<--PREV Doc #2120  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #2122 Document #2121; November 28, 1956 To Malcolm Muir Series: EM, AWF, Name Series ; Category: Personal The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XVII - The Presidency: The Middle Way Part XI: The free world's "sad mess"; October 1956 to January 1957 Chapter 22: On Suez "we do not see eye to eye"   Dear Malcolm:1 I have read with interest your recent letter.2 Of course I agree that our friendship with the people of Great Britain and Western Europe must be maintained and must be strengthened. It represents a priceless asset of which I have never, for one moment, lost sight. We may among ourselves have occasional difficulties--all "families" do--but I assure you that I cannot and shall not, if I have the power, permit anything in the nature of a permanent rift to develop. You understand, I am sure, that I must be guarded in my statements, even to someone I know as well as I know you. I can only say that we are doing everything possible to restore our former good relationships with our friends.3 In much the same spirit I view the NATO alliance. That organization must continue to function and to grow; any other possibility is unthinkable. It is not even necessary for me to comment on your paragraph regarding General Gruenther. My regard for his ability and perception--and his talent for doing a difficult job with tact and skill--is second to none. I have had several talks with him since his return to this country, and I know he continues to stand ready to serve his nation and the cause of peace in any way he can. If necessary, he can take on specific assignments while still acting as President of The American Red Cross.4 I have written you fully and as frankly as possible. Again let me thank you for your letter and for your confidence. With warm regard, Sincerely 1 Malcolm Muir, Sr., president of Newsweek, had been editor-in-chief since 1937. He had been the president of the McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. and had served as deputy administrator of the National Recovery Administration during the New Deal. 2 Muir had written expressing his hope that Eisenhower would be able to rebuild the NATO alliance which had been "so tragically shattered in recent weeks" (Muir to Eisenhower, Nov. 20, 1956, AWF/N). 3 See nos. 2118, 2119, and 2123. 4 Muir had suggested that Gruenther was "the man best equipped to assist you in guiding the world to a durable peace" because he had the confidence of European leaders. For background on Gruenther's appointment at the Red Cross see no. 2064. Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. Personal To Malcolm Muir, 28 November 1956. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 2121. 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/2121.cfm <--PREV Doc #2120  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #2122

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