Description:

Eisenhower Dwight 1890 - 1969 Eisenhower typed letter signed on White House stationery, about an anonymous gift given to the wife and family of his deceased Staff Secretary, "Pete" Carroll.


Typed letter signed "DE" in black ink, 1 pp, White House stationery, dated December 22, 1954, 7.125" x 10.375". Touching letter sent to Maj. Gen. Wilton B. Persons, known as "Jerry", Eisenhower writes about the anonymous donations of several friends and co-workers of Paul T. "Pete" Carroll, who died suddenly of a heart attack while working as Eisenhower's Staff Secretary.

In full: "Dear Jerry: As you are one of the small group who joined together to make a Christmas gift for Pete Carroll's children, I want to tell you of the results of our joint effort. On Monday I asked Ruth and the boys to come in to see Mamie and me. I then told her of our idea and gave her the original of the enclosed letter, together with a check for more than $18,000. Fifty friends joined in this gift. It seemed a happier thing not to give Ruth the donors' names and amounts. Needless to say, she was tremendously moved by the gift. If she knew the identity of such donors she would individually express her gratitude to each. I did not give her the names -- assuring her that I would converyto each of you her sense of profound appreciation. This I did for two reasons. First, we started the plan on an 'anonymous' basis, and I wished to maintain that status. Second, I wanted an opportunity personally to express my own thanks to real friends who have thus helped to discharge part of our country's debt to a man like Peter. While this year, of course, nothing could make Christmas a happy occasion for Ruth and her family, I do assure you that you have firmly removed from her mind a burden of worry and have helped assure a bright future for Pete's fine boys. With warm regards, As ever, (signed) DE".

Paul T. "Pete" Carroll was a graduate of West Point, and served in World War II, awarded two Silver Stars. At the end of the war, he became Chief of Correspondence in the Office of Chief of Staff for Eisenhower. During the Korean War, he was military assistant to General Eisenhower, and in 1953, became Staff Secretary and Defense Liaison Officer for the White House. He died of a heart attack in Washington in September of 1954 at age 44. The $18,000 gift collected for his wife, Ruth, and her boys, is equal to approximately $160,000 in today's dollars.

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