Description:

Nimitz Chester



Chester Nimitz ALS & Speech Copy, "I am an obtuse admiral" … Prepare for WWIII!!


Single page ALS, 8" x 10.5", scripted recto and verso, on Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Berkeley, CA letterhead. Dated "June 11, 1958", and signed by Nimitz as "CW Nimitz" . Near fine with small staple holes to upper left corner. Accompanied by a single typed carbon copy of Robert Gros's response, near fine with light creasing and a staple hole. For reference, the lot is accompanied by a photocopy of the nine page single sided "prepared speech statement", which includes lengthy autographed annotations with an additional full page of autographed notes by Nimitz.


Nimitz penned letter to Gros (possibly Vice President, public relations, for Pacific Gas and Electric Co., often lectured on international relations, according to Online Archive of California), references his prepared statement:


"I enclose a copy of the statement which I had prepared for Vinson's Committee but did not use because I was not called. However, I may be called before the Senate Armed Forces Committee, and if so, will use it. I am grateful that you will hold the paper secure. You are free - however - to help yourself to such of the ideas expressed - if you believe in them....Aunt Catherine joins me in warmest regards…"


The accompanying second letter shows Gros commenting on Nimitz' speech, Gros says: "I do hope you are called before the Senate Armed Forces Committee and I expressed that same hope to Tom Gates during the course of a pleasant visit I had with him in Washington last week.... I am utterly shocked at the hint thrown out by the Secretary of Defense yesterday that they might sack Arleigh Burke because of his testimony. ...it is the very negation of the democratic process to inhibit a professional officer's testifying to his honest convictions when called before a Congressional Committee…"


The two were referencing Nimitz's prepared speech he planned to give before one of the Armed Forces Committees, which is included with this group as a photocopy. His speech shows a fascinating viewpoint of the armed services and the tactical and strategic balance to prepare for a future war. Nimitz gives his opinion that he believes all armed services should remain independent. "I am one of those 'obtuse admirals' who believes that if we should unfortunately engage in World War III in the predictable future - say the next five or ten years - we will use many of the methods and in considerable part the same weapons - greatly improved of course - that we used in World War II. ...It has always been my belief that each service should have the tools it needs to carry out its major function - even though other services use similar tools. ...My great concern is that during all the experimentation now going on with missiles of all kinds, none of which have as yet proved themselves at long (over 200-300 miles ) range, we will neglect the proved weapons of World War II. While there have been great advances, there have been only a few changes. Even the atom powered submarine has only a few improvements. It is a steam turbine driven ship with a reactor furnishing heat instead of a boiler. The British had steam driven subs in World War I, and long before that the Turks had a small steam driven sub…"


A fantastic set which provides insight into this esteemed Fleet Admiral.



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