Sublime

Senator Nixon of California

Nixon remained on the ticket, and his speech proved to be an asset for the campaign. With a shrewd, emotional delivery he had gone over Eisenhower’s head, forced his hand, and rehabilitated himself.46 But the episode left permanent scars. From that point on Eisenhower never trusted Nixon.

Behind Nixon’s bluster was, apparently, a cold calculation: if attempts to drive the bill through caused a southern Democratic filibuster, that filibuster would be a political boon to the GOP. Neither Knowland nor the Douglas Group seemed to understand—and if Nixon understood, he did not disclose what he understood—that the existence of sufficient

Shortly after midnight—at 12:19 a.m. on August 2—Nixon announced that the amendment was approved, by 51 votes to 42.

Nixon had been taken to the woodshed. Ike’s telegram was tantamount to a command, and to make it public, as Eisenhower did, left Nixon little choice. He was to be in Wheeling tomorrow night. Period. Eisenhower was not only reasserting his authority, but he was doing it visibly for all in the country to see.

Nixon, for his part, never forgave Ike for putting him through the wringer.