Description:

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (1890-1969) Excellent content Dwight D. Eisenhower letter discussing Republican Politics and his disdain for those making jokes at Kennedy's expense. He also gives an early nod to future President Gerald Ford who would ironically serve on The Warren Commission and replace Eisenhower's VP Nixon after Watergate

Typed Letter Signed "Ike," 2p, 7" x 10.25", separate sheets. Gettysburg, Pa., April 19, 1961. To Major General Wilton B. Persons, his World War II comrade and last White House Chief of Staff. On Ike's "DDE" gilt engraved stationery. Fine condition.

In part, "I am to see the Republican legislative leaders on May first and have them for lunch at the farm on that day. I am not too hopeful as to results because it is a practically impossible task to make over personalities -- and personalities seem to be causing some difficulty in developing an effective and accurate front for the Republican Party.

"On June first, I am to make a talk before a Republican gathering, but so far have made no decisions concerning it except that I am not going to waste my time on petty criticism. If the various 'figures' in the Republican Party are more concerned in partisan criticism than in constructive programs they won't often ask me back. I do not mean to say that we should not develop proper and effective opposition to programs that offend our sense of logic and principle... But some reports I have had from Washington indicate that two of our principal spokesmen have been contenting themselves with wise-cracking about the new President rather than with giving real explanations to the public of the manifest defects in many of the proposals made by him."

In a prophetic postscript, Eisenhower adds that Ann Whitman, his White House personal secretary who accompanied him to Gettysburg, "happened to see Jerry Ford on television... She reported his presentation to be one of good sense and logic... Maybe a lot of us ought to be touting him to our friends more often and more emphatically than in the past." Then 47-years-old, Congressman Ford was chosen to be Chairman of the House Republican Conference and a member of the Warren Commission in 1963, elected House Minority Leader in 1965, chosen as Nixon's VP in 1973, and succeeded to the presidency when Nixon resigned in 1974.

The letter can be read in its entirety in the images above.

Provenance:

Major General Wilton Burton "Jerry" Persons (1896-1977) served as the White House Chief of Staff to President Dwight D. Eisenhower from October 7, 1958 until January 20, 1961 and was Eisenhower's representative in the transition of government between the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations.

He was a career United States Army officer who had entered the U.S. Army Coast Artillery in 1917 and advanced through the ranks to Major General in 1944. He had served in both the American Expeditionary Force in World War I and in Europe in World War II. He headed the office of legislative liaison for the Department of Defense between 1948 and his retirement in 1949.

Major General Persons was called back to active duty as a special assistant to General Dwight D. Eisenhower at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe from 1951-1952 and was active on behalf of Eisenhower's presidential campaign in 1952. He became a Deputy Assistant to the President in 1953 and replaced Sherman Adams as Eisenhower's Chief of Staff in 1958.

Following the 1960 presidential election, Major General Persons was President Eisenhower's representative in the transition of government between the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations working out the details for a smooth transfer of government.

From the Estate of Major General Wilton B. Persons.

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