Description:

Mamie Eisenhower
Denver, CO, October 27, 1955
Mamie Eisenhower TLS 1 Month After Ike's 1st Heart Attack: "Without so many members of my family holding my hand during this time of anxiety, I can't imagine what I would have done"
TLS
A 1p typed letter boldly signed by First Lady Mamie Eisenhower (1896-1979) as "Mamie Doud Eisenhower" near the bottom. October 27, 1955. Denver, Colorado. On a leaf of watermarked stationery with gilt embossed "The White House / Washington" letterhead. Expected wear including a few gentle corner folds and isolated light foxing, else near fine. 6.125" x 9.25."

Mamie Eisenhower sent this typed letter signed to Josephine "Jo Allen" Barth Williamson (1918-2000), the daughter of Mamie's old schoolmate, Josephine "Jo" Hooper Barth (1896-1980). (Mamie and Jo had met at Miss Wolcott's Finishing School in Denver, Colorado at age 16 and stayed in touch until Mamie's death.) Jo Allen's husband Dan and daughter Judy Kay are mentioned in the letter, as is her mother, Mamie's friend, in the last paragraph.

The First Lady wrote in part about President Eisenhower's latest health scare, a heart attack in late September.

In part:

"Without so many members of my family holding my hand during this time of anxiety, I can't imagine what I would have done. Mother [referring to Elivera Carlson Doud (1878-1960)] is always wonderful, and gives us such a lift when she visits the hospital every other day. And you know from experience what an excellent hospital Fitzsimons is -- such a lack of hospital air what we almost forget sometimes where we are! I am only ten steps from the President's room and we've had marvelous visits together with Mike and John [probably son John Eisenhower (1922-2013)] here. In such good surroundings, it isn't hard to imagine why the President is making grand progress…"

Dwight D. Eisenhower had suffered a serious heart attack during a visit with Mamie's relatives in Denver, Colorado on September 24, 1955. The myocardial infarction occurred after Eisenhower had played 27 holes of golf and was initially misdiagnosed as indigestion. Within hours, the President was brought to Fitzsimons General Hospital, an army hospital in nearby Aurora, and placed under the care of specialists. There, he received his prognosis and treatment: a required six weeks' hospitalization. Eisenhower's presidential workload was severely restricted, though he was permitted light work after a period of recuperation. On October 25, 1955, just one month after his heart attack, a wheelchair-bound Eisenhower was photographed at the hospital for the first time since his heart attack. Reporters were gladdened by the sight of Eisenhower's "good color" and general cheerfulness.

Eisenhower's health was a major concern of voters leading up to the 1956 presidential election. Eisenhower would suffer a total of five heart attacks between the first one in September 1955 and 1968. He would eventually die of congestive heart failure in March 1969.

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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  • Dimensions: 6.125" x 9.25"
  • Medium: TLS

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