Presidential Papers, Doc#103 Memorandum To Charles Erwin Wilson, 24 March 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
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Doc #104

Document #103; March 24, 1953
To Charles Erwin Wilson
Series: EM, AWF, Administration Series ; Category: Memorandum
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 2: "A number of misunderstandings": Party and International Struggles

 

Respecting the proposals in your memorandum to me dated March 19th, I shall hold this until after your return from Europe.1

By that time it is possible that the Organization Committee will have reached a tentative agreement as to its recommendation for your higher military organization.2 It seems to me such a plan will be necessary before you can intelligently distribute personnel.

1 In a memorandum of that date (AWF/A) the Defense Secretary had recommended announcing changes in Joint Chiefs of Staff personnel about May 10, following his return from meetings in Paris (see no. 157; and State, Foreign Relations, 1952-1954, vol. V, Western European Security, pt. 1, pp. 390-97). Noting that three of the positions would fall vacant in the summer of 1953 due to automatic retirements, Wilson had stressed the value of placing "the new men into their positions while the program is being firmed up." He suggested Admiral Arthur W. Radford as JCS Chairman; General Alfred M. Gruenther as Vice-chairman; John E. Hull as Chief of Staff of the Army; Admiral Robert B. Carney as Chief of Naval Operations; and General Nathan F. Twining as Air Force Chief of Staff. Wilson based these nominations on approval of the vice-chairman's position, the availability of Gruenther and Carney, and the need to leave Generals Lauris Norstad and Curtis E. LeMay in Europe. General Hull was Vice Chief of Staff for Operations and Administration (see also no. 539; for background on other figures on Wilson's list see Galambos, NATO and the Campaign of 1952). "There are many more angles to be discussed in connection with the promotions of the various officers," Wilson had concluded, "but I believe this memorandum will serve as a basis for discussion at any time suitable to you. I realize that each of the service secretaries has an important position in regard to these matters." For Eisenhower's choices and their effective dates of appointment see no. 166.

2 See no. 26.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. Memorandum To Charles Erwin Wilson, 24 March 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 103. 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/103.cfm

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