Press Release, Presidential Tenure Amendment by Harold Ickes

PRESIDRITIAL TRINURE AMENDIMENT POR RELRASE MONDAY, PERRUARY Harold Le Tekes 7, 1949 The amendment to limit the constitutional tenure of the Prosident to two terms of four years 0 ach has not yet been ratified by the three- fourths of the states whose approval is necessary. Now that the Republicans are the minority party nationally, 1t is a question whether enough state legislatures will vote to ratify. At least 15 more states are required to adopt this restriction upon the right of the people to choose their own President. No one can assert that this is a people's movement, although in fairness it must be said that there has been little outspoken opposition. Since its approval by the Congress, the amendment has been quietly slipped through legislature after legislature. The newspapers and other organs of public opinion have been significantly silent on a subject that ought to be thoroughly discussed. It is not to be expected that those who want the amendment edopted will raise the issue publicly, when silent, if smooths work may turn the trick. Twice the people have passed upon the issue whether the tenure of the President should be limited. One was in 1940 when they decided for Franklin D. Roosevelt for a third term against the popular Wendell Willkie. In 1944 they voted for a fourth term for Roosevelt against Governor Thomas R. Dewoy. I have never doubted that if Theodore Roosevolt had been nominated, either in 1912 or 1916, he too would have served more than two terms. 8o, in supporting a constitutional limitation upon Presidential tenure, the politicians, and the interests that they represent, in effect are thumbing their noses at the people. Since it, is not likely that people will ever misuse their own power, it stands to reason that there should be no such limitation of thát power. DANIEL FRANCIS CLANCY 1271 Thurell Road Columbus 24, Ohio