<--PREV Doc #18  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #20 Document #19; February 4, 1953 To John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower Series: EM, AWF, Microfilm Series: Official Files The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XIV - The Presidency: The Middle Way Part I: Charting a New Course; January 1953 to April 1953 Chapter 1: Developing a spirit of teamwork   Dear John: I assume you are back in Korea, although I have seen nothing in the papers to that effect.1 I can hear you say, "Well,that's all to the good--maybe the reporters have lost interest in me." I merely want to tell you that I derived great satisfaction out of your presence here during the Inaugural ceremonies.2 As you know, there was a good deal of personal unhappiness involved a year ago in coming, finally, to the conclusion that I had to yield to the arguments of friends and enter the political arena. Nevertheless, it is still a fact that, for an American, there could be no other public moment in his life to equal in significance that of his inauguration as the country's President. So it would have been a great disappointment to me had you not been present. Of course, I was well aware of your desire to stay out of the limelight, and I defended and sympathized with your hope of staying in Korea. But I think that, in later years, I would have never ceased to regret your absence. Mamie talked to Barbie the other day and later told me that all the children are well.3 I have heard nothing about her coming down here, and I really can't blame her. It would be a very deadly life for her, I'm afraid--even if she were to stay only a matter of a week or so. Moreover, I know that it is a real chore to bundle up three youngsters of the ages of hers and bring them on a trip of this length. Mamie and I each had quite a special bout with the flu--both of us are fairly well once more. Take care of yourself. Devotedly 1 Major Eisenhower had rejoined the 3d Infantry Division in Korea on February 2; soon afterward he was named division intelligence officer (John S. D. Eisenhower, Strictly Personal, pp. 160-61). 2 See no. 6. 3 John Eisenhower and his wife, the former Barbara Jean Thompson, had three children: Barbara Anne, Dwight David II, and Susan Elaine. Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. To John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower, 4 February 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 19. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/19.cfm <--PREV Doc #18  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #20

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