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THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
EISENHOWER, Dwight D. Autograph letter signed (“Ike”), as Lt. General, to Mamie Doud Eisenhower, n.d. (post-marked 1 February 1943). 2 pages, 4to, ruled paper (slightly age-toned); with original envelope signed (“Dwight D. Eisenhower”) on censor’s stamp.
细节
EISENHOWER, Dwight D. Autograph letter signed (“Ike”), as Lt. General, to Mamie Doud Eisenhower, n.d. (post-marked 1 February 1943). 2 pages, 4to, ruled paper (slightly age-toned); with original envelope signed (“Dwight D. Eisenhower”) on censor’s stamp.
Ike’s “bribe” to general Marshall
A fascinating letter, written in the aftermath of the Cairo conference, as Eisenhower tells Mamie of the praise heaped on him by “all the big bosses” for his handling of Operation Torch and the North African campaign. “Lord knows there were many things they could have criticized severely,” the modest Ike adds, “but they seemed to think the general result achieved so far was very good.” He dwells particularly on his dealings with Chief of Staff, George C. Marshall. “When the C/S was here he wanted to find a rug, of native manufacture, for Mrs. M[arshall].” Ike had one in his bedroom and decided to give it to his boss. “It’s really a nice one and I think it’s the first time in all my service I ever gave a present to my superior or to a member of his family. It cost me a bit, but was well worth it. The C/S has been wonderful to me. Please keep this a complete secret – it must never be known, because if the C/S should one day decide to award me any kind of decoration or other distinction some small S.O.B. would say I tried a bribe! But I wanted you to know, for fear Mrs. M. might call you on phone. That’s the story on that!”
Those “big bosses” also told Eisenhower “to take things a little easier,” so he was trying to delegate more. In spite of which, “I don’t seem to have any more time than I did before.” He feels particularly rushed in his letters to Mamie: “I’m so garrulous it usually takes me a lot of words to tell you what a top notch gal you are...Don’t forget I love you—all the time—I think of you every day, and always with the great hope that you’ll not forget me. Lots of love...”
Ike’s “bribe” to general Marshall
A fascinating letter, written in the aftermath of the Cairo conference, as Eisenhower tells Mamie of the praise heaped on him by “all the big bosses” for his handling of Operation Torch and the North African campaign. “Lord knows there were many things they could have criticized severely,” the modest Ike adds, “but they seemed to think the general result achieved so far was very good.” He dwells particularly on his dealings with Chief of Staff, George C. Marshall. “When the C/S was here he wanted to find a rug, of native manufacture, for Mrs. M[arshall].” Ike had one in his bedroom and decided to give it to his boss. “It’s really a nice one and I think it’s the first time in all my service I ever gave a present to my superior or to a member of his family. It cost me a bit, but was well worth it. The C/S has been wonderful to me. Please keep this a complete secret – it must never be known, because if the C/S should one day decide to award me any kind of decoration or other distinction some small S.O.B. would say I tried a bribe! But I wanted you to know, for fear Mrs. M. might call you on phone. That’s the story on that!”
Those “big bosses” also told Eisenhower “to take things a little easier,” so he was trying to delegate more. In spite of which, “I don’t seem to have any more time than I did before.” He feels particularly rushed in his letters to Mamie: “I’m so garrulous it usually takes me a lot of words to tell you what a top notch gal you are...Don’t forget I love you—all the time—I think of you every day, and always with the great hope that you’ll not forget me. Lots of love...”