would "not be a party to any backroom deal" and would not take any action counter to

the will of Republican voters. Although the meeting ran all night, the foursome could

not reach a compromise.7

 On the morning of July 7, the Republican National Convention officially

commenced. The issue-based campaign of Taft and the popularity contest that Dewey

and Brownell had orchestrated had devolved into the basest, most vile, form of

politics. With little fanfare, Gabrielson gaveled the assembled delegates and guests to

order and immediately recognized Ohio Senator John Bricker. The 1948 Vice-

Presidential nominee, representing his state delegation, moved to adopt the rules of

the 1948 convention. In previous years, this had been a pro forma motion that

generated no discussion. In 1952, the Eisenhower forces chose this moment to make

their stand. Washington Governor Arthur Langlie followed Bricker and proposed the

Fair Play amendment. The measure as introduced barred all disputed delegates, save

those who had been approved by over a two-thirds majority by the RNC, from voting

on any contests until the convention had added them to the permanent roll. This

action, in effect, would allow the delegates from Florida and other states with minor

contests, most of which were for Eisenhower, to be seated. If adopted, the Fair Play

amendment would reduce Taft's majority by just over thirty votes.77

 After Langlie brought the Fair Play amendment to the floor, the Taft

organization fell apart. Just a few moments before the convention began, Coleman,

now operating as Taft's floor manager, and Brown had hastily formulated a counter to

the Eisenhower strategy. They planned for Brown to request a point of order to

exclude seven Louisiana delegates who neither side disputed but who were still

76 Interview, Catherine Howard, OH 255, Transcript in Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Abilene,
Kansas.

7 Patterson, Mr. Republican, 552.