<--PREV Doc #161  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #163 Document #162; April 27, 1953 To Milton Smith Osborne Series: EM, AWF, Gettysburg 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 Doctor: The day after you were down to see us, I called up a contractor friend of mine, Charles Tompkins.1 He is a prominent builder in Washington and has many years of experience. I told him our problem and explained that, because of the nature of the work, it would have to be done on a "cost plus" basis--for which reason I was coming to him as an old friend, although the work itself is not of the large-scale type that he ordinarily undertakes. I think that, as soon as your suggestions on the west wing arrive, he and Mamie will go up to Gettysburg at the earliest possible moment.2 A letter from Milton, received just the other day, says that Helen is back in the hospital temporarily.3 However, I suppose that Milton will still participate in the ceremony on May tenth or eleventh; I mean the one that is providing the reason for Mamie and me to come up there for that week end.4 Assuming this to be so, I shall look forward to seeing you then. Again, of course, Mamie and I want to express to you and Mrs. Osborne our profound thanks for your great courtesy and kindness toward us. Very sincerely 1 For background see no. 154. 2 Osborne was working on plans for the remodeling of the Gettysburg farmhouse (Osborne to Eisenhower, Apr. 30, 1953, AWF/Gettysburg). 3 In a reply of April 30 Osborne noted, "Mrs. Osborne has talked with Mrs. Eisenhower and has been assured that she is all right, and I know that they are looking forward to your visit" (ibid.). 4 The President spent a relaxing weekend golfing and fishing. On the evening of May 11 Mamie Eisenhower would crown "Miss Penn State," marking the opening of Spring Week on campus (New York Times, May 10, 1953). Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Milton Smith Osborne, 27 April 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 162. 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/162.cfm <--PREV Doc #161  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #163

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