Professors Oppose Ike's Denying of Citizenship

President Eisenhower's recommendation yesterday to deprive American citizenship from all those found guilty in the future of being Communists, provoked immediate criticism from four faculty members last night.

In his State of the Union address, Eisenhower, before a cheering Congress, said, "When a citizen knowingly participates in the Communist conspiracy he no longer holds allegiance to the United States."

Charles R. Cherington '35, professor of Government, was quick to attack Eisenhower for advocating an action not in line with the "spirit of the Constitution."

"He is beginning to yield to national hysteria, which is very bad for a President to do," Cherington said. "The essence of his proposal is contrary to the spirit of the Constitution."

Opening "Ambiguous"

Myron P. Gilmore '35, associate professor of History, called the beginning of Eisenhower's recommendation ambiguous, and could lead to trouble. Gilmore was referring to the President's statement, "We should recognize by law a fact that is plain to all thoughtful citizens--that we are dealing here with actions skin to treason."

Gilmore objected to the words "actions akin," saying that there is no way to determine just what is meant by them. He said that the word "treason' 'should be used alone.

Shifting the criticism from Eisenhower, Mark DeWolfe Howe '28, professor of Law, attacked the President's Attorney General, Herbert A. Brownell, whom he felt helped formulate the proposal. "It's the old story of Brownell trying to be a bright lawyer and a smart politician; as a result being a stupid lawyer and a clumsy politician."

McCarthy Blamed

Carl Kaysen, assistant professor of Economics, blamed the growth of McCarthyism for Eisenhower's proposal. "The statement seems another step along the path of embracing McCarthyism by the Administration," Kaysen explained.

The President's actual proposal to Congress was, "I recommend that Congress enact legislation to provide that a citizen of the United States who is convicted in the courts of hereafter conspiring to advocate the overthrow of this government by force or violence be treated as having, by such act, renounced his allegiance to the United States and forfeited his United States citizenship."

In the nation's Capital, however, the reaction was far from critical. Eisenhower's suggestion drew a huge ovation in the first half-hour of his 7,000-word message, and set the legislators buzzing later with suggestions for writing it into law.

Senatorial Support

Sen. McCarran of Nevada, senior Democrat on the spy-hunting Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, said that the President ought to make the penalty retroactive--to make it affect those already convicted of Communist conspiracy.

"He says 'hereafter'," McCarran said. "Why not make it also 'heretofore'?"

Sen. McCarthy of Wisconsin said, "The idea certainly sounds good."

There were no indications last night whether or not such a law would be constitutional. An amendment might be required.