A Feeling of Unrest

The unrest that caused the President of the U.S. to begin tossing in his bed one midnight last week was soon felt around the world. Although the shock was less than it had been when he was stricken last fall, the reaction was another remarkable demonstration of how much the hopes and aims of the U.S. and the world are linked to the man who occupies the American presidency.

Some 4,000 miles to the east, sturdy old (80) Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of West Germany was a significant symbol of this interdependence. Preparatory to a long-planned trip to the U.S., Adenauer had just coped successfully with some of the basic problems vexing his government at home (see FOREIGN NEWS). By going to Washington he hoped to strengthen his position with the U.S. and thus with the world. But Washington meant Dwight Eisenhower: before boarding the plane, Adenauer was told of Eisenhower's illness, and his hopes fell. After he landed in New York, he was informed that he might yet keep his appointment with the President, and his hopes rose again.

The Eisenhower story pushed France's troubles in North Africa off the top position on front pages in Paris; in London, the Herald headlined FIVE SURGEONS GO TO IKE, the back page of Sketch proclaimed IKE: HEART EXPERT AT BEDSIDE and Page One of the Mirror asked WILL IKE NOW QUIT?

Special prayers were said in many churches in the U.S. and Canada. From the Vatican came a message from the Pope. Both Adlai Stevenson and New York's Governor Averell Harriman, leading candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination, issued statements hoping for the President's quick recovery. Out of Moscow came a get-well message from the Soviet Union's President Kliment Voroshilov, Premier Nikolai Bulganin and Communist Party Boss Nikita KhrUshchev.

For one and all, the reassuring word early this week was that Eisenhower was in "excellent" condition; his temperature, pulse and respiration were normal; his heart was not involved. Within 31 hours after surgery (see MEDICINE), he had begun walking (with help) about his hospital room. The total prognosis: "Rapid and complete recovery."

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