![EISENHOWER, Dwight. Autograph letter signed ("Dwight Eisenhower") to Mamie Eisenhower, 24 April [1944]. 3 pages, 4to, ruled paper.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2005/NYR/2005_NYR_01685_0206_000(110645).jpg?w=1)
Details
EISENHOWER, Dwight. Autograph letter signed ("Dwight Eisenhower") to Mamie Eisenhower, 24 April [1944]. 3 pages, 4to, ruled paper.
"THE POLITICAL POT IS REALLY BOILING AT HOME...THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE PRESIDENT. I WONDER HOW MANY OF THEM REALLY BELIEVE THEY COULD SWING THE JOB?"
A lengthy, expressive wartime letter in which Eisenhower talks about the 1944 Presidential election, his postwar plans, writing his memoirs, his irritation with the press, his son's graduation from West Point and his feelings towards his personal staff. "I didn't know that my goings and comings were so reported in the U. S. newspapers," he begins. "My trips are usually made on a moment's notice and last from one to five days. Newsmen bothered me badly on one trip and now I try to go without letting anyone know...." The spring and summer had seen the onset of a pivotal Presidential election campaign as F.D.R. vied to hold the reigns of power for a fourth term. "Judging from the newspapers the political pot is really boiling at home. Of course our local papers don't carry the full story of our American politics, but I do see enough to know that there are quite a few people that would like to be President. I wonder how many of them really believe they could swing the job."
More congenial are his commentss about his trusted valet, Mickey Keough, whom he ranks in importance alongside Walter Bedell "Beetle" Smith. "Mickey is back on the job, to my great relief. He is sometimes forgetful, but he is most loyal and likable. I couldn't get along without him. Except for Beetle I suppose he is closest to being 'indispensable' of all those around me day by day." He prodly notes that "In another 6 weeks Johnny will be a second Lieutenant. I hope the W. D. [War Department] publishes a register sometime soon--at least before I get out of the Army. I'd like to see our names appear, at least once, on the same page of the book."
He turns to family news, and Mamie's sister buying a house and "settling down" turns his mind to his own postwar plans. "As I see it now you and I probably wont be settling down anyway. I'll have an itch to take you to the places I've been, and if I do any writing I'll have to be on the move anyway. (Lots of firms have asked me to write.) Then we'll want to drop in on Johnny every once in a while." Ike closes by pondering how he'd feel "about staying in the Army a while after all this is over. I suspect I'll want to retire & go our own way - but one can never tell that far ahead. But so long as you are right with me I don't care much what I do. Loads of love - always."
"THE POLITICAL POT IS REALLY BOILING AT HOME...THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE PRESIDENT. I WONDER HOW MANY OF THEM REALLY BELIEVE THEY COULD SWING THE JOB?"
A lengthy, expressive wartime letter in which Eisenhower talks about the 1944 Presidential election, his postwar plans, writing his memoirs, his irritation with the press, his son's graduation from West Point and his feelings towards his personal staff. "I didn't know that my goings and comings were so reported in the U. S. newspapers," he begins. "My trips are usually made on a moment's notice and last from one to five days. Newsmen bothered me badly on one trip and now I try to go without letting anyone know...." The spring and summer had seen the onset of a pivotal Presidential election campaign as F.D.R. vied to hold the reigns of power for a fourth term. "Judging from the newspapers the political pot is really boiling at home. Of course our local papers don't carry the full story of our American politics, but I do see enough to know that there are quite a few people that would like to be President. I wonder how many of them really believe they could swing the job."
More congenial are his commentss about his trusted valet, Mickey Keough, whom he ranks in importance alongside Walter Bedell "Beetle" Smith. "Mickey is back on the job, to my great relief. He is sometimes forgetful, but he is most loyal and likable. I couldn't get along without him. Except for Beetle I suppose he is closest to being 'indispensable' of all those around me day by day." He prodly notes that "In another 6 weeks Johnny will be a second Lieutenant. I hope the W. D. [War Department] publishes a register sometime soon--at least before I get out of the Army. I'd like to see our names appear, at least once, on the same page of the book."
He turns to family news, and Mamie's sister buying a house and "settling down" turns his mind to his own postwar plans. "As I see it now you and I probably wont be settling down anyway. I'll have an itch to take you to the places I've been, and if I do any writing I'll have to be on the move anyway. (Lots of firms have asked me to write.) Then we'll want to drop in on Johnny every once in a while." Ike closes by pondering how he'd feel "about staying in the Army a while after all this is over. I suspect I'll want to retire & go our own way - but one can never tell that far ahead. But so long as you are right with me I don't care much what I do. Loads of love - always."