<--PREV Doc #135  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #137 Document #136; April 6, 1953 To Harry James Carman Series: EM, AWF, Name Series: Columbia Miscellaneous 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   Dear Harry:1 I cannot tell you how flattered I am that Bard College should offer me the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws. As you know, I have always believed that great dignity and distinction attach to any kind of award from one of our higher institutions of learning. (In addition, because of your position at Bard College, the invitation has a special significance for me.) The actual facts of my calendar, however, support the possibility that I could not be with you on June twentieth. In early June I must make a trip to the West, after which I go in turn to New Hampshire and to Long Island. I shall not get back here until about the sixteenth or seventeenth, and the accumulated work will simply not allow me to run away again that soon.2 A further difficulty is occasioned by the fact that a number of universities sent me invitations to attend their commencement exercises. I had, of necessity, to establish priorities--which I did in the order of receipt of invitation. It would appear at this moment that I can accept only the first two, and in each case, I have specified that I cannot possibly make a speech.3 I recite these facts merely to give you some concrete evidence that the pressures upon me are not merely figments of my own imagination. They are very real. I shall write a note to President Case, probably enclosing a copy of this letter.4 In any event, I hope that you will convey to your Board of Trustees, some expression of my very deep appreciation of their kindly thoughtfulness. I truly wish that I could accept. With warmest personal regard and the hope that you are enjoying the best of health. Cordially 1 Carman was chairman of Bard College and dean emeritus of Columbia College (for background see Eisenhower Papers, vols. X-XIII). 2 On his first extensive trip the President would travel to Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Hampshire, and Long Island to speak on the Administration's achievements thus far and collective security as its foreign-policy theme (see the Chronology). 3 Eisenhower would receive honorary degrees at commencement ceremonies at the College of William and Mary and Dartmouth College. On the commencement address at Dartmouth see Eisenhower, Mandate for Change, p. 275. 4 On this same day, Eisenhower wrote to James H. Case, Jr., president of Bard College, declining the invitation (AWF/N: Columbia Misc.). Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Harry James Carman, 6 April 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 136. 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/136.cfm <--PREV Doc #135  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #137

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