Presidential Papers, Doc#156 To Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., 24 April 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower

Presidential Papers, Doc#156 To Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., 24 April 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower

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Document #156; April 24, 1953
To Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
Series: EM, AWF, Administration Series

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 Cabot: Thank you very much for your fine report, of which I have read every word.¹ I must say that the extemporaneous reply you made to your Russian friend was a grand effort.² As you say, the practice you follow breaks up their headlines and does not surrender to the Russians the advantage of an exclusive day in the papers.
When I read your schedule of entertainment, conferences and contacts, I felt almost ashamed of myself.³ I frequently fall victim to a tinge of self-pity when I contemplate my incessant round of social, semi-social and official affairs. In my own defense, I will plead some twelve or more extra years.
In any event, reports from all sides are that you are doing a grand job; and I trust that by now you clearly understand why I attached so much importance to it that I was anxious to place there only a top flighter.
My warm greetings to Mrs. Lodge,⁴ and, of course, all the best to yourself. As ever

¹ On April 23, with the General Assembly in recess, Lodge had written a two-page "thumbnail report" of his work at the United Nations since late January (AWF/A). Among his achievements he listed a security check of all American U.N. employees and his effort to answer every propaganda charge the Soviets made there "immediately so as to break up their headlines, interfere with their news stories and, actually, take the news away from them." Lodge noted that Latin Americans at the United Nations had renamed their "Latino Americana" caucus "Reunion Inter-America" and had invited him to meetings "not as a guest but as a member of that important club." He took credit for key passages in a recent Brazilian resolution supporting the U.S. position in the Korean truce negotiations (the General Assembly had passed the resolves unanimously). Lodge saw "a fine new opportunity to work out the Arab-Jew dispute." He concluded by assuring the President that the Soviets' "changed tactics" reflected respect for Eisenhower's leadership and for America's growing military strength.
² Lodge enclosed a retort he had made on March 11 to a speech by Ambassador Gromyko, the Soviet's current U.N. representative (see Vital Speeches of the Day 19 [Apr. 1, 1953], p. 357).
³ During the past three months the U.S. delegate had entertained more than 150 members of Congress, called on thirty-five chiefs of mission, attended thirty lunches, receptions, and dinners, and hosted as many functions himself. Lodge had succeeded, he said, in maintaining an "efficient working relationship in private with all delegations, including the Soviet"; he believed that Congress indicated approval of his course and also that his "entertaining influences directly the large vote which we are getting in support of the United States position. It seems far better to proceed by friendship and persuasion than by so-called `arm-twisting.'"
⁴ The former Emily Sears.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., 24 April 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 156. 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/156.cfm

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