Details
EISENHOWER, Dwight D. (1890-1969). Typed letter signed ("Dwight"), as NATO Supreme Commander, to Frank D. Parent, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe, 26 March 1952. 1 page, 4to, on personal stationery.
"I WANT ONLY A CHANCE TO LIVE IN PEACE AND SECLUSION"
"BUT...I SHALL TRY TO DO MY DUTY..." Just two weeks after declaring his candidacy for the Presidency, Eisenhower still says he prefers retirement and tranquility to the tumult of a presidential campaign. He thanks Parent, an Inglewood, California Municipal Court Judge for his congratulatory wishes: "It goes without saying that I appreciate the very warm sentiments you express toward me. So far as personal desire is concerned, there has never been any change in my attitude that I want only a chance to live in peace and seclusion but, as I have repeated over and over again, I shall try to do my duty, whatever it may be."
He wasn't being coy. Ike took very seriously his oath as a soldier to defer to civilian authority, and to never use his military prestige to advance his own political ambitions. If the public came to him, however, that was a different story. That was a summons to service, and not just the indulgence of his ego. His name had been bandied about for the Presidency ever since 1948--even before anyone knew whether he was a Democrat or a Republican.
"I WANT ONLY A CHANCE TO LIVE IN PEACE AND SECLUSION"
"BUT...I SHALL TRY TO DO MY DUTY..." Just two weeks after declaring his candidacy for the Presidency, Eisenhower still says he prefers retirement and tranquility to the tumult of a presidential campaign. He thanks Parent, an Inglewood, California Municipal Court Judge for his congratulatory wishes: "It goes without saying that I appreciate the very warm sentiments you express toward me. So far as personal desire is concerned, there has never been any change in my attitude that I want only a chance to live in peace and seclusion but, as I have repeated over and over again, I shall try to do my duty, whatever it may be."
He wasn't being coy. Ike took very seriously his oath as a soldier to defer to civilian authority, and to never use his military prestige to advance his own political ambitions. If the public came to him, however, that was a different story. That was a summons to service, and not just the indulgence of his ego. His name had been bandied about for the Presidency ever since 1948--even before anyone knew whether he was a Democrat or a Republican.