Man in a New Hat

In Cincinnati, several days after the election, Senator Taft tried on a new, grey-blue fedora--a present from his office staff to replace the old, grey good-luck hat which he had worn in his Ohio campaign. The new fedora was symbolic; politically speaking, Robert Alphonso Taft also wore a new hat. When the 82nd Congress convenes, no man in the U.S., including Truman, will exercise more influence on legislation.

What was going on under the hat?

How Stiff? Ohio's Taft had frequently been tagged an isolationist. Said he in an interview with TIME: "My criticism of foreign policy is that the Administration doesn't tell the facts. The facts are suppressed until they decide what they want to do, and then any opponents who criticize the policy are smeared as isolationists.

"Actually, I don't think there's any great difference on foreign policy . . . We have to be stiff with Russia, but not so stiff as to bring on a war." The arguments were over questions of degree. How much should the U.S. gamble on its allies' will to resist? Said Taft: "I think there should be a re-examination of everything."

What were some of those things? "The thing about Europe is, can you defend it? If Russia has the atomic bomb, can't they knock the devil out of Europe? I don't know. We have to help Europe--the question is how much? Is that our main purpose? Should we make plans for defeating Russia on the European continent, or should we depend on air power? I've been primarily an air man, but I don't think we should put all our eggs in one basket. I don't know. It ought to be re-examined."

What about Nationalist China? "I am for defending Formosa because it seems a clear case. We should tell the Communists to stay out and see that they do." Would he encourage Chiang Kai-shek to reconquer the mainland? He thought not.

Whose Work? Who would determine these things? Said Taft: "Congress can't outline a foreign policy. That is the job of the Administration. Oh, you can tell them what you think they ought to do, but it's a futile s. There is no evidence that he ever has . . .

"I'm not going to determine the policy. I don't agree at all that I can do what I want to do. Legislation is never the work of one man; it is always the working out of conflicting ideas."

What kind of a mandate did he read into the election? Replied hardheaded, literal Senator Taft: "I never think an election is a mandate for anything."

There was one more question to be put to "Mr. Republican." Would he be a candidate for President in 1952, as he had been twice before? He wouldn't seek it, said the man in the new hat: "But . . ."

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