"I Accept Their Verdict"

As the miles clicked past, gloom lengthened like a shadow over the little group gathered in the President's private car. At Vernon, Ind., at Cincinnati, at Chillicothe, the train stopped briefly to pick up last-minute press bulletins. They only confirmed the radio news. There was no doubt about it: Harry Truman's Democratic Party was taking a terrific trouncing.

As he stepped off the train in Washington the President still managed to smile. But he had a nasty cold which kept him from all but the most urgent business. Hoarse and sniffling, he had a friendly ten-minute chat with Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov. He opened the White House to sighteeers after a six-year ban on all but official callers. There was a postelection Cabinet meeting from which no news leaked out.

Not until this week, on Armistice Day, did the President move to halt the wildfire rumors which had crackled through the capital. Would there be any changes in the Cabinet? None was planned. What about reports that Ike Eisenhower would resign as Chief of Staff? No foundation.

As to the stunning Democratic setback, the President spoke the old, familiar words: "I accept their verdict in the spirit in which all good citizens accept the results of any fair election. . . ."

For foreign ears he had a reassuring reminder: "The change in the majority in the Congress does not alter our domestic or foreign interests or problems. In foreign affairs we have a well-charted course to follow. ... It has been a national and not a party program. . . ."

Though conflicts were bound to arise between a Republican Congress and a Democratic President, Harry Truman said he would be guided by "a simple formula: to do in all cases . . . without regard to political considerations, what seems to me to be for the welfare of all our people . . . I pledge faith with faith and promise to meet good will with good will."

These well-meant words were like a wistful echo: this was in effect, what Harry Truman had said when he first undertook the office that had proved too much for him.

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