Description:

Eisenhower TLS as President On D-Day "Field Marshal Montgomery…the Other Norman Invasion"

A 1p typed letter boldly signed by sitting 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), as "Dwight D Eisenhower" at center. May 15, 1957. N.p. but presumably Washington, D.C. On watermarked "The White House / Washington" stationery. Expected wear including central flattened paper folds and some minor smudging of type running along a vertical line near the center. Isolated wrinkling to the upper right corner, and a faint indentation (completely non-rusted) from a paperclip is found along the top edge. Else near fine. 6.875" x 8.875."

President Eisenhower wrote Mrs. Charlton Ogburn of New York City, in part: "The coincidence of names related in your letter had not struck me before. I doubt, too, that Field Marshal Montgomery had thought of it, despite the fact that he is a far more avid student tha[n] I of the other Norman invasion. At any rate I am sending him a copy of your interesting note…"

Eisenhower had closely collaborated with Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery (1887-1976) during Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy, when Eisenhower served as the commander of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force and Montgomery served as the commander of the 21st Army Group, tasked with overseeing the deployment of all Allied ground forces. This "Norman invasion" was the coordinated advance of Allied forces deep into Normandy--first the beachheads, then Cherbourg, and then Caen--and eventually on to Paris and beyond the Seine River. Operation Overlord took place over ten weeks, from D-Day, June 6, to August 30, 1945.

The "other Norman invasion" alluded to in Eisenhower's letter may have been a reference to William the Conqueror's Conquest of England in 1066. We can only speculate, but it's probable that Mrs. Ogburn made the connection between Field Marshal Montgomery and his ancestors, the de Montgomerys of the Middle Ages. The de Montgomerys were of Norman-Anglo origin. Roger de Montgomery (died 1094) served as joint regent of Normandy while William the Conqueror was in England, and some accounts indicate that he joined William as a military commander at the Battle of Hastings. One of William's most trusted counselors, Roger de Montgomery was awarded with the Earldoms of Arundel and Shropshire and became extremely powerful. The Montgomerys later became a prominent Lowland Scottish clan. Thus, Mrs. Ogden was likely commenting on the interesting coincidence that Montgomerys were involved in BOTH Norman invasions; one involving invaders from Normandy (1066) and the other invaders of Normandy (1945).

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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