Wheeling Intelligencer
Ike Is Unable To Meet Crowd For Reception
September 25, 1952
Thousands of spectators awaiting the arrival of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower at the McLure hotel walked away disappointed when the GOP presidential candidate was "indisposed" and returned to his official train after circling the business district in a closed automobile.
The hotel lobby was jammed with spectators, and police had to hold the mezzanine crowd back with ropes. Newsreel cameras and brilliant spotlights were focused on the stage in the hotel's Colonnade room, where an official reception was scheduled, but U. S. Sen. Frank Carlson, of Kansas, a close friend of the general, expressed Ike's regrets.
Sen. Carlson explained to the gathering that both ill health and the confusion arising in the anticipated arrival of Sen. Richard Nixon, vice-presidential candidate, prohibited the general from appearing.
As the official motorcade pulled to the curb in front of the hotel, the gallery in the Colonnade room grew tense in anticipation, and Mrs. Martha Myers, of the GOP women's club, introduced Walter S. Hallanan, national GOP committeeman from West Virginia, and recently appointed assistant chairman of the national GOP executive committee.
"It's a great joy to have this Republican history recorded in the City of Wheeling," Hallanan said, "since this city is becoming noted for making Republican history, and tonight a new chapter will be written with the appearance of the next president of the United States and the next vice-president of this great country."
"The general is sorry to disappoint you, but because of the arrival of Sen. Nixon at the airport, Gen. Eisenhower must first make plans for the important meeting," the national committeeman added.
Hallanan then introduced Eisenhower's traveling companion, Sen. Carlson, who has toured with the general from Paris and since the Chicago nominating convention.
"I appear before you tonight with mixed emotions," Sen. Carlson told the gathering, "as the general's appearance before you was upset by the constantly changing plans of today, but your city tonight is destined to be the scene of a dramatic meeting that happens only once in a lifetime."
"The attention of the United States and the entire world is focused on your city tonight for this meeting of Gen. Eisenhower and Sen. Nixon," he further stated.
The U. S. senator from Kansas told the local Republicans that victory in November depended upon them.
"The General can make numerous speeches to large crowds," he added, "but you folks in the individual precincts are the ones who win elections. You can help the victory in November by sending a Republican senator to Washington in the person of Chapman Revercomb, and a GOP congressman in the person of Francis J. Love."
"With your help, we will win in November and install an administration that will be built from the precinct up instead of from Washington down to the individual precincts," Carlson predicted.
He further suggested that Republicans go to the polls in November and select a GOP state administration to further help the national cause.
Revercomb followed Sen. Carlson with a few remarks, asking all those present to attend the epoch-making speech at the Island stadium.
Officials of the Eisenhower caravan revealed last night that the meeting with Sen. Nixon at the Wheeling-Ohio county airport disrupted the tour yesterday from Parkersburg to Wheeling.
The uncertainty of Nixon's arrival caused the campaign train to miss stops in Paden City, Sistersville and Moundsville, and Eisenhower, who said he thought he should speak wherever people came out to hear him, apologized by wire to residents of those cities.
All the way upriver from Parkersburg yesterday afternoon, hundreds of factory workers, farmers and laborers dropped their tools to wave to the Eisenhower entourage.
The 40-member party of Sen. Nixon was met at Stifel field late last night by a special committee of prominent Republicans, including: E. S. Bippus Jr., chairman; State Sen. W. A. Hannig, Wade Kepner, William Rine, William Hundley, Robert Levinson, Ben Honecker, Richard O'Brien, Fred Driehorst, Glenn Straub, E. B. Hopkins, William Hearne, Wright Hugus and Carl O. Schmidt.
Political History Again Made Here
For the second time within a period of four years the City of Wheeling has occupied the political limelight which has attracted not only this but other nations.
At the Lincoln Day dinner of February, 1949 [1950], Senator Joseph R. McCarthy delivered an address in the McLure hotel, which led to the coining of the now familiar word "McCarthyism." The contents of his talk to this day is hailed as a bulwark against Communism within America.
Last night, the nation and many countries of the world awaited with bated breath the historic meeting of General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Sen. Richard M. Nixon.