons (as given to the Bridgeport, Conn. Post): 1) the Dewey-Warren ticket is "sure to win" and does not need her help; 2) she intends to devote most of her time to writing. Ձaid Eleanor Roosevelt: "I have no intention of running for any public office at any time whatsoever." *He said then: "My decision to remove myself completely from the political scene is definite and positive. . .I could not accept nomination."