Symbol of Confidence

President Eisenhower's 1955 State of the Union speech had sweep and calm and balance; it contained no surprises, no glitter, few bones of contention. In tone and content, the message reflected the condition of the nation--watchfully peaceable, prosperous and united. Never has the consensus of American politics been broader. A group stretching across at least two-thirds of each party is in general agreement on the main points of domestic and foreign policy.

The President's paragraphs on the struggle with world Communism achieve a tone of firmness without a trace of bellicosity. Its domestic program is determinedly progressive without a trace of demagoguery. Only the far left and far right found it easy to fault the message. An unenthusiastic reporter said that the congressional reaction to the message could be summed up by "Uh-huh." This was meant to suggest that the message failed to excite or inspire, that it elaborated the obvious. Perhaps that was precisely what the nation needed. After years of insecurity, anxiety, drift and desperate expedients, Eisenhower in half a term has brought the U.S. to the confidence and agreement symbolized by that "Uh-huh."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.