 Nixon finally got a call from Eisenhower at 10 pm , Pacific time , Sunday night . Eisenhower expressed a reluctance to see him leave the ticket , and felt that he should have a chance to make his case to the American people . Nixon enquired if the general would be able to make a decision on whether to keep him as the running mate immediately after the broadcast , and when Eisenhower equivocated , he angrily burst out : " General , there comes a time in matters like this when you 've either got to shit or get off the pot . " Eisenhower replied that it might take three or four days to gauge public reaction . 
