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Do the American people really "understand" about Hiss and about the profound implications of the Hiss case? On this question the man of ordinary common sense may be less confused than many an "intellectual." There is no question that Communists did infiltrate the Government of the U.S., and exercised influence there as well as elsewhere in American life. It is part of Nixon's job to show that if Americans want to rid themselves of Communism and left-wingism at home, they must throw the Democrats out.
Last week the Republican view on this issue was baldly stated by Senator Styles Bridges and Representative Joseph Martin. They wrote: "Throughout the 82nd Congress, the Democratic Administration continued its stubborn resistance to the exposure of Communists, fellow travelers, other subversives and their sympathizers in Government.
"This is part of its long record which coddled Communists at home and appeased them abroad, fought exposure of subversives, employed congressional investigators to whitewash suspects, and permitted Communist spies to enter the country, and even to serve in the Government.
"Such policies gave Russia possession of atomic secrets, built up the Communist menace to the free world, caused the needless sacrifice of American lives in Korea, and put upon us a crushing burden for national defense . . ."
In other words, the Republicans will try to show the tolerance of Communist infiltration issue as a broad and continuing characteristic of the Democratic Party. Part of the Republican ammunition is the failure of Democratic leaders to make certain motions to get themselves off this hook. Secretary Acheson said that he would not turn his back on Alger Hiss. Harry Truman's last word on the Hiss case was to call it a "red herring."
This issue presents Stevenson with one of his most delicate and difficult problems. The problem is further complicated by the fact that Stevenson himself made a deposition in support of Hiss's good reputation when they were acquainted in Washington which was used by the Hiss defense. Stevenson's friends think this action can be defended, and the Republicans will doubtless try to make sure that the Democrats are kept busy defending it. So far, Stevenson has made no effort to change the Truman-Acheson line. Two weeks ago he called for resistance to Communism abroad, and at the same time derided "the pursuit of phantoms among ourselves."
Nixon says: "It's up to Stevenson. If he concedes the gravity of the domestic-Communist problem he can take the Hiss issue right out of the campaign. But if he sticks to the line [ the "phantoms among ourselves"], the Hiss case will be very much an issue. Stevenson is vulnerable, not on a basis of loyalty, but certainly on the basis of judgment."