FROM THE ARCHIVES:SPECULATION ABOUT the political future of the recently re-elected taoiseach, 69-year-old Éamon de Valera, was rife in 1951 but as this report correctly predicted, it was premature by eight years.
The Presidential election, which is due to take place between April 25th and June 24th next year, is giving rise to widespread speculation with the aid of occasional encouragement from prominent politicians.
An instance was provided in the Dail on Thursday by Mr. James Dillon [of Fine Gael], whose speech on the Supplies and Services Bill contained the suggestion that Mr. de Valera was contemplating retiring from public life, and that there was competition, amounting to a split, in the Fianna Fail Party over succession.
Mr. Dillon was at his oratorical best during parts of his speech – so brilliant that one could easily overlook that he was retailing rumours.
His references to Mr. de Valera’s intentions were prefaced by the remark that rumours were freely spun along the corridors of Leinster House. Undoubtedly, they had their origin in the knowledge that Mr. De Valera had apologetically requested the House’s permission on the previous day to have his replies to questions read by Mr. D[onnchadh] O’Briain, his Parliamentary Secretary, at Question Time.
The Taoiseach is avoiding undue strain on his eyes, but he is in the best of health, and it can be stated that his retirement has never been discussed either within the party or in the Cabinet. He himself, when he returned from the Swiss clinic where he underwent treatment recently, said off-handedly that he still had a long period of service in the Dail before him. The question of a successor as leader of the party has not, therefore arisen; but in that connection it should be remembered that Mr. Sean Lemass is Tanaiste.
Mr. de Valera’s rumoured retirement has been linked with the Presidential election. Here, again, those who know the Taoiseach have little doubt that, even if Mr. [Sean T.] O’Kelly is not enthusiastic about another term as President, Mr. de Valera has no desire whatever to occupy the office which he created. On the contrary, he is said to have no desire whatever to leave the hurly-burly of politics and the activity associated with it.
Among the Opposition there is a growing suspicion that he may invoke the help of the country again to stabilise party representation in the Dail in conjunction with an election for the office of President]. There is no real substance in this idea; for it is admitted that neither of the main parties would like to have a trial of strength on the Presidency, influenced as the result must be to a great extent by the personality of the candidates.
There is nothing, however, to prevent the Government having a general election at any time. . . except the conscious knowledge that without a favourable set of circumstances behind it, neither side of the House could hope to improve appreciably its position.
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