Word: chancellorship
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Erhard was indignant and felt betrayed over Adenauer's bland reversal of his decision to step up to the presidency from the chancellorship, a post Erhard expected to inherit. The Economics Minister hastened home from Washington, angered not only by der Alte's cavalier change of mind but by numerous recent Adenauer slurs on Erhard's qualifications for West Germany's leadership. Alighting at Düsseldorf after an appropriately dramatic flight-his plane developed engine trouble, then was struck by lightning-Erhard threatened to resign from the Cabinet and denounced some "current lies...
...betweens took him to the Palais Schaumburg to hear soothing words from Adenauer, accompanied by a brisk lecture on the mathematics of political survival. Adenauer conceded that Erhard, with the help of perhaps 30 or 40 Christian Democrats, might be able to collect enough votes to take over the chancellorship if he were willing to depend on the opposition Socialists for much of his strength, and if he were prepared to shatter the Christian Democratic Party. "If under these conditions you want to become Chancellor, go ahead and try," snapped Adenauer...
...Adenauer's new façade of unity had a very temporary look. Before the week was out, he and Erhard were bickering in public again-this time over whether Adenauer had or had not warned the Cabinet that he might change his plans and remain in the chancellorship (he had once said he was "90% sure" that he would stay). But Erhard seemed to have no stomach for a direct challenge to the old man. "I am not looking backward, but forward," he said...
...Promise. Early last week, on the eve of Erhard's departure for the U.S., Adenauer assured him that no decision on the chancellorship would be taken in his absence. Same day, Adenauer once again promised the Christian Democratic Executive Committee that he would run in the presidential election "unless new developments force me to reconsider." Less than 48 hours later Adenauer discovered some "new developments." What were they? The Geneva talks-which to the naked eye had not changed a bit. Wrote Adenauer to top Christian Democratic brass: "If the Geneva conference does produce some success, we will have...
...Adenauer, though complaining privately that they had been treated like "lackeys." The damage was not that easily ended: Adenauer had proved his power but at the expense of his prestige. Overnight, throughout West Germany, Adenauer's popularity fell. Many accused him of downgrading both the presidency and the chancellorship by his autocratic actions. "Disgraceful," cried Berlin's Socialist Mayor Willy Brandt. Even his chosen heir. Finance Minister Etzel, informed that Adenauer was now thinking of asking him to run for President, irately snapped: "Next thing you know, Adenauer is going to nominate me for Pope...