Presidential Papers, Doc#1029 Memorandum To Sherman Adams, 19 August 1954. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
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Document #1029; August 19, 1954
To Sherman Adams
Series: EM, AWF, Administration Series ; Category: Memorandum
The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XV - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part V: Maintaining "a united defense"; April 1954 to August 1954
Chapter 11: The "men in the Kremlin are not to be trusted"

 

I am particularly puzzled about this matter of withdrawing the Wright Morrow nomination as a member of the United Nations delegation.1

I do not know the circumstances of his original selection, and when I called the Secretary of State this morning, he told me that Morrow had not been on his original list, which he says there was much delay here in acting upon.2

Now, however, I am disturbed as to the implications in Texas and elsewhere of withdrawing the name of a man who, I am told, was a strong advocate of the Republican National ticket in 1952. Would it possibly not be better just to allow the nomination of Wright Morrow to die in the Senate Committee? In this way, the Administration could not be pictured as a cowardly set of so and sos.

I had to leave before I could talk to you about this matter personally, and I have signed both the withdrawal of Mr. Morrow's nomination and the appointment of a man from Pennsylvania.3 But I think you should think it over well, and possibly try to find out whether Mr. Morrow would not ask for his own withdrawal in view of the impossibility of having him confirmed.4

If you are so far committed that you would be breaking faith not to send these two documents down to the Senate, you have my authority to proceed, but I must say that I think this is a very doubtful procedure and may have some very definite effect upon the outcome of the primary soon to be held in Texas.5

1 The President had nominated attorney Wright Francis Morrow, Democratic National Committeeman from Texas, to serve as an alternate U.S. representative to the ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly, opening in September (New York Times, July 27, 1954; for background on Morrow see Galambos, NATO and the Campaign of 1952, no. 313). On August 6 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had declined to act on Morrow's nomination, yet had confirmed nine others on the President's list of nominees to the delegation. Although reasons for the action had not been explained officially, it was said that Democratic Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas had blocked the appointment because Morrow had bolted the Democratic party on behalf of Eisenhower's candidacy in 1952 (New York Times, Aug. 7, 1954).

2 Dulles's telephone conversations during this period indicate that he had actively participated in compiling the slate of nominees for the U.N. delegation (see Dulles to Hagerty, July 24, 1954, Dulles Papers, Telephone Conversations). In a July 28 telephone conversation with Thruston B. Morton, assistant secretary of state for congressional relations, Dulles pointed out--in regard to objections to Morrow's candidacy--that "if we are going to appoint Democrats, they should be above criticism." Further, he said, "loyalty to Eisenhower as a criterion does not make for bipartisanship." Morrow, Dulles thought, should be persuaded to "say something came up and . . . withdraw." In a telephone conversation with Senator Knowland, Dulles said he and Adams agreed that they would "let it be" and later propose a "recess appointment" (Aug. 10, 1954, ibid.). But see n. 4 below.

3 The President would leave on this morning for a campaign appearance at the Illinois State Fair (see the Chronology for his itinerary).

4 On August 20 the White House would announce that Morrow's nomination had been the result of a "mistake in staff work" and that his name had been withdrawn. The post would be filled by another Eisenhower Democrat from Texas on the same day (New York Times, Aug. 21, 1954).

5 The controversy over the Morrow nomination would have no effect on the August 28 Texas runoff primary. Conservative Governor Allan Shivers (a key figure in the 1952 bolt in support of Eisenhower from the Democratic party) won handily over Ralph W. Yarborough, candidate of the liberal loyalist Democrats. On the Texas primary see New York Times, July 24, 29, Aug. 29, 30, 1954.

On August 26 Morrow would send Eisenhower a long personal letter congratulating him on the accomplishments of his program and reaffirming Morrow's own conviction that he had been correct in choosing to support Eisenhower in 1952. Morrow's letter and Eisenhower's reply of August 30 are both in WHCF/PPF 1241. For developments see no. 1043.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. Memorandum To Sherman Adams, 19 August 1954. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 1029. 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/1029.cfm

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