Ike Backs LBJ in Dominican Crisis

Apr. 30, 1965 - Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower said today that President Johnson had done “a sensible thing” in sending Marines to protect American citizens in the Dominican Republic.

“I have nothing to criticize, certainly,” he added. “It looks like the President has things under control. As I’ve told my newspaper friends, there is only one man who can handle foreign relations, and that’s the President. It looks to me like he’s done a sensible thing.”

Eisenhower commented on the Dominican civil strife during a trainside interview in Harrisburg, Pa., after his return, with his wife Mamie, from a winter vacation in Palm Desert, Calif.

Former Senator Barry Goldwater also said today that he approved of President Johnson’s decision to send the Marines into Santo Domingo.

At a news conference in Madrid, the former Republican Presidential candidate said: “Yes, I approve the landing of the Marines in Santo Domingo for the protection of American lives and property.”Asked if that meant he favored “big stick” diplomacy in Latin America, Goldwater said the Dominican operation was not an example of “big stick” diplomacy.

“We don’t call it that,” he said. “But I like the idea of the big stick. It’s always worked. I’m glad the President has changed his tactics.”Goldwater, on vacation in Madrid since Wednesday, appeared at the International Press Club. 

Asked his opinion about the best way to fight Communism, he replied: “Ask another Spaniard. We don’t seem to know too much about it in our country.”

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