DEPARTMENT OF STATE (FOR DEPARTMENTAL USE ONLY)
TUES., Nov. 18, 1952 1:55 PM-3:05 PM, EST (1 hr., 15 min.) November 18, 1952
WHITE HOUSE PRESS AND RADIO NEWS CONFERENCE
APPOINTMENT OF THE PRESIDENT
2:00 Hon. Dwight D. Eisenhower, President-elect Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge Hon. Joseph M. Dodge Hon. Dean Acheson, Secretary of State Hon. John W. Snyder, Secretary of Treasury Hon. Robert A. Lovett, Secretary of Defense Hon. W. Averell Harriman, Director for Mutual Security
Upon leaving the President's office, General Eisenhower made the following oral statement for the press, radio and television just before entering his car at the executive entrance of the White House:
This meeting today I expected to be completely business. It has turned into a dual purpose meeting, - one, a very warm reception here from the citizens of Washington, for which I thank them sincerely. It was an inspiring experience to come up the streets from the airfield here to the White House.
The other part of the meeting was that kind that has been reported in the papers for making special arrangements for the orderly transition of the functions of government from the outgoing administration to the incoming. For this my associates and I have been very appreciative, and it has been very informative and instructive.
There is going to be very shortly, within a matter of several minutes, a short joint statement issued, and it will be issued from the White House press section. You will get it in written form (See White House Joint Statement, Nov. 18, 1952).
In general, it expresses our purpose to translate from one administration to another in an orderly businesslike fashion.
Thank you very much.
* * * SA-M:AW
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 1952
JOINT STATEMENT
President Truman and General Eisenhower met today at the White House. After conferring together by themselves, they met with the Secretaries of State, Defense and Treasury, the Director of Mutual Security, and General Eisenhower's associates, Senator Lodge and Mr. Dodge.
At the end of the talks, the President and General Eisenhower issued the following statement:
"We have discussed some of the most important problems affecting our country in the sphere of international relations. Information with respect to these problems has been made available to General Eisenhower.
"Under our Constitution the President must exercise his functions until he leaves office, and his successor cannot be asked to share or assumed the responsibilities of the Presidency until he takes office.
"We have worked out a framework for liaison and exchange of information between the present Administration and the incoming Administration, but we have made no arrangements which are inconsistent with the full spirit of our Constitution. General Eisenhower has not been asked to assume any of the responsibilities of the Presidency until he takes the oath of office.
"We believe, however, that the arrangements we have made for cooperation will be of great value to the stability of our country and to the favorable progress of international affairs.
"We are confident that this meeting and that the arrangements we have made today for liaison and cooperation between the present Administration and the new Administration furnish additional proof of the ability of the people of this country to manage their affairs with a sense of continuity and with responsibility".
- - - - -