<--PREV Doc #202  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #204 Document #203; May 22, 1953 To Ezra Taft Benson Series: EM, AWF, Administration Series The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XIV - The Presidency: The Middle Way Part II: Settling into "the long pull"; May 1953 to August 1953 Chapter 3: "A time for continued vigilance"   Memorandum to the Secretary of Agriculture: I understand that a man named Bob McConnell (Robert McConnell, The Plains, Virginia)1 will be trying to see you to talk about the cattle situation.2 I merely wanted to tell you that Bob McConnell is not only one of my most valued and highly repected friends, but is extraordinarily loyal to the Administration. His effort will be to be helpful, whatever he wants to suggest. I know nothing whatsoever as to what is in his mind beyond the subject itself.3 1 Robert Earll McConnell (E.M. Columbia 1910), whose career led from mining to industry and defense production, had helped Eisenhower earlier. When Eisenhower was President of Columbia University, McConnell had served as one of the honorary chairmen of the National Committee of Sponsors for the University's Engineering Development Program (see Galambos, Columbia University, no. 1122). Later, when Eisenhower headed the NATO forces, McConnell had offered advice regarding U.S. dependence on foreign-produced strategic raw materials (see Galambos, NATO and the Campaign of 1952, no. 246). For McConnell's involvement in agricultural issues see nos. 526, 545 and 546. 2 At this time much of the country was experiencing a severe drought, in some areas for the fourth consecutive year. Cattlemen were meanwhile facing declining prices for livestock, and some were threatened by loan foreclosures. The Eisenhower Administration had endorsed an agricultural policy emphasizing self-help, with price supports being used only in the event of disaster (see Benson, Cross Fire, pp. 127-29; and New York Times, Feb. 6, 1953). 3 In other correspondence with Eisenhower, Benson had sent an excerpt of a letter he had received from a Nebraskan who indicated that support for the President was strong, despite his agricultural policy. As evidence Benson's friend noted an "I like Ike" button worn by a livestock salesman who claimed: "The trouble with a lot of people is that they have forgotten work and that life has a few bumps" (May 13, 1953, AWF/A). In a May 14 reply to Benson, Eisenhower expressed pleasure that "so many Americans have not lost their sense of self-reliance and independence" (ibid.). Benson would tour Texas in June, and subsequently many counties in the West would be declared disaster areas. For more on Benson's trip see no. 296. Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Ezra Taft Benson, 22 May 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 203. 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/203.cfm <--PREV Doc #202  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #204

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