At 4 o'clock one afternoon last week four trusted associates of Dwight Eisenhower met at the White House and were quietly ushered into the President's office. After the men he had summoned gathered around his desk, the President made formal and final the commitment that they and millions of other people had at first hoped for and had then expected through many anxious weeks. The President told Vice President Richard Nixon, Presidential Aides Sherman Adams and Wilton B. ("Jerry") Persons, and Republican National Chairman Leonard Hall that he would accept a second term if the party and the people wanted him.
He would make his announcement at his news conference the next day, he said, and explain his decision to the people on radio and television a few hours later. Then, together, the five went over an early draft of the statement the President proposed to make to the people.
Although the men thus entrusted with the great secret kept it to themselves, nearly all of the 311 reporters jammed from wall to wall in the President's news conference room the next morning were sure that he would make an announcement and that it would be yes. No other answer seemed possible. Nevertheless, tension crackled in the room. Reporters peering down from the balcony could see what was on the one sheet of personal "DDE" stationery the President dropped on the desk. Printed in large letters and underlined with black grease pencil were the words Red Cross, Italians, Farm Bill, Upper Colorado. The fifth subject, doubly underlined, was "Personal."
"That Is, Affirmative." First the President had a word to say about the annual fund campaign of the Red Cross, including the comment that "I could profitably use the whole half hour if I would try to express what I really believe about it." There was a nervous laugh in the room and a whispered "Please don't." After three minutes on the Red Cross, Ike spent a minute talking about the visit of Italy's President Giovanni Gronchi and Signora Gronchi. Then he wanted "to mention two bills that are before Congress," the farm program and the Upper Colorado River development bill. By that time, under the glare of the television lights, the temperature in the room was rising and the pressure on the reporters had risen to the breaking point. No one could be quite sure whether Ike merely wanted to get the other subjects out of the way, or whether he was the only man in the room enjoying those minutes.
At 10:37 a.m., by the big electric clock on the wall, there was a pause. Then the President took a deep breath and began the announcement that the world was awaiting: "Now, my next announcement involves something more personal, but I think it will be of interest to you because you have asked me so many questions about it." But before he gave his answer, he had some tantalizing introductory remarks. He had reached a decision, but he could not express it in a simple yes or no, so he was asking for time on television and radio. Then, finally, he said it: "My answer will be positive, that is, affirmative."
Then the questions poured out.
Q: When had he arrived at his decision?
A: I will say that I was arguing about it yesterday morning.
Q: With whom had he discussed the problem?