Presidential Papers, Doc#1289 Diary, 5 February 1955. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
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Document #1289; February 5, 1955
Diary
Series: EM, AWF, Administration Series: Lodge
The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XVI - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part VII: "Nothing could be worse than global war"; January 1955 to May 1955
Chapter 14: "We must show no lack of firmness"

 

Notes on certain points raised by Cabot Lodge at breakfast conversation with me this morning.

(a). He urges that when our sugar laws come under study with a view to re-enactment (with possible amendments) we not lose sight of the tremendous importance to us of keeping the Communists out of Cuba.1 I am sending an immediate note to the Secretary of Agriculture on this point.2

(b). Security program. Ambassador Lodge believes it extremely important that we reach a point where we can in effect announce the completion of our examination of records pertaining to those individuals who were in the Departments when this Administration was inaugurated.3 He believes that this matter will, so far as possible, be made a political issue by the opposition.

(c). He recommends the appointment of James Farley to some important Commission or Delegation.4 He makes the observation that the appointment of one or two prominent Catholics at this moment would reassure a number of people who believe that the Administration is not being sufficiently tough on Communists.

(d). He suggests that political or Administration speakers often call attention of their audiences to the fact that the great fight in the world today is not between Democrats and Republicans--it is between all men who love freedom and support the United States against the doctrines and purposes of Communism.5

1 For background on the controversy surrounding the Sugar Act, due to expire on December 31, 1956, see no. 1274.

2 See the following document.

3 For background on the Employee Security Program see no. 594. Responding to Eisenhower's request for the current status of the examinations, Attorney General Brownell would report that the reexamination of the files of those employees who had been the subject of investigations under prior loyalty programs was "well on the way to completion." The phase of investigating all employees in sensitive positions and recommending appropriate action "likewise well along and can, with diligence, be brought to substantial completion shortly," he said (Brownell to Eisenhower, Mar. 4, 1955, AWF/A; see also Eisenhower to Brownell, Feb. 7, 1955, ibid.).

4 Eisenhower had selected Farley, former Postmaster General of the United States, to be a member of the Hoover Commission to study reorganization of the executive branch of the government (see no. 341). Eisenhower would tell Presidential Assistant Sherman Adams that Farley should be considered "the next time we have to appoint members of some fairly important group" (Eisenhower to Adams, Feb. 7, 1955, AWF/A). For developments see no. 1352.

5 Eisenhower would ask Adams to pass the suggestion along "to the appropriate people in the various Departments, and to the Republican National Committee" (Eisenhower to Adams, Feb. 7, 1955, AWF/A). Lodge himself would use these ideas in a Lincoln Day speech nine days later (see no. 1310).

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. Diary, 5 February 1955. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 1289. 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/1289.cfm

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