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Show It's Time to Retire There has been some speculation that in view of his promise to the nation and in view of his third major illness President Dwight D. Eisenhower might resign. But strange as it seems, there has also been speculation that Vice President Richard M. Nixon, the man who would become president in the event of an Eisenhower resignation, might resign first. The speculation about Nixon doesn't carry much weight. He would be a sap to step out now when it appears pretty obvious that he will be president before the next general election. The speculation gains its support from the fact that so many other members of the Eisenhower "team" have left for the showers. There is little doubt that Mr. Nixon would dearly like to disassociate himself from the debacle of the current administration ad-ministration but He is hardly in a position to do so. A cabinet officer can and as we have seen in recent months does resign, and take up a good job in private industry. But a vice president with a burning ambition to become president would cut his political throat by resigning. So Mr. Nixon is caught up in a tight situation. He can't quit and he hates to stay on under the present setup. The only things that makes sense for Mr. Nixon is the fact that he is an odds on favorite to become president before Mr. Eisenhower's term is up. The utter confusion in Washington these days is ample proof that this nation needs a full time president even if it has to be Mr. Nixon. Public opinion will demand that Mr. Eisenhower step aside in the crisis. One more debacle like our big satellite launching in Florida last week and Mr. Eisenhower will retire to his farm. Mr. Nixon will inherit one of the greatest messes in the nation's history. |